Critical Fluid Velocities for Removing Cuttings Bed Inside Horizontal and Deviated Wells

Özbayoğlu, A. Murat; Saasen, Arild; Sorgun, Mehmet; Svanes, Kåre

doi:10.1080/10916460903070181

Cited by 47 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…It is believed that, cuttings transported in the annulus are not always affected by a single parameter, but a combination of parameters to ensure efficient hole cleaning [4]. Other studies have also confirmed that increase in fluid velocity results in a decrease in cuttings accumulation in the wellbore [5][6][7]. Ozbayoglu and Sorgun [8] also conducted cuttings transport experiment and developed empirical correlations for estimating pressure losses with the presence of cuttings and drill pipe rotation in horizontal and inclined wellbores.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

CFD Method for Predicting Annular Pressure Losses and Cuttings Concentration in Eccentric Horizontal Wells

Ofei

Irawan

Pao

2014

Journal of Petroleum Engineering

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In oil and gas drilling operations, predictions of pressure losses and cuttings concentration in the annulus are very complex due to the combination of interacting drilling parameters. Past studies have proposed many empirical correlations to estimate pressure losses and cuttings concentration. However, these developed correlations are limited to their experimental data range and setup, and hence, they cannot be applicable to all cases. CFD methods have the advantages of handling complex multiphase flow problems, as well as, an unlimited number of physical and operational conditions. The present study employs the inhomogeneous (EulerianEulerian) model to simulate a two-phase solid-fluid flow and predict pressure losses and cuttings concentration in eccentric horizontal annuli as a function of varying drilling parameters: fluid velocity, diameter ratio (ratio of inner pipe diameter to outer pipe diameter), inner pipe rotation speed, and fluid type. Experimental data for pressure losses and cuttings concentration from previous literature compared very well with simulation data, confirming the validity of the current model. The study shows how reliable CFD methods can replicate the actual, yet complex oil and gas drilling operations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cuttings feed concentration which gives an idea of the amount of particles in motion that are introduced to the annular space. This is computed as a function of area of bit, fluid velocity, and rate of penetration (ROP) as [6] …”

Section: Grid Independence Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

CFD Method for Predicting Annular Pressure Losses and Cuttings Concentration in Eccentric Horizontal Wells

Ofei

Irawan

Pao

2014

Journal of Petroleum Engineering

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“…Also, cuttings properties, fluid density, inclination and eccentricity have some effects on the cuttings transport. They [30] still studied the critical velocity with a 4 inch 15 feet long METU flow loop. The results show that the stationary bed is developed when the flow rate is less than 6 ft/sec, and a critical flow rate of 8 ft/sec is required to establish a no-bed condition.…”

Section: The Effects Other Parameters On Hole Cleaningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides the above analyzed factors, flow rate, inclination, critical velocity and other parameters also were investigated by many experiments [20,21,23,[30][31][32].…”

Section: The Effects Other Parameters On Hole Cleaningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of Hole Cleaning in Complex Structural Wells

Sun¹

2013

TOPEJ

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Abstract:Complex structural wells are widely used in the development of marine oilfield, old oilfield and low permeable oilfield. However, poor hole cleaning is often occurred in the highly-deviated sections and horizontal sections of the complex structural wells, which affects rate of penetration and downhole safety.The methods to study cuttings transport can be normally divided into four types: 1) experimental observations, 2) CFD simulations, 3) theoretical correlations and models and 4) field tests. Experimental observations and CFD simulations are mainly used to analyze the effects of different parameters on hole cleaning and obtain some valuable data. Theoretical models and correlations are mainly applied to calculate cuttings bed height, critical velocity and etc to provide the guidance for the design of hydraulic parameters. The accuracy of the first three types are checked by field tests. In this paper, the effects of flow rate, inclination, mud rheology, drillpipe rotation and other factors on hole cleaning, and some typical correlations and models were briefly reviewed before 2000 years, and some new research findings were detailedly addressed. In addition, CFD simulations also were introduced.Although major improvements have been achieved in the past several decades, building a comprehensive and proven model requires much more experimental researches, CFD simulations, in-depth theoretic studies and field tests due to the complexity of cuttings transport under multi-factor interactions.

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“…Table 3 summarizes the simulation input parameters for all three experimental studies. The inlet cuttings concentration was determined using the methods of Larsen et al (1997) and Ozbayoglu et al (2010) for experiments in which cuttings bed porosity was measured (Eq. 29) and when it was ignored (Eq.…”

Section: Cfd Model Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multiparametric CFD analysis of multiphase annular flows for oil and gas drilling applications

Epelle

Gerogiorgis

2017

Computers & Chemical Engineering

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The increasing global energy demand has pushed the oil industry towards developing more innovative and advanced methods of enhancing oil recovery even under unfavourable technical and environmental conditions. The severity of many operational problems affecting the drilling and production of oil and gas wells is worsened by inaccessibility; hence, remedial efforts must be implemented from afar. One of these problems is ensuring efficient removal of formation rock cuttings with a suitable fluid, whose rheology is often complicated. Furthermore, pressure losses along the annular geometry involved, and decreased Rates of Penetration (ROP) due to accumulated drill cuttings downhole, constitute significant portions of the total energy to be supplied. Thus, the application of sophisticated modelling techniques with credible elucidation of the phase distributions (solids, liquids and gas) and prevalent flow regimes becomes essential, if adequate and economic design of a drilling program is desired. The advent of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the growth in the available computational power to support it have provided an unprecedented opportunity to simulate and understand complex real flows, especially when experimental methods become extremely demanding. The present study employs the tool of Computational Fluid Dynamics to simulate a two-phase solid-liquid flow in an annulus based on the analysis of cuttings concentration, pressure drop profiles, axial fluid, and solid velocities as a function of several drilling parameters: drill pipe eccentricity, inclination, drill pipe rotation, ROP and fluid rheology. Special emphasis is however, placed on the impact of changing hole eccentricity on cuttings transport efficiency. The suitability of the Eulerian-Eulerian (EE) multiphase tracking scheme in modelling systems of high volume fractions is fully utilised in this work. A non-Newtonian (power law) fluid model with well-described flow parameters is implemented, considering a uniform cuttings size distribution (3 mm). A commercial CFD software (ANSYS FLUENT TM 17.1) has been used; the descriptive and predictive potential of the CFD software has been confirmed on account of the reasonable agreement with previously published experimental data (a relative error of less than 11% is achieved), as illustrated by the corresponding sensitivity plots. This multi-parametric CFD analysis study of multiphase cutting transport during drilling applications has confirmed that fluid velocity, hole inclination and annular eccentricity are the most influential factors governing the cuttings transport efficiency.2

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Critical Fluid Velocities for Removing Cuttings Bed Inside Horizontal and Deviated Wells

Cited by 47 publications

References 9 publications

CFD Method for Predicting Annular Pressure Losses and Cuttings Concentration in Eccentric Horizontal Wells

CFD Method for Predicting Annular Pressure Losses and Cuttings Concentration in Eccentric Horizontal Wells

Review of Hole Cleaning in Complex Structural Wells

A multiparametric CFD analysis of multiphase annular flows for oil and gas drilling applications

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