Pipe Displacement Calculation

Pipe displacement, normally in bbl/ft or m3/m, is steel volume  per length of steel pipe.  When we either pull out of hole or trip in hole for any kind of pipes such as drill pipe, casing or tubing, you should know how much fluid to displace steel volume.

For example, when we pull out of hole, a trip sheet must be monitored all time. We must know how much fluid will fill the hole each stand of drill pipe pulled out. If the volume of displacement less than theoretical displacement value, we may have problem due to swabbing formation into wellbore.

This article will demonstrate how to calculate plain pipe displacement with this following formula:

Oilfield Unit

Pipe Displacement in bbl/ft = (OD2 – ID2 ) ÷ 1029.4

Where;
OD in inch
ID in inch

Where,
OD is out side diameter of pipe in inch.
ID is inside diameter of pipe in inch.

This formula is for plain pipe diplacment such as casing and tubing. It is not for closed-end displacement. It’s not accurate enough for drill pipe because this formula does not account for tool joint displacement therefore you need drill pipe specification sheet for its displacement.

Example: Determine pipe displacement in bbl/ft of 9-5/8” casing 40 ppf, OD = 9.625 in, ID = 8.835 in

Pipe Displacement of 9-5/8” casing 40 ppf in bbl/ft = (9.6252 – 8.8352 ) ÷1029.4
Pipe Displacement of 9-5/8” casing 40 ppf in bbl/ft = 0.01417 bbl/ft

Metric Unit

Annular capacity in m3/m =  (OD2 – ID2) ÷1,273,240

Where;
OD in mm
ID in mm

Example: Determine pipe displacement in bbl/ft of 9-5/8” casing 40 ppf, OD = 244.475 mm, ID = 244.409 mm

Pipe Displacement of 9-5/8” casing 40 ppf in m3/m = (244.4752 – 244.4092 ) ÷1,273,240
Pipe Displacement of 9-5/8” casing 40 ppf in m3//m = 0.0074

Please find Pipe Displacement Calculation Oilfield and Metric Unit Excel sheet

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.

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12 Responses to Pipe Displacement Calculation

  1. wholesale glass pipes says:

    Hi Dear, are you truly visiting this website regularly, if so after that
    you will absolutely get fastidious knowledge.

  2. ramin says:

    Dears,
    Good Days ,

    Kindly , we need the line displacement calculation relating to distance between vessel and shore tank.

    Thanks & Best Regards

    R.Razavi

  3. Kevin says:

    Hello,

    Can you please explain where the figure 1029.4 comes from. Is tis the weight of the joint of casing?

    I would like to work out the displacement for my own tools which are heavier at 44.6 lbs/ft.

    Thanks.

  4. Rachid says:

    wonderfull

  5. daniel says:

    well illustrated work

  6. deep says:

    how can we calculate drilling string weight?

  7. guest says:

    Important Note. This formula for unplugged pipe at the bottom.

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