Tubing Movement & Lubinski Packer Forces Calculator
Determine length changes and seal assembly movement from thermal expansion, internal/external pressure ballooning, piston effect, and helical buckling.
Tubing Dimensions & Well Depth
Positive = Heating (producing), Negative = Cooling (injection)
Movement & Force Breakdown
Net Tubing Movement (ΔL):
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Movement Direction:
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Thermal Expansion (ΔL_temp):
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Piston Effect (ΔL_piston):
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Ballooning Effect (ΔL_bal):
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Recommended Seal Bore Length:
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Lubinski Wellbore Completion Tubing Movement
Arthur Lubinski’s seminal work (SPE 1798) established the foundational equations for calculating length changes in production tubing strings anchored or unanchored inside production packers. Temperature swings, stimulation injection cooling, and high differential pressures create substantial movement.
The Three Primary Movement Mechanisms
- Thermal Expansion: ΔL_1 = L · α · ΔT (elongates during hot production, contracts during cold water injection).
- Piston Effect: Resulting from differential pressure acting across the annular cross-sectional area between the packer seal bore and tubing.
- Ballooning / Radial Strain: Increased internal pressure expands the tubing radially, causing axial shortening via Poisson's ratio (ν = 0.3).