The Effect of Oil-Water Ratio on Rheological Properties and Sag Stability of Oil-Based Drilling Fluids

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Titus Ntow Ofei ◽  
Bjørnar Lund ◽  
Arild Saasen ◽  
Sigbjorn Sangesland
Keyword(s):  
Yield Stress ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Storage Stability ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Stability Index ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Flow Transition ◽  
Oil Water ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Transition Index

Abstract Drilling fluids for oilfield use consist of complex mixtures of natural and synthetic materials. The viscous properties along with the particle size distribution of the applied weight materials are vital in controlling the stability of the microstructure and density of the drilling fluid. Typical oil-based drilling fluids made for North Sea oilfield drilling application with oil-water-ratios (OWR) of 80/20 and 60/40 are examined with respect to their density stability. The stability was analyzed both at rest and at dynamic conditions using flow and viscosity tests, oscillatory sweep tests, creep tests, and time-dependent oscillatory sweep tests using a scientific rheometer with a measuring system applying a grooved bob at atmospheric conditions. The quantities used in ranking the stability of the fluids include the yield stress, flow transition index, mechanical storage stability index, and dynamic sag index. We observed that the drilling fluid sample with OWR=60/40 showed a more stable dispersion with a stronger structure having higher yield stress and flow transition index values, while the mechanical storage stability index and dynamic sag index recorded lower values. Furthermore, the Herschel-Bulkley parameters for yield stress and consistency index increased in fluid with OWR=60/40, whereas the flow index values for both fluid samples were similar. The results of this study enable drilling fluid engineers to design realistic oil-based drilling fluids with stable microstructure to mitigate weigh material settling and sag of particles for North Sea drilling operation.

scholarly journals On the Stability of Oil-Based Drilling Fluid: Effect of Oil-Water Ratio

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Titus Ntow Ofei ◽  
Itung Cheng ◽  
Bjørnar Lund ◽  
Arild Saasen ◽  
Sigbjørn Sangesland
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Storage Stability ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Stability Index ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Flow Transition ◽  
Water Based ◽  
Oil Water ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Transition Index

Abstract Drilling fluids are complex mixtures of natural and synthetic chemical compounds used to cool and lubricate the drill bit, clean the wellbore, carry drilled cuttings to the surface, control formation pressure, and improve the function of the drill string and tools in the hole. The two main types of drilling fluids are water-based and oil-based drilling fluids, where the oil-based also include synthetic-based drilling fluids. Many rheological properties of drilling fluids are key parameters that must be controlled during design and operations. The base fluid properties are constructed by the interaction of the emulsified water droplets in combination with organophilic clay particles. The rheological properties resulted from this combination, along with the particle size distribution of weight materials are vital in controlling the physical stability of the microstructure in the drilling fluid. A weak fluid microstructure induces settling and sagging of weight material particles. The presence of sag has relatively often been the cause for gas kicks and oil-based drilling fluids are known to be more vulnerable for sag than water-based drilling fluids. Hence, the shear-dependent viscosity and elasticity of drilling fluids are central properties for the engineers to control the stability of weight material particles in suspension. In this study, we examined the stability of typical oil-based drilling fluids made for North Sea oilfield drilling application with oil-water-ratios (OWR) of 80/20 and 60/40. The structural character of the fluid samples was analyzed both at rest and dynamic conditions via flow and viscosity curves, amplitude sweep, frequency sweep, and time-dependent oscillatory sweep tests using a rheometer with a measuring system applying a grooved bob at atmospheric conditions. A high precision density meter was used to measure the density of the drilling fluid samples before and after each test. The measurement criteria used to rank the fluids stability include the yield stress as measured from flow curves and oscillatory tests, flow transition index, mechanical storage stability index, and dynamic sag index. We observed that between the two drilling fluids, the sample with OWR = 60/40 showed a stable dispersion with stronger network structure as evidenced by higher yield stress and flow transition index values, while the mechanical storage stability index and dynamic sag index recorded lower values. The results of this study enable drilling fluid engineers to design realistic oil-based drilling fluids with stable microstructure to mitigate settling and sagging of weight material particles for North Sea drilling operation.

