SPE 29259 An Innovative Model For Drilling Fluid Hydraulics
SPE 29259 An Innovative Model For Drilling Fluid Hydraulics
SPE 29259
An Innovative Model For Drilling Fluid Hydraulics
Antonino Merlo, Roberto Maglione*, and Cesare Piatti*, AGIP SpA
*SPE Members
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Asia Pacific 011 & Gas Conference held In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 20-22 March 1995.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of lnfc;>rmation contained In an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper,
as presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engln!lers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect
any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Its offlcE!rS, or members. Papers presented at SPE meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society
of Petroleum Engineers. Permission to copy Is restricted to an abstract of not mc;>re than 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment
of where and by whom the paper Is presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O. Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836, U.~.A. Telex 163245 SPEUT.
77
SPE 29259 AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR DRILLING FLUID HYDRAULICS 2
So it. is very important to carefully predict the This traditional way to underutilize the laboratory
pressure distribution along the well (in particular the data gets possibilities to misunderstand the mud flow
total pressure drop) and the temperature distribution behaviour and, consequently, to make unrealistic
in the fluid (in particular the circulating maximum hydraulics predictions. Furthermore, it is well
mud t~mperature ). The ~cope of this work is to show a documented tl\e inadequacy of Bingham and Power
new computer program developed in AGIP to law models to represent the flow profiles of
improve our calculation capability in this field. conventional and innovative mud formulations and
This computer program performs hydraulic many authors reported the improvements offered by
calculations for the flow in well during drilling the Herschel& Bulkley (Yield Power law) model.
operation. The three coefficients Herschel & Bulkley equation
Circulation of fluid during drilling operation follows allows to represent the rheological behaviour of fluids
three distinct phases: both with and without yield and, just for this reason,
1. fluid enters the drill pipe at the surface and it allows the user not to spend time in selecting
passes down the drill pipe: between Bingham or Power law models according to
the particular mud formulation considered.
2. fluid exits the drill pipe through the bit and
enters the annulus; To improve the capability of the procedures
recommended by API and to allow to perform
3. fluid passes up the annulus and reaches the
hydraulics simulations with the innovative flow
surface.
model it was decided to furnish the AGIP hydraulics
This process of circulatjon is represented
program with a rheological modulus able to process
schematically in figure 1.
the laboratory data both in conventional and new
For each location the computer program performs
ways to allow better hydraulic simulations and useful
rheological, pressure drop and optimisation
comparisons.
calculations.
The AGIP simulator considers temperature and
pressure influences on the drilling fluid hydraulics
and these capabilities will be documented in a next
RHEOLOGICAL ASPECT paper.
Herebelow are described the eight selected way to
Every one involved in drilling operations knows muds process the viscometer readings:
behave with non-Newtonian fluid flow properties, as 1. Newton model, by using one reading;
their viscosity is not only influenced by temperature 2. Bingham model, by using 600 and 300 RPM dial
and pressure but it is also strongly related to the readings (API 13 RP);
velocity at which the mud runs inside the hydraulic 3. Bingham model high shear, by using the 4
circuit. The drilling fluid velocity, and the resulting readings at 100, 200, 300 and 600 RPM with a
rate of shear at the walls of the conducts, plays an linear regression equation;
important role on the visc0sity of the fluid pumped 4. Power law model high shear, by using 600 and
while drilling and, for this reas0n, it is necessary to 300 RPM dial readings (API 13 RP);
know it in the full range of shear rate usually 5. Power law model low shear, by using 300 and 3
considered for hydraulic calculations. RPM dial readings (API 13 RP);
To obtain the necessary mud viscosity data, it is usual 6. Power law model, full range, by using the 6
to make a compromise between perfection and reality available dial readings;
and sets of measures are performed at different shear 7. Herschel & Bulkley model high shear, by using
rates covering the range of velocities reached both in the 4 .dial readings at 100, 200, 300 and 600
the annulus and inside the drill string. RPM;
Although most of the viscometers nowadays used 8. Herschel & Bulkley model, full range, by using
allows to perform six measures at different shear rates the 6 available dial readings with a non-linear
it is accustomed to use only a couple of them to obtain regression equation.
the coefficients necessary to describe the mud flow For every set of coefficients the program furnishes a
profile according to the API Recommended Practice. Best Index Value, obtained by comparing
78
SPJ;: 29259 A. MERLO - R. MAGLIONE - C. PIATTI 3
79
SPE 29259 AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR DRILLING FLUID HYDRAULICS 4
80
SPE 29259 A. MERLO - R. MAGLIONE - C. PIATT! 5
5
L
ny
y-
_ log(n) + 3.93
50
f = y( Cc * Re rz
where y and z are the coefficients seen in the above
_ 1.75 -log( n) section.
