Study of Analytical Buckling Models for Axial Load Calculation in Tubing Strings

Resumo

This work proposes to analyze and implement analytical formulations for the calculation of axial loads with buckling in tubing strings in oil wells. These strings are subjected to different operational conditions throughout the well’s lifespan. Accurately predicting the axial loads resulting from these operations is essential to prevent accidents and ensure structural integrity. Such loads arise from pressure and temperature variations, self-weight, and buckling—the latter being the main focus of this work. To achieve the proposed objective, the adopted methodology is divided into six main stages: (i) literature review on oil wells; (ii) study of analytical solutions for axial load prediction in tubular strings; (iii) investigation and inclusion of buckling effects in analytical equations; (iv) definition of a vertical well configuration for implementation of the studied equations; (v) Well modeling using the SCORE tool; and (vi) comparative analysis of the obtained results. The analytical solution showed excellent agreement with the reference numerical tool, allowing for the quantification of the buckled length and its impact on the axial forces. The next step of this work involves the numerical modeling of buckling and axial loads in tubing strings, contributing to advancements safe design, especially in environments with complex geometries and more severe operational conditions.