Dynamic and Static Sagging Characterization and Performances of Four Oil Based Muds

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mesfin Belayneh ◽  
Bernt S. Aadnøy ◽  
Sharman Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Yield Stress ◽  
Storage Modulus ◽  
Viscoelastic Properties ◽  
Loss Modulus ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Experimental Result ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Oil Water ◽  
Water Ratio

This paper presents the barite sagging phenomenon of four OBM systems having the same density, but different rheology properties. The investigations of barite sagging is based on dynamic sagging and viscoelasticity testing. The viscoelastic properties related to gel formation of the drilling fluids were investigated under amplitude and frequency sweeps. The study also tries to correlate the results obtained from dynamic sag with the dynamic viscoelastic properties of the drilling fluid and standard API rheology parameters. The results show that as the oil water ratio increases the drilling fluid rheology parameters such as lower shear yield stress (LSYS), yield stress (YS) and plastic viscosity (PV) parameters also increases. In addition, the viscoelastic loss and storage modulus decrease. From the viscoelasticity study, except for 90:10 OWR, it is observed that as the oil water ratio increase, the yield stress and the flow point also increases. The 90:10 OBM shows no viscoelasticity behavior. Comparing the extreme 60:40 and 90:10 OBMs (i.e. as OWR increase), the experimental result shows that the sagging index increases by 9%. The dynamic sagging factor decreases as the ratio of storage modulus to loss modulus increases (i.e. as OWR decrease). Except for high viscosity and hydraulics, the overall analysis of drilling fluids shows that the 60:40 OWR is the better in terms of sagging, filtrate loss and hole cleaning performance.

Flow Loop Investigation of Lubricant Concentration Effect on Mechanical Friction in Drilling Fluids

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan David Ytrehus ◽  
Ali Taghipour ◽  
Knud Richard Gyland ◽  
Bjørnar Lund ◽  
Sneha Sayindla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Friction Coefficient ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Drill String ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Flow Loop ◽  
Steel Tubing ◽  
Steel Sections ◽  
Concrete Elements

A laboratory scale flow loop for drilling applications has been used for evaluating the effect of lubricants on skin friction during drilling and completion with oil based or low solids oil based fluids. The flow loop included a 10 meter long test section with 2″ OD free whirling rotating drill string inside a 4″ ID wellbore made of concrete elements positioned inside a steel tubing. A transparent part of the housing was located in the middle of the test section, separating two steel sections of equal length. The entire test section was mounted on a steel frame which can be tilted from horizontal to 30° inclination. The drilling fluids and additives in these experiments were similar to those used in specific fields in NCS. Friction coefficient was 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. The main objective of the article has been to quantify the effect on mechanical friction when applying different concentrations of an oil-based lubricant into an ordinary oil based drilling fluid and a low solids oil based drilling fluid used in a North Sea drilling and completion operation.

scholarly journals Synthesis and development of smart drilling fluids using nanoparticles to tailor their transport properties for enhanced drilling operations

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ζήσης Βρύζας
Keyword(s):  
Transport Properties ◽  
Yield Stress ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Fluid Loss ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Natural Fractures ◽  
Custom Made ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
Induced Fractures