Z- .
7
The pressure drop is calculated using the following The equivalent Reynolds number for this section is
Fanning expression: given by the following expression:
Reeq = Ca*Re
f=-4-(3n+ 1)
Reeq n
81
SPE 292~9 AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR DRILLING FLUID HYDRAULICS 6
f = ..--8~( 2n + 1)
Re~Jq n
while the critical equivalent Reynolds number is • Friction Pressure DrQp for Turbulent Flow.
given by:
The pressure drop is calculated by qsing the Fanning
equatjon:
82
SPE 29259 A. MERLO .. R. MAGLIONE - C. PIATTl 7
while making a POOH trip and without rotating • Bingham and Power law models are quickly
the drill string. solved either by traditional 2 readings methods or
• The pump pressure readings (Stand Pipe more precise methods using 4 and 6 readings.
Pressure) were taken at the manometer located • Herschel & Bulkley model accurately describes
on the rig floor. both the rheological behaviour of pseudoplastic
• The rheological measurements were performed fluids, for which an infinitesimal shear stress will
on a mud sample taken from the shale shaker initiate motion, and Bingham fluids, for which a
outlet while the test was going on. finite shearing stress is required to initiate motion.
• Analytical solution for pressure drop calculations
• Circulation Test in 17 1/2" Section. in pipe and annulus using Herschel & Bulkley
rheological model has been described.
Three circulation tests have been performed at 2008, • The laminar friction factor relation is different
799 and 555 m. All the geometrical hole data and the from the classical expression due to a fraction
Fann VG 35 viscometer readings are reported in the depending from the Herschel & Bulkley flow
tables 5 and 6. behaviour index of the mud. Matching versus the
The mud density was in the 1150-1200 Kg/m3 range. equivalent Reynolds number, in the well-known
Figure 2 shows a scheme of· the Well A, while Moody diagram, the friction factors increase with
performing the test in the 17 112" section. decreasing values of n and its behaviour can be
Figure 3 shows all the geometrical data of the drill drawn with parallel lines for changing values of n.
string. • Hydraulics and optimisation for pipe and annular
A comparison with field and calculated data using the flow are considered and solved using one set of
Bingham, Power law and Herschel & Bulkley measurements or 5 set performed at different P
rheology models is shown in table 9. and T conditions if HPHT rheometer is available.
• Pressure drop field measurements, carried out in a
• Circulation Test in 12 1/4" Section. deep well, at different depths in 17 112" and 12
114" sections have been shown.
Two circulation tests have been carried out at 5006
• The pressure drops, calculated by using the
and 3870 m. All the geometrical hole data and the
hydraulics computer program, are accurate
Fann VG 35 viscometer readings are reported in
compared to the field data, almost by using the
tables 7 and 8.
Herschel & Bulkley rheological model, where very
The mud density was 1920 Kg/m3.
small differences have been found.
Figure 4 shows a scheme of the Well A, while
performing the test in the 12 114" section.
Figure 5 shows all the geometrical data of the drill
NOMENCLATURE
string.
A comparison with field and calculated data using the
r =shear rate
Bingham, Power law and Herschel & Bulkley
T = shear stress
rheology models is shown in table 10.
J.1 =Newtonian viscosity
ro =yield point
CONCLUSIONS f.io = plastic viscosity
n = flow behaviour index
• Rheological and hydraulic aspects of an hydraulic K = consistency index
computer program, developed in AGIP, have been p = fluid density
shown. f = Fanning friction factor
• The hydraulics program calculates models Re = Reynolds number
coefficients and mud hydraulics with conventional = equivalent Reynolds number
Reeq
rotational viscometer dial readings. = critical equivalent Reynolds number
Reeqcr
83
SPE 29259 AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR DRILLING FLUID HYDRAULICS 8
84
SPE 29259 A. MERLO - R. MA(JLIONE - C. PIATTl 9
22. Churchill S. W.:"Friction Factor Equation Conference and Exhibition of SPE, Dallas,
Spans all Fluid Flow Regimes", Chemical September 27-30, 389-396.
Engineering (November 7, 1977), 91-92. 37. Darley H. C. H. and Gray G.: Composition and
23. Ghiringhelli L.: Reologia dei .fluidi, Agip, S. Properties of Drilling and Completion Fluids,
Donato M.se (1981). Gulf Publishing Co, Houston, ( 1988).
