scholarly journals A CFD- RSM study of cuttings transport in non-Newtonian drilling fluids: Impact of operational parameters

2021 ◽  
pp. 109613
Author(s):  
Abdelrahman M. Awad ◽  
Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein ◽  
Mustafa S. Nasser ◽  
Saud A. Ghani ◽  
Ahmed O. Mahgoub
Keyword(s):  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Cuttings Transport

Experimental Investigation of Friction and Hydraulics in Circular and Non-Circular Wellbores With Oil Based Drilling Fluids

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Taghipour ◽  
Bjørnar Lund ◽  
Jan David Ytrehus
Keyword(s):  
Test Section ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Drilling Process ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Flow Loop ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Hole Cleaning ◽  
Experimental Laboratory ◽  
Drilling Operations

Borehole hydraulics, hole cleaning and mechanical friction are important factors for well planning and drilling operations. Many studies aim to exploit and optimize the effect of different operational parameters. The effect of wellbore geometry on hole cleaning and mechanical friction has so far not received much attention. This paper presents results from experimental laboratory tests where hydraulics, hole cleaning and mechanical friction have been investigated for circular and non-circular wellbore geometries with a relevant oil-based field drilling fluid (OBM). The non-circular wellbore geometry was made by adding spiral grooves to the wellbore walls in order to investigate the effects on cuttings transport and mechanical friction. The study contributes to describe the function and ability of deliberately induced non-circular geometry in wellbores as means to achieve a more efficient drilling and well construction. Improving hole cleaning will improve drilling efficiency in general, and will in particular enable longer reach for ERD wells. Reduced mechanical friction may improve the drilling process and many operations during the completion phase. The laboratory experiments were performed in an advanced flow loop setup reproducing field-relevant flow conditions. The flow loop consists of a 10 m long 4” inner diameter borehole made of concrete. A free whirling rotational string with 2” diameter provides a realistic down hole annular geometry. A field-relevant oil based drilling fluid (OBM) was circulated through the test section at different flow rates. To represent the effect of rate of penetration, synthetic drilling cuttings (quartz sand particles) were injected at different rates through the annulus in the horizontal test section. The test results show that borehole hydraulics and cutting transport properties are significantly improved in the non-circular wellbore relative to the circular wellbore. The effect of the mechanical friction is more complex, yet significantly different for the two geometries.

Experimental Investigation of Friction and Hydraulics in Circular and Non-Circular Wellbores With Oil Based Drilling Fluids

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Taghipour ◽  
Bjørnar Lund ◽  
Jan David Ytrehus
Keyword(s):  
Test Section ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Drilling Process ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Flow Loop ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Hole Cleaning ◽  
Experimental Laboratory ◽  
Drilling Operations

Borehole hydraulics, hole cleaning and mechanical friction are important factors for well planning and drilling operations. Many studies aim to exploit and optimize the effect of different operational parameters. The effect of wellbore geometry on hole cleaning and mechanical friction has so far not received much attention. This paper presents results from experimental laboratory tests where hydraulics, hole cleaning and mechanical friction have been investigated for circular and non-circular wellbore geometries with a relevant oil-based field drilling fluid (OBM). The non-circular wellbore geometry was made by adding spiral grooves to the wellbore walls in order to investigate the effects on cuttings transport and mechanical friction. The study contributes to describe the function and ability of deliberately induced non-circular geometry in wellbores as means to achieve a more efficient drilling and well construction. Improving hole cleaning will improve drilling efficiency in general, and will in particular enable longer reach for ERD wells. Reduced mechanical friction may improve the drilling process and many operations during the completion phase. The laboratory experiments were performed in an advanced flow loop setup reproducing field-relevant flow conditions. The flow loop consists of a 10 m long 4″ inner diameter borehole made of concrete. A free whirling rotational string with 2″ diameter provides a realistic down hole annular geometry. A field-relevant oil based drilling fluid (OBM) was circulated through the test section at different flow rates. To represent the effect of rate of penetration, synthetic drilling cuttings (quartz sand particles) were injected at different rates through the annulus in the horizontal test section. The test results show that borehole hydraulics and cutting transport properties are significantly improved in the non-circular wellbore relative to the circular wellbore. The effect of the mechanical friction is more complex, yet significantly different for the two geometries.

