Evaluation, Impact, and Management of Casing Deformation Caused By Tectonic Forces in the Andean Foothills, Colombia

Abstract

Summary Ovalization of casing strings has been detected in the tectonically active foothills of Colombia, South America, initially through operational difficulties, and subsequently, by extensive monitoring. The effect of this ovalization on cross-sectional collapse has been numerically and experimentally analyzed in a previous publication (Pattillo et al. 2004). The current study emphasizes the broader context to which those detailed results were applied. Here, the emphasis will fall on characterizing the deformation, assessing its impact on well integrity, and developing a strategy for managing the consequences to achieve improved business and operational decision making.