Calculate Annular Capacity

Annular capacity  is volume of fluid between two diameter of cylindrical objects per length or length per volume. This article demonstrates you how to calculate annular capacity between casing or hole and drill pipe, tubing, or casing. There are several formulas as shown below to calculate annular capacity depending on unit of annular capacity required.

Note: Dh is bigger ID and Dp is smaller OD. The examples below will show the Dh as hole size and Dp is drill pipe OD

Oilfield Unit

a) Calculate annular capacity in bbl/ft

Annular capacity in bbl/ft =  (Dh² – Dp²) ÷1029.4

Where;
Dh in inch
Dp in inch

Example: Hole size (Dh) = 6-1/8 in.
Drill pipe OD (Dp) = 3.5  in.
Annular capacity in bbl/ft = (6.125² – 3.5 ²) ÷1029.4
Annular capacity = 0.0245 bbl/ft

b) Calculate annular capacity in gal/ft

Annular capacity in gal/ft = (Dh² – Dp²) ÷ 24.51

Where;
Dh in inch
Dp in inch

Example:
Hole size (Dh) = 6-1/8 in.
Drill pipe OD (Dp) = 3.5  in.
Annular capacity in gal/ft = (6.125 ² – 3.5²) ÷24.51
Annular capacity = 1.031 gal/ft

Metric Unit

c) Calculate annular capacity in cu-meter/meter (m³/m)

Annular capacity in m³/m =  (Dh² – Dp²) ÷1,273,240

Where;
Dh in mm
Dp in mm

Example:
Hole size (Dh) = 155.56 mm.
Drill pipe OD (Dp) = 88.90  mm.
Annular capacity in m³/m = (155.56² – 88.90 ²) ÷1,273,240
Annular capacity = 0.0128 m³/m

d) Calculate annular capacity in litre/meter (l/m)

Annular capacity in l/m =  (Dh² – Dp²) ÷1,273.24

Where;
Dh in mm
Dp in mm

Example:
Hole size (Dh) = 155.56 mm.
Drill pipe OD (Dp) = 88.90  mm.
Annular capacity in l/m = (155.56² – 88.90 ²) ÷1,273.24
Annular capacity =12.8 l/m

Annular volume can be determined by this following formula;

Oilfield Unit

Annular volume in bbl  = annular capacity (bbl/ft) x length of annulus (ft)

Example:

Annular capacity = 0.0245 bbl/ft
Length of annulus = 1000 ft
Annular volume = 1000 x 0.0245 = 24.5 bbl.

Metric Unit

Annular volume in m³ = annular capacity (m³/m) x length of annulus (m)

Example:

Annular capacity = 0.0128 m³/m
Length of annulus = 330 m
Annular volume = 330 x 0.0128 = 4.224 m³.

** Please remember that if you have several annular profile, you must calculate volume based on each annular profile in order to get total annular volume.

Download Free Excel Spread Sheet

This is 2020 update with Metric Unit – Please find the Excel sheet for calculating annular capacity.

Ref books: 

Lapeyrouse, N.J., 2002. Formulas and calculations for drilling, production and workover, Boston: Gulf Professional publishing.

Bourgoyne, A.J.T., Chenevert , M.E. & Millheim, K.K., 1986. SPE Textbook Series, Volume 2: Applied Drilling Engineering, Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Mitchell, R.F., Miska, S. & Aadny, B.S., 2011. Fundamentals of drilling engineering, Richardson, TX: Society of Petroleum Engineers.