Hole Cleaning Case Studies Analyzed with a Transient Cuttings Transport Model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
AmirHossein Fallah ◽  
Qifan Gu ◽  
Gurtej Saini ◽  
Dongmei Chen ◽  
Pradeepkumar Ashok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Hole Cleaning

A Probabilistic Belief System to Track the Cleanliness of a Hole in Real-Time

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeepkumar Ashok ◽  
John D' Angelo ◽  
Dawson Ramos ◽  
Michael Yi ◽  
Taylor Thetford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Network ◽  
Real Time ◽  
North American ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Belief System ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Construction Operations ◽  
Hole Cleaning ◽  
Computational Overhead ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Hole cleaning is important in preventing stuck pipe events during well construction operations. A cuttings transport model is traditionally used to determine the cleanliness of a hole, but its real-time rig site implementation is often made difficult by a lack of necessary inputs. There is a need for a simpler yet reliable approach to quantifying hole cleanliness using data readily available at the rig site. The paper proposes a method that relies on the detection of events over a long time horizon and the use of key parameters relating to such events to quantify hole cleanliness. These events are then related through duration and frequency to probabilistic features in a Bayesian network, to infer the probability that the hole cleaning process has been efficient or poor. These events are also weighted by their age to ensure that current beliefs are not strongly influenced by those that are far in the past. The method was deployed on a drilling advisory system and is currently used on rigs in North American land operations. The events and features found to be most relevant to quantifying hole cleanliness were the circulation rates during drilling, tight spots when moving the drillstring, bit hydraulics, and prolonged periods of inactivity. Proactive hole cleaning actions such as working of the pipe, off bottom circulation and pipe rotation were also considered. The Bayesian network model used by the proposed method was able to be run with low computational overhead (micro-seconds on a standard edge device) compared to a traditional cuttings transport model. This was enabled by an event logging procedure that keeps track of hole-cleaning events over time and consolidates several hours (days) of drilling information into relevant hole-cleaning features that can be processed quickly. The proposed method was validated with statistical methods using surface datasets from six wells involved in North American land operations. Through this validation it was determined that the method was highly effective in correctly characterizing hole conditions throughout the well operation. On the rig, the system was helpful in not only in alerting the drillers whenever hole cleanliness deteriorated but also providing the most likely causes of the deterioration. This provided the rig crew real-time guidance to make actionable decisions to avoid a stuck pipe situation. The proposed method differentiates itself from the published methods of hole cleaning analysis in two main aspects. First, it does not presume to estimate the cuttings bed height or accumulation over time. Instead, it attempts to infer the probability that the hole cleaning operations are effective over time using features in data that suggest efficient or poor hole cleaning. Second, this method provides a clear indication of when hole cleaning actions are needed and why.

Real-Time Evaluation of Hole Cleaning Conditions Using a Transient Cuttings Transport Model

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Cayeux ◽  
T. Mesagan ◽  
S. Tanripada ◽  
M. Zidan ◽  
K. K. Fjelde
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Hole Cleaning ◽  
Time Evaluation

Research Progresses of Hydraulics for Extended Reach Drilling in China, Part III: Hydraulics Design Method and Risk Analysis System

2012 ◽  
Vol 524-527 ◽  
pp. 1561-1564
Author(s):  
Xiao Le Guo ◽  
Zhi Ming Wang ◽  
Zhi Hui Long
Keyword(s):  
Risk Analysis ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Calculation Model ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Monitoring Method ◽  
Hole Cleaning ◽  
Theoretical Support ◽  
Analysis System ◽  
Extended Reach Drilling

The extended reach drilling (ERD) is being adopted widely in China. But it also brought a series of technical difficulties because of its own characteristics. