Question 3292 Deck General

The correct answer is D) collapse pressure. Oil well casing is designed to withstand both internal and external pressure. The collapse pressure is the maximum external pressure that the casing can withstand before it collapses inward. When the external pressure exceeds the internal pressure by an amount equal to the casing's rated collapse pressure, the casing will fail and collapse. The other options are incorrect because they do not directly relate to the casing's ability to withstand external pressure. Tensile strength (A) refers to the casing's resistance to stretching or pulling forces, hoop stress (B) is the stress in the casing wall due to internal pressure, and burst pressure (C) is the maximum internal pressure the casing can withstand before rupturing.