Predicting the Healthy Operation of Heavy Oil Well Casings in Permafrost Regions

This study explores the distribution of stress and deformation on casings in heavy oil recovery wells and the distribution of stress in the thaw bulb in permafrost areas. Considering the expansion of the thaw bulb, the simulation analysis method is used to explore the internal mechanisms of vertical settlement displacement development and stress redistribution within thawed soil and casing. Calculation results show the following: (a) The maximum settlement of the thawed soil and the casing was positively correlated with the expansion of the thaw bulb. Although the settlement of the thawed soil was greater than that of the casing, the initial increase in maximum settlement difference between the thawed soil and the casing eventually tended to be constant due to stabilization of the thaw bulb’s expansion. (b) The size of the thaw bulb directly affects the redistribution of internal stress in thawed soil, leading to different distribution rules for the vertical displacement of thawed soil and casing with depth. (c) Beyond a certain formation depth, the vertical stress of thawed soil gradually transits from a tensile stress state to a compressive stress state. The depth of a soil layer whose horizontal stress value is initially greater than its vertical stress value will gradually deepen with an increase in thaw bulb radius. (d) There is no significant negative friction on the lateral wall of casing in yield state, but significant negative friction exists on the lateral wall of casing in elastic state. The vertical stress of casing in elastic state increased gradually with the increase of casing depth, due to the existence of continuous negative friction and dead weight.