Well casing collapse

Casing subjected to a high differential stresses will collapse. High differential stresses may result from natural stresses in the rock mass (highly deviatoric stress state, rock creeping,…) and can also result of the well development or exploitation (during cementing or pumping, injection of high fluid pressure, fluid hammer effect, high temperature variations,…).  In geothermal well in particular, thermal stress can also be generated if the junction between casing (coupling system) is not elastic enough to bear the dilatation caused by thermal stress.

More information is available on the project deliverable (link), or navigate on the online version.