scholarly journals Wet Drilled Cuttings Bed Rheology

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1644
Author(s):  
Camilo Pedrosa ◽  
Arild Saasen ◽  
Bjørnar Lund ◽  
Jan David Ytrehus
Keyword(s):  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Parallel Plates ◽  
Single Particles ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Transport Studies ◽  
Water Based ◽  
Fluid Properties ◽  
External Forces ◽  
Cuttings Bed

The cuttings transport efficiency of various drilling fluids has been studied in several approaches. This is an important aspect, since hole cleaning is often a bottleneck in well construction. The studies so far have targeted the drilling fluid cuttings’ transport capability through experiments, simulations or field data. Observed differences in the efficiency due to changes in the drilling fluid properties and compositions have been reported but not always fully understood. In this study, the cuttings bed, wetted with a single drilling fluid, was evaluated. The experiments were performed with parallel plates in an Anton Paar Physica 301 rheometer. The results showed systematic differences in the internal friction behaviors between tests of beds with oil-based and beds with water-based fluids. The observations indicated that cutting beds wetted with a polymeric water-based fluid released clusters of particles when external forces overcame the bonding forces and the beds started to break up. Similarly, it was observed that an oil-based fluid wetted bed allowed particles to break free as single particles. These findings may explain the observed differences in previous cutting transport studies.

Well Control Simulation With Nonaqueous Drilling Fluids

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Chagas ◽  
Paulo R. Ribeiro ◽  
Otto L. A. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Petroleum Industry ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Control Research ◽  
Drilling Operations

Abstract The demand for energy has increased recently worldwide, requiring new oilfield discoveries to supply this need. Following this demand increase, challenges grow in all areas of the petroleum industry especially those related to drilling operations. Due to hard operational conditions found when drilling complex scenarios such as high-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) zones, deep and ultradeep water, and other challenges, the use nonaqueous drilling fluids became a must. The reason for that is because this kind of drilling fluid is capable to tolerate these extreme drilling conditions found in those scenarios. However, it can experience changes in its properties as a result of pressure and temperature variations, requiring special attention during some drilling operations, such as the well control. The well control is a critical issue since it involves safety, social, economic, and environmental aspects. Well control simulators are a valuable tool to support well control operations and preserve the well integrity, verifying operational parameters and to assist drilling engineers in the decision-making process during well control operations and kick situations. They are also important computational tools for rig personnel training. This study presents well control research and development contributions, as well as the results of a computational well control simulator that applies the Driller's method and allows the understanding the thermodynamic behavior of synthetic drilling fluids, such as n-paraffin and ester base fluids. The simulator employed mathematical correlations for the drilling fluids pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) properties obtained from the experimental data. The simulator results were compared to a test well data set as well to the published results from other kick simulators.

Experimental Investigation of Mechanical Friction and Hydraulics for Liner Drilling and Liner Running

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan David Ytrehus ◽  
Ali Taghipour ◽  
Bjørnar Lund ◽  
Knud Richard Gyland ◽  
Arild Saasen
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Friction Coefficient ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Drill Pipe ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Flow Loop ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Transport Efficiency ◽  
Sand Particles ◽  
Norwegian Continental Shelf

The mechanical friction of liner operations is investigated and compared to what is expected for a conventional drill pipe. In addition the cuttings transport efficiency for realistic conditions is studied. The work is also relevant for running completion strings. This article is based on results from laboratory scale flow loop for drilling applications. Sand particles were injected while circulating the drilling fluid through the test section in some of the tests. The procedures used to conduct the experiments are explained and experimental results and observations are discussed. The drilling fluids and additives in these experiments are similar to those used in in fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). Friction coefficient is calculated from the measured torque for different flow velocities and rotational velocities and the force perpendicular to the surface caused by the buoyed weight of the string.

scholarly journals Investigation: Cutting Transport Mechanism in Inclined Well Section under Pulsed Drilling Fluid Action

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2141
Author(s):  
Xiaohua Zhu ◽  
Keyu Shen ◽  
Bo Li
Keyword(s):  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Drill Pipe ◽  
Friction Torque ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Turbulent Dissipation ◽  
Duty Cycles ◽  
Transport Velocity ◽  
Cuttings Bed ◽  
Conventional Drilling