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Newtonian Flow in Concentric Annuli", Properties of Water Based Drilling Fluids'',
AIChEJ (December 1981) 26, No 1,152-154. presented at 1Oth International Congress on
25. Iyoko A. W. and Azar J. J.:"An Accurate Slot- Rheology, Sydney, August 14,1988.
Flow Model for Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow 39. Minton R. C. and al.:"Field Measurement and
Through Eccentric Annuli", SPE Journal (May Analysis of Circulating System Pressure Drops
1981) ,565-572. with Low Toxicity Oii Based Drilling Fluids",
26. Compagnie Fran~aise des Petroles: Drilling paper IADC/SPE 17242 pr~sented at IADC
fl-1ud and Cement Slurry Rheology, Edition Drilling Conference, Dallas, February 28, 1988.
Technip, Paris (1982). 40. Alderman N.J., Gavignet A. A., Guillot D. and
Maitland G. C.:"High Temperature High
27. Bukhmart Y. A., Lipatov V. J., Litvinov A. I.
Pressure Rheology of Water Based Mud", paper
and Mitelman B . I.:"Rheodynamics of Non-
SPE 18035 presented at Annual Technical
linear Viscoplastic Media", Journal of Non-
Conference and Exhibition, Houston, October
Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, (October 1982)
2-5, 1988.
215-233.
41. Maglione R. and Robotti G.: "ldentificazione del
28. Craft B. C., Holden W. R. and Graves jr. E.
Fango di Perforazione e delle Malte di
D.:We/1 Design Drilling and Production,
Cementazione da Prove di Pozzo nei Cantieri
Prentice Hall., New Jersey (1983).
Petroliferi", Bulletin of Associazione Mineraria
29. Chilingarian G. V. and Varabutr P.:Drilling
Subalpina (December 1989) 551-568.
and Drilling Fluids, Elsevier, Amsterdam
42. Mnatsakanov A. V., Litvinov A. I. and
(1983).
Zadvornykh V. N.:"Hydrodynamics of the
30. Gucuyener I. H.:"A Rheological Model for
Drilling in Deep Thick Abnormal Pressure
Drilling Fluids and Cement Slurries", paper
Reservoirs", paper SPE 21919 presented at 69th
SPE 11487 presented at Middle East Oil
IADC Drilling Conference, Amsterdam, March
Technical Conference of SPE, Manama,
11-14, 1991.
Bahrain, March 14-17, 1983, 389-396.
43. Chin W. C.: Borehole Flow Modelling in
31. Speers A.: "Computer Aids Analysis of Drilling Horizontal, Deviated and Vertical Wells, Gulf
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32. Whittaker and Exlog Staff: Theory and Rheology Models for Drilling Fluids", paper
Application of Drilling fi1uid l~vdraulics, SPE 24086 presented at Western Regional
IHRDC Publishers, Boston ( 1985). Meeting, Bakersfield, California, March 30,
33. Zaho S.: Idrau/ica dei jluidi di perforazione, 1992.
Agip, S. Donato M.se (1986). 45. Gucuyener H. I. and Mehmetoglu T.:"Flow of
34. Makovei H.: Drilling Hydraulics, Nedra, Yield-Pseudoplastic Fluid Through a
Moscow, (1986). Concentric Annulus", AIChE Journal (July
35. Bourgoyne A. T. Jr., Chenevert M. E., 1992) 38, no 7, 1139-1143.
Millheim K. K. and Young F. S. Jr: Applied 46. Merlo A.: "Modelling for Drilling Fluids
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(1986). Mediterranean Petroleum Conference and
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Fluids Through Eccentric Annulus", paper SPE 47. Marken C. D., He X. and Saasen A.: "The
16692 presented at 1987 Annual Technical Influence of Drilling Conditions On Annular
85
SPE 29259 AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR DRILLlNG FLUID HYDRAULICS 10
Pressure Losses" paper SPE 24598 presented at 53. Barton N. A., Archer G. L. and Seymour D.
the 67th Annual Technical Conference and A.:"Computational Fluid Dynamics Improves
Exhibition, Washington, October 4-7, 1992. Liner Cementing Operation", Oil & Gas
48. Bobok E.: Fluid A1echanics for Petroleum Journal (September 26, 1994) 92-98.
Engineers, Elsevier, Amsterdam ( 1993 ).
49~ Moftah K.:"Ana1ysis Improves Selection of
Rheological Model for Slurries", Oil & Gas
SI METRIC CONVERSION FACTORS
Journal (October 25, 1993) 82-88.
50. Reed T. and Pilehvari A.:"A New Model for
Laminar, Transitional and Turbulent Flow of bar x 1.0* E +05 = N/m2 (Pa)
Drilling Muds", paper SPE 25456 presented at cP x 1.0* E-03 = Pa.s
the 1993 Production Operations Symposium, ft X 3.048* E-01 = m
Oklahoma City, March 21-23, 39-52. g/IOOsqcrn x 9.576 E-0 1 = N/m2 (Pa)
51. Hemphill T., Campos W. and Pilehvari in. x 2.54* E+OO=cm
A.:"Yield-Power Law Model More Accurately
1bp'in2 (psi) x 6.894757 E+OO = kPa
Predicts Mud Rheology", Oil & Gas Journal
lbplOOsqft x 4. 788026 E-0 1 = N/m2 (Pa)
(August 23, 1993)'45-50.