Η γεώτρηση αποτελεί την πλέον δαπανηρή εργασία σε μια καμπάνια εξεύρεσης και παραγωγής υδρογονανθράκων. Πέραν αυτού συνιστά και την μοναδική διεργασία που δίνει τη δυνατότητα ακριβούς προσδιορισμού των αποθεμάτων στο υπέδαφος. Ο πολφός (γεωτρητικά ρευστά) είναι το ‘αίμα’ της γεώτρησης: παρέχει πίεση, μεταφορά τριμμάτων/θραυσμάτων από τον πυθμένα του φρέατος, ψύξη και λίπανση κοπτικού και στήλης, καθώς επίσης διατηρεί τα θραύσματα εν αιωρήσει όταν υπάρχει διακοπή της κυκλοφορίας. Ως ρευστό γεώτρησης (drilling fluid) χρησιμοποιείται συνήθως ένα αιώρημα πηλού και άλλων υλικών σε νερό. Τα ρευστά διάτρησης με βάση το νερό αποτελούνται από α) νερό, το οποίο αποτελεί την συνεχή φάση και παρέχει το αρχικό ιξώδες (φρέσκο ή θαλασσινό), β) ενεργά στερεά για την ενίσχυση του ιξώδους και του σημείου διαρροής (μπεντονίτης, που συνιστάται στην περίπτωση του φρέσκου νερού και ατταπουλγίτης, αμίαντος ή σιπιόλιθος, που συνιστώνται στην περίπτωση του θαλασσινού νερού), και γ) αδρανή στερεά για την επίτευξη της απαιτούμενης πυκνότητας (βαρύτης, θειούχος μόλυβδος, σιδηρομεταλλεύματα ή χαλαζιακά υλικά).Τα γεωτρητικά ρευστά αποτελούν το 10-20% του συνολικού κόστους κατά την διάρκεια μιας γεώτρησης. Ποσοστό πολύ υψηλό όταν μιλάμε για επενδύσεις εκκατομυρίων δολλαρίων. Λόγω των ολοένα πιο βαθιών αλλά και περίπλοκων γεωλογικών σχηματισμών υπάρχει τεράστια ανάγκη από την πετρελαική βιομηχανία για καινούργια και περισσότερο αποδοτικά γεωτρητικά ρευστά τα οποία θα μπορούν να ανταπεξέλθουν στα ολοένα και πιο απαιτητικά περβάλλοντα θερμοκρασίας και πίεσης. Τα σημαντικότερα ζητήματα τα οποία καλούνται να ανταποκριθούν τα ρευστά είναι οι ολοένα αυξανόμενες συνθήκες πίεσης και θερμοκρασίας στο υπέδαφος που είναι απόροια της αναζήτησης υδρογονανθράκων σε πλέον δύσβατες περιοχές με μεγαλύτερα βάθη που αυξάνουν τους κινδύνους και το κόστος για μια γεώτρηση. Η απώλεια ρευστού κυκλοφορίας (fluid loss) είναι ένα από τα σημαντικότερα και πλέον δαπανηρά προβλήματα κατά την διαδικασία μιας γεώτρησης. Ως απώλεια ρευστού κυκλοφορίας ορίζεται η συνολική ή μερική απώλεια των ρευστών της γεώτρησης σε εξαιρετικά διαπερατές ζώνες (porous sands), σε σπηλαιώδεις σχηματισμούς (cavernous zones), σε φυσικές ρηγματώσεις (natural fractures) και σε ρηγματώσεις προκαλούμενες κατά τη διάτρηση (induced fractures). Τα τελευταία χρόνια έχουν γίνει αρκετές προσπάθειες για την βελτίωση των γεωτρητικών ρευστών με την χρήση νανοσωματιδίων, τα οποία έχουν τη δυνατότητα να βελτιώσουν τις ιδιότητες των γεωτρητικών ρευστών όταν προστίθενται ακόμα και σε χαμηλές συγκεντρώσεις (<1 wt%). Οι μοναδικές τους ιδιότητες σχετίζονται με το μικρό τους μέγεθος και επομένως τον εξαιρετικά μεγάλο λόγο επιφάνειας προς όγκο.