On the Advection-Upstream-Splitting-Method Hybrid Scheme: A Simple Transient-Flow Model for Managed-Pressure-Drilling and Underbalanced-Drilling Applications

Abstract

Summary Transient flow models play an important role in the planning and follow-up of advanced well operations such as managed pressure drilling (MPD) and underbalanced operations. The most recent trend is a situation whereby flow models and control-engineering algorithms are combined in various settings to control flow parameters. This requires robust flow models and an in-depth understanding of uncertainties in the modeling process. This paper presents a simple and robust transient model that can handle highly dynamic flow systems. The model, the Advection-Upstream-Splitting-Model hybrid scheme, was developed for academic and training purposes. With the model, students can investigate different flow scenarios and pressure-control challenges encountered in general well control, MPD, underbalanced drilling, and automation. The capability of this model to handle highly changing flow scenarios is demonstrated with examples taken from MPD and underbalanced operations. The effect of numerical dissipation on the model predictions is briefly discussed.

Analysis of Wellbore Drilling Hydraulics Applying a Transient Godunov Scheme Considering Variations of Injected Flow Rates

“…The well geometry is depicted on the right square using data from Table 1 These surface data are usually observed and controlled at drilling floor. At the same time, the predicted hydraulics is validated against numerical data gotten from [5]. For the case of transient pressures, the right boundary states that circulating mud is returned out of annulus at atmospheric condition.…”

“…Some emerging transient models are unfortunately characterized by high-priced computing budget and complexity [2], [3] and [4]. For instance, the paper [5] is a very interesting paper because it clarifies that transient emerging models have potential applications to fully simulate underbalanced operations. Also, it deeply discusses how efficiency and accuracy are improved by the combination of numerical schemes.…”

A Hydraulic Model for Multiphase Flow Based on the Drift Flux Model in Managed Pressure Drilling

“…A new pressure-based method was developed to address the convergence problem of the drift flux model by Wang [27]. Among the different schemes, it has been confirmed that the advection upwind splitting method (AUSM) schemes are effective solutions to the DFM in terms of their simplicity, accuracy, and robustness [28][29][30]. Not only do these schemes display accuracy in flux difference splitting (FDS) in the boundary layer, they also exhibit robustness in flux vector splitting (FVS) when capturing strong discontinuity.…”

Migração De Gás Em Anular De Poço Em Perfuração Pressurized Mud Cap Drilling

“…Trata-se de uma a metodologia robusta e simples de ser implementada, que vem sendo utilizada para modelar problemas de escoamento bifásico em poços em cenários de perfuração, tanto para simular situações de controle de poço convencionais quanto com a presença do MPD usada em modelos computacionais [10], [17], [33], [42].…”

“…Seguindo o trabalho apresentado em [17], será adotada nesta dissertação a velocidade máxima entre o observado a direita e a esquerda da interface.…”