52. Moftah K. :"Basic Program Analyses Fluid lbrsn/IOOsqft x 4. 788026 E-01 = Pa.s11
Rheology to Determine Pump Rates", Oil &
Gas Journal (May 9, 1994) 69-72. * Conversion factor is exact
86
SPE 29259 A MERLO - R. MAGLIONE - C. PIATTl 11
Model Newton Bingham Bingham Power law Power law P6wer law Herschel & Bulkley Herschel & Bulkley
APt 13 Regression API 13 API 13 Regression 4 Readings Regression
High Shear Low Shear
n 1 1 1 0.452512 0.367343 0.328866 0.662965 0.435224
T0 [Pa] 0 11.4913 11.260246 0 0 0 6.703243 1.701993
Temperature 20 30 45 85 too
[oC)
Pressure (MPa] 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.5 1
Rotor Speed Equivalent Fann Dial Reading
[rpm]
600 52 43 40 32 28
300 38 33 31 24 21
200 33 29 27 20 18
100 26 23 22 16 14
6 11 9 8 5 4
3 1 6 5 4 3
87
SPE 29259 AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR DRILLING FLUID HYDRAULICS 12
Tempetature zo 30 45 85 100
[OC]
Pressure [MPa] 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.5 1
Modell: Newton
n 1 1 1 1 1
T0 [Pa] 0 0 0 0 0
88
SPE 29259 A. MERLO - R. MAGLIONE - C. PIATTl 13
89
SPE 29259 AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR DRILLING FLUID HYDRAULICS I4
Rheological Model
Test Depth Puinp Rate SPP
Table 9: Well A- Circulation Test 17 1/2" Section. Measured and Calculated Data Comparison.
I I Rheological Model
I
Test Depth
I PumpRate I SPP mg am
APJ13 RP API 13RP
u ey
Full Range
Error
I I Calculafea Error 1. Calculafed 1 1 Calcwafoo 1 Error
[m]
I [L/min]
I [MPa] [MPa] [%]
I tMPa] I [%] I [MPa]
I [%]
3870 I 1968 I 24.0 22.7 -5.5
I 22.2
I -7.4 I 25.4 I +5.5
5006 I 1968 I 28.0 25.8 -8.0 I 25.5 I -9.0 I 29.3 I +4.5
Table 10: Well A- Circulation Test 12 1/4" Section. Measured and Calculated Data Comparison.
90
SPE 29259 A. MERLO - R MAGLIONE - C. PIATTl 15
anrUUS
botel'"de
wall
bit
J l CP30"x 1"
@52m
17 112" Section
..........
1/ ~ l"clrcUiatlon teSt to 2bOB m
91
SPE 29259 AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR DRILLING FLUID HYDRAULICS 16
eae' 8111'
(·)" 51 It'
(·)"' 271'" 138.11 28.1 10.1 13.4 18.2 38.1 2.8 14.2 2.4 8.6 2.4 2.4 6.1 .4
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
5'0PS18.51
oo-s·
10=49132'
00,,•8518'
10.~•2314'
&'DP E 18.61
00=6'
10=41¥32'
00,~=81/2'
IO,tj•3112'
1712.132' STAB+
151c5'HWDP 1712132'NEAR Bit
oo-s· 00•1712/32'
10*3' 10•3'
J l CP30'x 1'
052m
Caeing:
14" 80.~ (0.243 m)
13 318" 681 (243•1898 m)
13 112" 80.41 (18911-2055 n'l)
13 3/8' 881(2055-3717 m)
" @3717m
12 114" Section
92
SPE 29259 A. MERLO - R. MAGLIONE - C. PIATTl 17
3814.8.
(2678.8)' 918.0 136.9 28.5 10 13 55.8 1.6 13.3 1.4 9.4 1.4 2.1 1.5 .3
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
I
I
401(287)x5"0P S 19.51
00=5"
10=4 9/32"
OO,tj=6518"
IO,tj=23/4"
I ~
96x5"0P E 19.51 ,....-----..J
00=5"
10=4 9/32" 121/4'BIT
90,tj=61/2" 3x16132' Nozzles
IO,tj=31/2'
I
1213/16'N~R BIT
15x5"HWDP
00=1213/16"
~~~-,
I I I I
!,=
9 1/2' Monel 9' Short DC
10=2718'
93