A method for estimating the deformation or deformed shape of a portion of a completion string disposed in a portion of a wellbore lined with one or more casings and having one or more tools coupled thereto according to one of: (A) the tools include one or more concentric tools and one or more eccentric tools and the portion of the wellbore is not deviated; (B) the tools include two or more eccentric tools and the portion of the wellbore is not deviated; or (C) the tools include (1) one or more concentric tools, (2) one or more eccentric tools, or both (1) and (2) and the portion of the wellbore is deviated may involve calculating shapes for the completion string where at least one of the tools engages a casing; calculating a deformation energy of the shapes; and selecting a minimal energy shape from the shapes.
