Casing - Conductor Casing

Conductor Casing

Conductor pipe or drive pipe if it is hammer-driven to depth, is the first string of casing to be used. The setting depth can vary from 10 ft to around 300 ft. The normal size range for conductor pipe is from 16 to 36 inches (outside diameter). The conductor pipe must be large enough to allow the other casing strings to be run through it. Purposes of conductor pipe are to:

• raise the level of circulating fluid so that fluid returns are possible

• prevent washouts in the near surface, normally unconsolidated formations