Due to gravity, drilling cuttings are easily accumulated in an inclined well section, ultimately forming a cuttings bed, which places the drill pipe under strong friction torque. In severe cases, this can cause dragging, stuck drills, and broken drill tools. Because conventional drilling fluids are difficult to prevent the formation of cuttings in inclined well sections, a method of carrying cuttings with the pulsed drilling fluid to improve wellbore cleanness is proposed. Experiments and numerical simulations are conducted to investigate the effects of cuttings bed transport velocity, cuttings size, cuttings height, drill pipe rotation speed, cuttings bed mass, and roughness height. The optimal pulse parameters are determined per their respective impact on cuttings transport concerning varied periods, amplitudes, and duty cycles of the pulsed drilling fluid. Compared to cuttings transport under the conventional drilling fluid flow rate, the pulsed drilling fluid produces the turbulent dissipation rate, increases cuttings transport velocity, and thus improves the wellbore clearance rate.

scholarly journals OIL-BASED DRILLING FLUID'S CUTTINGS BED REMOVAL PROPERTIES FOR DEVIATED WELLBORES

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Jan David Ytrehus ◽  
Bjørnar Lund ◽  
Mohammad Ali Taghipour ◽  
Luca Carazza ◽  
Knud Richard Gyland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Test Section ◽  
Field Experience ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Drill String ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Viscous Fluids ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Flow Loop ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Frictional Pressure Drop

Abstract Results from cuttings transport tests in laboratory using different field applied oil-based drilling fluids with similar weight and varying viscosities are presented in this paper. The fluids are designed for highly deviated wells, and the cuttings transport performance at relevant wellbore inclinations was investigated. The experiments have been performed in a flow loop that consists of a 10 meters long test section with 50.4 mm (2″) diameter freely rotating steel drill string inside a 100 mm (≈4″) diameter wellbore made of cement. Sand particles were injected while circulating the drilling fluid through the test section. Experiments were performed at three wellbore inclinations: 48, 60 and 90 degrees from vertical. The applied flow loop dimensions are designed so that the results are scalable to field applications; especially for the 12 ¼” and 8 ½″ sections. The selected setup provides correct shear rate ranges and similar Reynolds numbers to the field application when the same fluids are applied. Results show that hole cleaning abilities of the tested fluids vary significantly with well angle, drill string rotation and flow rate. Results support field experience showing that low viscous fluids are more efficient than viscous fluids at higher flow rates and low drill string rotation. As well as per field experience more viscous fluids are efficient in combination with high drill string rotation rates. The results show the effect of cuttings transport efficiency as function of hydraulic frictional pressure drop, demonstrating methods to achieve more optimal hydraulic design in the tested conditions. The key findings have direct relevance to drilling operations.

Experimental Study of Cuttings Transport Efficiency of Water Based Drilling Fluids

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan David Ytrehus ◽  
Ali Taghipour ◽  
Bjørnar Lund ◽  
Benjamin Werner ◽  
Nils Opedal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Test Section ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Flow Loop ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Hole Cleaning ◽  
Cleaning Performance ◽  
Water Based ◽  
Fluid Properties ◽  
Drilling Cost

One important requirement for a drilling fluid is the ability to transport the cuttings out of the borehole. Improved hole cleaning is a key to solve several challenges in the drilling industry and will allow both longer wells and improved quality of well construction. It has been observed, however, that drilling fluids with similar properties according to the API standard can have significantly different behavior with respect to hole cleaning performance. The reasons for this are not fully understood. This paper presents results from laboratory tests where water based drilling fluids with similar rheological properties according to API measurements have been tested for their hole cleaning capabilities in a full scale flow loop. Thorough investigation of the viscoelastic properties of the fluids were performed with, among other instruments, a Paar-Physica rheometer. Improved understanding of the fluid properties relevant to hole cleaning performance will help develop better models of wellbore hydraulics used in planning of well operations. Eventually this may lead to higher ROP with water based drilling fluids as obtained with oil based drilling fluids. This may ease cuttings handling in many operations and thereby significantly reduce the drilling cost using (normally) more environmentally friendly fluids. The experiments have been conducted as part of an industry-sponsored research project where understanding the hole cleaning performance of various oil and water based drilling fluids is the aim. The experiments have been performed under realistic conditions. The flow loop includes a 12 meter long test section with 2″ OD freely rotating drillstring inside a 4″ ID wellbore made of concrete. Sand particles were injected while circulating the drilling fluid through the test section in horizontal position.

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