Design, Verification, and Application of Solid Expandable Systems

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 5EX FIRST EDITION, MAY 2018

Special Notes

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Users of this Recommended Practice should not rely exclusively on the information contained in this document. Sound business, scientific, engineering, and safety judgment should be used in employing the information contained herein.

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Copyright © 2018 American Petroleum Institute

Foreword

Nothing contained in any API publication is to be construed as granting any right, by implication or otherwise, for the manufacture, sale, or use of any method, apparatus, or product covered by letters patent. Neither should anything contained in the publication be construed as insuring anyone against liability for infringement of letters patent.

The verbal forms used to express the provisions in this recommended practice are as follows:

• the term “shall” denotes a minimum requirement in order to conform to the recommended practice;

  
  

• the term “should” denotes a recommendation or that which is advised but not required in order to conform to the recommended practice;

  
  

• the term “may” is used to express permission or a provision that is optional; and

  
  

• the term “can” is used to express possibility or capability.

This document was produced under API standardization procedures that ensure appropriate notification and participation in the developmental process and is designated as an API standard. Questions concerning the interpretation of the content of this publication or comments and questions concerning the procedures under which this publication was developed should be directed in writing to the Director of Standards, American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Requests for permission to reproduce or translate all or any part of the material published herein should also be addressed to the director.

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Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the Standards Department, API, 1220 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, standards@api.org.

iii

Contents

Page

1. Scope 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Terms, Definitions, and Abbreviations 1

   1. Terms and Definitions 1

   2. Abbreviations 3

4. Functional Specification 4

   1. Functional Requirements 4

   2. Type Description 4

   3. Well Parameters 4

   4. Operational Parameters 5

   5. Environmental Compatibility 5

   6. Performance Envelope 5

5. Technical Specification 5

   1. Technical Characteristics 5

   2. Design Criteria 5

   3. Materials 7

   4. Design Verification 10

   5. System Validation 10

   6. Design Changes 11

   7. Functional Test 12

   8. Performance Envelope 12

6. Supplier/Manufacturer Requirements 12

   1. General 12

   2. Documentation 13

   3. Product Identification 14

   4. Quality Requirements 14

7. Performance Property Determination Methods 15

   1. Introduction 15

   2. Effect of Expansion on Material Properties 16

   3. Internal Yield Strength: Triaxial Yield 16

   4. Collapse Strength 16

   5. Probabilistic Modeling (data regression) 17

8. Connection Test Requirements 17

   1. Expansion System 17

   2. Connection Application Types. 18

   3. Test Matrix 18

   4. Test Program 20

   5. Other Requirements 20

   6. Material Property Tests 20

   7. Pipe Body Expansion and Collapse Test 21

   8. Connection Test Specimen Preparation 21

   9. Test Load Determination 22

   10. Connection Testing 22

9. Storage, Transporting, and Handling 31

   1. Introduction 31

      v

      Contents

      Page

   2. Summary Table for Running and Handling 32

   3. Storage 36

   4. Transportation 36

   5. Preparation, Inspection, and Quality Assurance Prior to Equipment Mobilization 37

   6. Handling 38

   7. Deployment 39

   8. Zonal Isolation 40

   9. Expansion 40

   10. Safety 41

   11. Summary-Running and Handling 41

Bibliography 43

Figures

1. Load Points 23

2. Limit Load Test Paths 30

Tables

1. Connection Application Type Definitions 18

2. Level A Testing 19

3. Level B Testing 19

4. Guidelines for Selecting Connection Test Specimens for Testing a Connection

   with Free Running Threads with a Seal and a Torque Shoulder 22

5. Connection Test Specimen Objectives for Test Levels 22

6. Load Point Definitions for Test Load Envelope (TLE) 24

7. Load Point for Internal Pressure Load Envelope Testing 25

8. Load Points for External Pressure Load Envelope Testing 26

9. Load Points for Four Quadrant Testing 27

10. Risks While Running Expandable Tubular Goods 32

vi

Introduction

The goals of this recommended practice are to:

1. establish common terms and means that can be used by the manufacturers and end users,

   
   

2. educate the end users and manufacturers,

   
   

3. ensure that users, suppliers, and manufacturers understand and can identify the critical aspects of the technology,

   
   

4. accelerate the technology-expand the user base,

   
   

5. institute a uniform evaluation process, and

   
   

6. understand the reliability of the technology.

Users should be aware that requirements outlined in this document may be needed for individual applications. This document is not intended to inhibit a supplier/manufacturer from offering, or the user/purchaser from accepting, alternative equipment or engineering solutions. This may be particularly applicable where there is innovative or developing technology.

Design, Verification, and Application of Solid Expandable Systems

1. Scope

   
   

   This recommended practice establishes guidance for design, system verification, and application guidelines of solid expandable systems for the oil and gas industries. This document is not to be used as a specification for purchasing equipment; it is intended for consideration by users for well applications and the design of solid expandable systems.

   
   

   Expandable systems will include drilling liners, hangers, connections, receivers, and launchers for downhole use as defined herein. Only permanently installed equipment/components are covered by this recommended practice. Slotted liners and tools used for the expansion of the tubular goods (such as, but not limited to, implementation tools, pumps, jacks, and expansion tools) are not addressed by this recommended practice.

   
   

2. Normative References

   
   

   The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document applies (including any addenda/errata).

   
   

   API Recommended Practice 5A5, Field Inspection of New Casing, Tubing, and Plain-end Drill Pipe

   
   

   API Recommended Practice 5C5, Procedures for Testing Casing and Tubing Connections

   
   

   API Specification 5CT, Casing and Tubing

   
   

   API Specification Q1, Specification for Quality Management System Requirements for Manufacturing Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry

   
   

   API Technical Report 5C3, Calculating Performance Properties of Pipe Used as Casing or Tubing NACE TM0192 1, Evaluating Elastomeric Materials in Carbon Dioxide Decompression Environments NORSOK M-710 2, Qualification of nonmetallic sealing materials and manufactures

3. Terms, Definitions, and Abbreviations

3.1 Terms and Definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

3.1.1

assembly

Product comprised of more than one component.

3.1.2

casing

Pipe run from the surface or mudline and intended to line the walls of a drilled well.

1 National Association of Corrosion Engineers,15835 Park Ten Place, Houston, TX 77084, www.nace.org. 2 Standards Norway, P.O. Box 252, NO-1326, Lysaker, Norway, www.standard.no.‌