Conductor pipe
Encyclopedia
The Conductor Pipe is a large diameter pile that is set into the ground to provide the initial stable structural foundation for a borehole
or oil well
.
It can also be referred to as a drive pipe because it is often driven into the ground with a pile driver
.
Conductor pipe is tyically set, on petroleum wells, before any drilling operations are performed. It is usually set with special pile-driving or spudder rigs, though the drilling rig
is sometimes used to save time and money.
In the offshore drilling
industry, the conductor pipe is set in the seabed, and is a key structural foundation for the subsea wellhead
. When drilling an offshore well, a marine riser is connected to the well, and this is subjected to large environmental forces such as current and waves which are transferred to the conductor. The forces can be large and also cyclical which can potentially causing fatigue damage to conductor especially in the harsh environmental conditions. A Conductor tensioner
unit (CTU) can be used in shallow water on jackup rig
to withstand such damaging forces.
Borehole
A borehole is the generalized term for any narrow shaft bored in the ground, either vertically or horizontally. A borehole may be constructed for many different purposes, including the extraction of water or other liquid or gases , as part of a geotechnical investigation, environmental site...
or oil well
Oil well
An oil well is a general term for any boring through the earth's surface that is designed to find and acquire petroleum oil hydrocarbons. Usually some natural gas is produced along with the oil. A well that is designed to produce mainly or only gas may be termed a gas well.-History:The earliest...
.
It can also be referred to as a drive pipe because it is often driven into the ground with a pile driver
Pile driver
A pile driver is a mechanical device used to drive piles into soil to provide foundation support for buildings or other structures. The term is also used in reference to members of the construction crew that work with pile-driving rigs....
.
Conductor pipe is tyically set, on petroleum wells, before any drilling operations are performed. It is usually set with special pile-driving or spudder rigs, though the drilling rig
Drilling rig (petroleum)
This article lists the main components of a petroleum onshore drilling rig.Offshore drilling rigs have similar elements, but are configured with a number of different drilling systems to suit drilling in the marine environment....
is sometimes used to save time and money.
In the offshore drilling
Offshore drilling
Offshore drilling refers to a mechanical process where a wellbore is drilled through the seabed. It is typically carried out in order to explore for and subsequently produce hydrocarbons which lie in rock formations beneath the seabed...
industry, the conductor pipe is set in the seabed, and is a key structural foundation for the subsea wellhead
Wellhead
A wellhead is a general term used to describe the component at the surface of an oil or gas well that provides the structural and pressure-containing interface for the drilling and production equipment....
. When drilling an offshore well, a marine riser is connected to the well, and this is subjected to large environmental forces such as current and waves which are transferred to the conductor. The forces can be large and also cyclical which can potentially causing fatigue damage to conductor especially in the harsh environmental conditions. A Conductor tensioner
Conductor tensioner
A conductor tensioner unit is installed on an offshore jackup rig to apply upward tension on the conductor. The conductor tensioner is installed into the conductor deck and is usually removable in order to protect the unit during transit....
unit (CTU) can be used in shallow water on jackup rig
Jackup rig
A jack-up rig is a type of mobile platform that is able to stand still on the sea floor, resting on a number of supporting legs. The most popular designs use 3 independent legs, although some jackups have 4 legs or more...
to withstand such damaging forces.