Conductor casing:

Generally, the first string of casing in a well.

It may be lowered into a hole drilled into the formations near the surface and cemented in place; or it may be driven into the ground by a special pile drive (in such cases, it is sometimes called drive pipe); or it may be jetted into place in offshore locations.

Its purpose is to prevent the soft formations near the surface from caving in and to conduct drilling mud from the bottom of the hole to the surface when drilling starts.

Also called conductor pipe.