Directional Drilling Hydraulics Optimization using Conventional and Nanobased Drilling Fluids

Filed in Articles by on July 26, 2022

Directional Drilling Hydraulics Optimization using Conventional and Nanobased Drilling Fluids.

ABSTRACT

During drilling operations, special attention must be given to wellbore hydraulics to ensure functional, safe, economic, and environmentally responsible delivery of the well.

The Hydraulics system shares common purposes with the drilling fluid, it helps to control subsurface pressures, remove cuttings from the well, clean the bit, size the pump, increase the rate of penetration, and minimize surge and swab pressures.

Hydraulics optimization is an attempt to maximize the pressure drop across the bit by minimizing the parasitic pressure losses. A properly designed hydraulic system will help to improve drilling efficiency and lower drilling time and cost.

This thesis examines hydraulics optimization using conventional drilling fluids and nano-based drilling fluids. Nanofluids are specialized fluids obtained by careful combination of nanoparticles and a base fluid. The nanoparticles are particles with an average diameter of less than 100nm.

They possess unique characteristics that differentiate them from microparticles, and make them adaptable to a wide range of applications.

The impacts of rheological models and equivalent annular diameter definitions on annular pressure loss and ECD were examined for the conventional drilling fluids while aluminium oxide nanoparticles were used to examine the influence of nanofluids on the annular pressure gradient and ECD.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT………………………………………………………………………………………………. iv

ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… v

TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………………………………………………….. vii

LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. x

LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. xi

NOMENCLATURE………………………………………………………………………………………………………. xii

CHAPTER 1.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1

FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM…………………………………………………………………………….. 1

  • Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
  • Literature Review……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
    • Hydraulics optimization………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
    • Cuttings Transport Modelling…………………………………………………………………………………. 6
    • Nanofluids Application in Drilling Engineering………………………………………………………….. 8
  • Study Objectives and Significance of Study…………………………………………………………………….. 9

Significance of the Study……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10

  • Research Methodology……………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
  • Organization of the Thesis……………………………………………………………………………………….. 11

CHAPTER 2.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND…………………………………………………………………………………. 12

  • Rotary Rig Hydraulics………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
  • Rheology of drilling fluids…………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
    • Newtonian Model………………………………………………………………………………………………. 13
    • Bingham Plastic Model……………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
    • Power Law Model (Ostwald de Waele’s model)……………………………………………………….. 14
  • Yield Power Law Model (Herchel-Bulkley Model)……………………………………………………. 14
  • API RP 13D Model……………………………………………………………………………………………. 15
  • Other Models……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 15
  • Directional Drilling (Peculiarities and Difficulties)………………………………………………………….. 15
  • Rheological Models Considered………………………………………………………………………………….. 16
  • Pressure Loss Equations………………………………………………………………………………………… 16
    • Newtonian Fluids………………………………………………………………………………………………. 17
    • Bingham Plastic model……………………………………………………………………………………….. 18
    • Power Law model………………………………………………………………………………………………. 18
    • API RP 13D……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 19

CHAPTER 3.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 21

METHODOLOGY AND COMPUTER PROGRAM…………………………………………………………. 21

  • Hydraulics……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 21
  • Pressure, and Velocity Calculations Along The Well Bore………………………………………………… 21
    • Pressure Loss Through Surface Connections……………………………………………………………. 23
  • Bit Optimization Criteria…………………………………………………………………………………………… 27
    • Jet Velocity Criterion………………………………………………………………………………………….. 27
    • Hydraulic Horsepower (HHP) Criterion………………………………………………………………….. 27
    • Jet Impact Force Criteria……………………………………………………………………………………… 28
  • Cuttings Transport Modelling…………………………………………………………………………………….. 28
  • Nanofluid Application: Development of Equations………………………………………………………….. 29
    • Effective Density……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 29
    • Effective Viscosity…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 29
    • Reynolds Number………………………………………………………………………………………………. 30
  • Use of the Computer Program…………………………………………………………………………………….. 31

Required User inputs…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 31

CHAPTER 4…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 34

DATA ANALYSIS, RESULTS, DISCUSSIONS, AND……………………………………………………. 34

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS……………………………………………………………………………………………. 34

  • Sensitivity of Annular Pressure to Inclination………………………………………………………………… 34
  • Impact of Rheological Model and Equivalent Annular Diameter………………………………………… 36
  • Impact of Nanofluids on Hydraulics Optimization…………………………………………………………… 39
  • Discussion of Results……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 42

CHAPTER 5…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 44

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………………. 44

  • Summary……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 44
  • Conclusions………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 44
  • Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 45

REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 46

APPENDICES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 49

Appendix A: Additional Plots…………………………………………………………………………………………. 49

Appendix B: Some MATLAB® codes………………………………………………………………………………. 51

Rubiandini Cuttings Transport Model……………………………………………………………………………. 51

Equivalent Annular Diameter Definitions……………………………………………………………………….. 60

Appendix C: The Computer Program     63

FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM

1.1 Introduction

Hydraulics system plays an important role during rotary drilling operations. Proper design and maintenance of this system increases drilling efficiency (high rate of penetration) and lowers the overall drilling cost. The hydraulic system is the drilling fluid system in the wellbore when the fluid is in static or dynamic state.

The dynamic state deals with the fluid movement, pipe movement, and cutting transport. Drilling is the art and science of making boreholes for hydrocarbon production, in a manner that is safe, economic, and environmentally responsible. An efficient hydraulics system is a prerequisite to the success of any drilling and completions operation.

It affects mud circulation, hole-cleaning efficiency, cementing, rate of penetration (ROP), and hence total drilling time and cost.

Rotary drilling hydraulics is concerned with proper utilization of the drilling fluid pump horsepower. It is affected by the drilling fluid properties and geometry (configuration) of the circulating system.

Rotary drilling involves the circulation of formulated drilling fluids (called mud), to perform certain functions. The functions of the drilling fluid include:

  • To maintain well control by counteracting and suppressing the formation pressure
  • To clean the surface of the bit and transport cuttings to the surface
  • To lubricate and cool the drill

REFERENCES

API RP 13D,: “Rheology and Hydraulics of Oil-well Fluids,” May 2010.
Bahari, A., and Baradan Seyed, A.,: “Drilling Cost Optimization in Iranian Khangiran Gas Field,” SPE 108246, 1967.
Bailey, W.J. and Peden, J.M.,: “A Generalized and Consistent Pressure Drop and Flow Regime Transition Model for Drilling Hydraulics,” SPE Drilling and Completions, Vol 15, No. 1, March 2000.
Bern, P.A., Morton, E. K., Zamora, M., May, R., Moran, D., Hemphill, T., Robinson, L., Cooper, I., Shah, S., and Flores, D.V.,: “Modernization of the API Recommended Practice on Rheology and Hydraulics : Creating Easy Access to Integrated Wellbore Fluids Engineering,” IADC / SPE 98743, 2006.
Bourgoyne Jr., Adam. T . Millheim, Keith . K., Chenevert, Martin. E, Young Jr., F.S.,: “Applied Drilling Engineering,” 1991.
Cho, H., Subash, N.Shah., and Osisanya, S.O.,: “A Three-Segment Hydraulic Model for Cuttings Transport in Horizontal and Deviated,” SPE / Petroleum Society of CIM 65488, 2000.

Comments are closed.

Hey Hi

Don't miss this opportunity

Enter Your Details