Σε αυτή την εργασία, εξετάστηκαν διάφορα εμπορικά νανοσωματίδια (Fe2O3, Fe3O4, SiO2) καθώς επίσης συντέθηκαν, με την μέθοδο της συγκαταβύθισης, νανοσωματιδία μαγνητίτη (custom-made Fe3O4), με και χωρίς επικάλυψη κιτρικού οξέος, τα οποία ερευνήθηκαν ως προς την ικανότητα τους να βελτιώσουν τις ρεολογικές ιδιότητες και την απώλεια ρευστών σε αιωρήματα μπετονίτη. Προκειμένου να χαρακτηρισθούν φυσικοχημικά τα αιωρήματα υπέστησαν ξήρανση με κοκκοποίηση σε θερμοκρασία υγρού Ν2 και κρυοξήρανση. Η μορφολογία, η κρυσταλλική δομή και οι επιφανειακές ομάδες των ξηρών κόνεων εξετάσθηκαν με ηλεκτρονική μικροσκοπία HR-TΕM, περίθλαση ακτίνων Χ (XRD), φυσική ρόφηση Ν2 και φασματοσκοπία FTIR. Οι αλληλεπιδράσεις των σωματιδίων μπετονίτη με τα νανοσωματίδια και οι διάφορες δομές που δημιουργούνται και πως τελικά αυτές επηρεάζουν τις ρεολογικές ιδιότητες των αιωρημάτων εξετάστηκαν με το HR-TEM στους 25°C και 60°C. Με βάση τις εικόνες από το HR-TEM, ένα μοντέλο αλληλεπιδράσεων μεταξύ των διαφορετικών τύπων νανοσωματιδίων και σωματιδίων μπετονίτη δημιουργήθηκε για πρώτη φορά για τέτοια αιωρήματα. Οι ρεολογικές ιδιότητες των παραγόμενων δειγμάτων εξετάστηκαν και σε συνθήκες ατμοσφαιρικής πίεσης (μέχρι 70°C) με την χρήση περιστροφικού ιξωδόμετρου (Grace M3600-Couette type geometry) αλλά και σε συνθήκες υψηλής πίεσης και θερμοκρασίας (69 bar-121°C) (Chandler 7600 HPHT viscometer). Το μοντέλο Herschel-Bulkley χρησιμοποιήθηκε για να περιγράψει τη μεταβολή του ιξώδους με τη μεταβολή των ρεολογικών παραμέτρων δείχνοντας εξαιρετική εφαρμογή για τις διαφορετικές πειραματικές μετρήσεις με συντελεστές συσχέτισης (R2) >0.99 σε όλες τις περιπτώσεις. Οι ρεολογικές μετρήσεις έδειξαν ότι η προσθήκη των νανοσωματιδίων βελτιώνει σημαντικά τις ρεολογικές ιδιότητες των αιωρημάτων μπετονίτη στις διάφορες συνθήκες πίεσης και θερμοκρασίας. Οι απώλειες ρευστών (fluid loss) εξετάστηκαν με φιλτροπρέσες υψηλής πίεσης και θερμοκρασίας (20.7 bar και 121°C) οι οποίες υπολογίζουν τον ρυθμό διήθησης του πολφού μέσω του χρησιμοποιούμενου φίλτρου (κεραμικός δίσκος). Η μεγαλύτερη μείωση στην απώλεια ρευστών επιτεύχθηκε για το δείγμα που περιείχε 0.5 wt% custom-made Fe3O4 με μείωση -40% σε σχέση με το αρχικό δείγμα μπετονίτη που δείχνει την τεράστια ικανότητα των νανοσωματιδίων να βελτιώσουν σημαντικά τις απώλειες ρευστών ακόμα και σε τόσο μικρές συγκεντρώσεις. Τέλος, εξετάστηκε η ικανότητα των παραγόμενων ρευστών να αλλάζουν τις ρεολογικές τους ιδιότητες υπό την επίδραση διάφορων μαγνητικών πεδίων (μέχρι 0.7 Tesla). Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι τα καινούργια γεωτρητικά ρευστά έχουν την ικανότητα να αυξάνουν την τάση διολίσθησης (yield stress) έως και 300% σε σχέση με αυτή που μετρήθηκε χωρίς την εφαρμογή μαγνητικού πεδίου. Αυτό είναι κάτι πολύ σημαντικό που επιτρέπει την χρήση έξυπνων ρευστών (smart drilling fluids) τα οποία μπορούν να εξοικονομήσουν και χρόνο αλλά και κόστη κατά την διάρκεια μιας γεώτρησης.Τα νανοσωματίδια δείχνουν πολλές ελπιδοφόρες δυνατότητες σε εφαρμογές γεωτρήσεων αφού έχουν τη δυνατότητα να βελτιώσουν ή και να λύσουν το πρόβλημα της απώλειας ρευστών, όταν προστίθενται ακόμα και σε χαμηλές συγκεντρώσεις (>0.5 wt%), ενώ ταυτόχρονα βελτιστοποιούν τις ρεολογικές ιδιότητες των γεωτρητικών ρευστών. Η χρήση τους για την ανάπτυξη βελτιωμένων γεωτρητικών ρευστών υπόσχεται να αλλάξει την βιομηχανία των γεωτρήσεων και να την βοηθήσει να εξορυχθούν πολύπλοκοι γεωλογικοί σχηματισμοί πιο αποδοτικά αλλά και οικονομικά.

