Failure analysis and appropriate design of drill pipe upset transition area

In recent years, the drill pipe failures often happen in the case of ultra deep well drilling and complex geological conditions drilling. One of the main failure types is the stress concentration at the upset transition area of the drill pipe. Based on the elastic–plastic mechanics, finite element theory, and application of numerical simulation analysis for the actual mechanical properties of three-dimensional simulation analysis of drill pipe in the well, the finite element analysis (FEA) model of 5″ API standard drill pipe is established. The mechanical characteristic of API standard drill pipe upset transition area is simulated, which can provide a reasonable reference for the optimization of the size of new types 5″ drill pipe upset transition as well as the practical application. Based on the simulation model, the factors affecting the stress distribution of the drill pipe upset transition area are obtained, and the new type of upset is developed.

► A 3D FEA model was established for the 5″ API drill pipe.
► The mechanical characteristics of upset transition area of API standard drill pipe was analyzed.
► The factors affecting the stress distribution of the upset transition area were obtained.
► The size of new types 5″ drill pipe upset transition area were optimized.