scholarly journals Experimental Investigation of Water Based Colloidal Gas Aphron Fluid Stability

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Hosseini-Kaldozakh ◽  
Ehsan Khamehchi ◽  
Bahram Dabir ◽  
Ali Alizadeh ◽  
Zohreh Mansoori
Keyword(s):  
Xanthan Gum ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Ammonium Bromide ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Electrolyte System ◽  
Colloidal Gas Aphron ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Filtration Properties

Today, the drilling operators use the Colloidal Gas Aphron (CGA) fluids as a part of drilling fluids in their operations to reduce formation damages in low-pressure, mature or depleted reservoirs. In this paper, a Taguchi design of experiment (DOE) has been designed to analyse the effect of salinity, polymer and surfactant types and concentration on the stability of CGA fluids. Poly Anionic Cellulose (PacR) and Xanthan Gum (XG) polymers are employed as viscosifier; Hexadecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (HTAB) and Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulphonate (SDBS) have been also utilized as aphronizer. Moreover, bubble size distributions, rheological and filtration properties of aphronized fluids are investigated. According to the results, the polymer type has the highest effect, whereas the surfactant type has the lowest effect on the stability of CGA drilling fluid. It was also observed that increasing salinity in CGA fluid reduces the stability. Finally, it should be noted that the micro-bubbles generated with HTAB surfactant in an electrolyte system, are more stable than SDBS surfactant.

Effects of discarded drill muds on microbial populations

1987 ◽  
Vol 316 (1181) ◽  
pp. 567-585 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Close Correlation ◽  
Diesel Oil ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Drilling Mud ◽  
Seabed Sediment ◽  
Sea Bed ◽  
Low Toxicity

Drilling operations from platforms in the North Sea result in the production of large quantities of drill cuttings. These are a variable mixture of rock chippings, clays and original drilling fluids. Drilling mud is cleaned on the platform to remove rock chips before re-use of the mud. The rejected fraction from the clean-up plant (the cuttings) contains some of the base drilling fluid, and this can lead to an organically rich input to the sea-bed. Cuttings are discarded immediately underneath the platform jacket and thus build-up over the natural seabed sediment. In many cases this cuttings pile may cover considerable areas of seabed, leading to seabed biological effects and potential corrosion problems. Different types of cuttings have different environmental impacts, this being partly dependent upon their hydrocarbon component. Diesel-oil based cuttings contain significant amounts of toxic aromatic hydrocarbons, whereas low-toxicity, kerosenebased cuttings contain less. Both types of cuttings support an active microbiological flora, initiated by hydrocarbon oxidation. This paper presents a study of microbiological degradation of hydrocarbons in cuttings piles around two North Sea platforms. Results indicate that there is a close correlation between microbiological activity and hydrocarbon breakdown in the surface of cuttings piles and that both of these parameters reach their maximum values closer to the platform when low-toxicity muds are in use.

scholarly journals Study on the stability of a shear-thinning suspension used in oil well drilling

2018 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávia M. Fagundes ◽  
Nara B.C. Santos ◽  
João Jorge R. Damasceno ◽  
Fábio O. Arouca
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Shear Thinning ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Oil Well ◽  
Drilling Process ◽  
Well Drilling ◽  
Constant Rate ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Solid Liquid

In order to avoid solid-liquid gravitational separation of particles in the drilling fluid and cuttings generated in this process, the oil industry has been developing drilling fluids with shear-thinning and thixotropic characteristics. In case of operational stops in the drilling process, the intense sedimentation of these particles can damage the equipment used and the well. In this context, this study simulated an operational stop to obtain information about stability of solids in a paraffin-based suspension with time-dependent shear-thinning behavior, which has already been used in current drilling processes. A long-term test using gamma-ray attenuation technique identified the separation dynamics of a set of micrometric particles belonging to and incorporated into the drilling fluid during operation. This test verified the typical regions of gravitational sedimentation and, through constant concentration curves, indicated that the sedimentation process did not occur at a constant rate. This study also proposed a constitutive equation for pressure on solids.

Evaluation of Constitutive Equation for Stress in Solids in Porous Media Composed of Bridging Agents Used in Drilling Fluids

2012 ◽  
Vol 727-728 ◽  
pp. 1878-1883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Arantes Moreira ◽  
Flávia Cristina Assis Silva ◽  
Larissa dos Santos Sousa ◽  
Fábio de Oliveira Arouca ◽  
João Jorge Ribeiro Damasceno
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Constitutive Equation ◽  
Filter Cake ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Fluid Loss ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Oil Well ◽  
Well Drilling ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
The Stability

During oil well drilling processes in reservoir-rocks, the drilling fluid invades the formation, forming a layer of particles called filter cake. The formation of a thin filter cake and low permeability helps to control the drilling operation, ensuring the stability of the well and reducing the fluid loss of the liquid phase in the interior of the rocks. The empirical determination of the constitutive equation for the stress in solids is essential to evaluate the filtration and filter cake formation in drilling operations, enabling the operation simulation. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the relationship between the porosity and stress in solids of porous media composed of bridging agents used in drilling fluids. The concentration distribution in sediments was determined using a non-destructive technique based on the measure of attenuated gamma rays. The procedure employed in this study avoids the use of compression-permeability cell for the sediment characterization.

Bentonite Suspension Filtration and its Electro-Kinetics in the Presence of Additives

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-126
Author(s):  
R. M. Farag ◽  
A. M. Salem ◽  
A. A. El-Midany ◽  
S. E. El-Mofty
Keyword(s):  
Zeta Potential ◽  
Rheological Properties ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Colloidal Suspensions ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Fluid Filtration ◽  
Filtration Loss ◽  
Suspension Filtration ◽  
The Stability

Abstract Invasion of fluids into porous media during drilling can lead to irreparable damage and reduced well productivity. Hence, minimizing the filtration loss of the drilling fluid into the formation is very important. The stability of colloidal suspensions plays a crucial role in controlling the interfacial forces and consequently on minimizing the filtration. The zeta potential is an indicator of the stability of colloids with respect to their electrostatic interactions. In this study, the rheological properties of bentonite suspensions are investigated with and without additives. The starch and CMC were used as additives to enhance the rheological properties of bentonite. The effects of these additives on the drilling fluid filtration were examined. Zeta-potential, viscosity, gel strength and yield point were measured to characterize the extent to which control of the filtration loss of the drilling fluids can be achieved. The zeta-potential and the amount of filtration loss of water-bentonite suspensions were correlated. Finally, the results showed that the addition of either starch or carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) enhances the filtration properties of water-bentonite suspensions.

A Wellbore Pressure Calculation Method Considering Gas Suspension in Wellbore Shut-In Condition

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Zhang ◽  
Baojiang Sun ◽  
Zhiyuan Wang ◽  
Shaowei Pan ◽  
Wenqiang Lou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Yield Stress ◽  
Calculation Method ◽  
Optimization Design ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Drilling Fluids ◽  
Drilling Process ◽  
Gas Suspension ◽  
Wellhead Pressure ◽  
Suspension Concentration ◽  
Wellbore Pressure

Abstract In the oil industry, the drilling fluid is yield stress fluid. The gas invading the wellbore during the drilling process is distributed in the wellbore in the form of bubbles. When the buoyancy of the bubble is less than the resistance of the yield stress, the bubble will be suspended in the drilling fluid, which will lead to wellbore pressure inaccurately predicting and overflow. In this paper, the prediction model of gas limit suspension concentration under different yield stresses of drilling fluids is obtained by experiments, and the calculation method of wellbore pressure considering the influence of gas suspension under shut-in conditions is established. Based on the calculation of the basic data of a case well, the distribution of gas in different yield stress drilling fluids and the influence of gas suspension on the wellbore pressure are analyzed. The results show that with the increase of yield stress, the volume of suspended single bubbles increases, the gas suspension concentration increases, and the height at which the gas can rise is reduced. When the yield stress of drilling fluid is 2 Pa, the increment of wellhead pressure decreases by 37.1% compared with that without considering gas suspension, and when the yield stress of drilling fluid is 10Pa, the increment of wellhead pressure can decrease by 78.6%, which shows that when the yield stress of drilling fluid is different, the final stable wellhead pressure is quite different. This is of great significance for the optimization design of field overflow and kill parameters, and for the accurate calculation of wellbore pressure by considering the suspension effect of drilling fluid on the invasion gas through the shut in wellhead pressure.

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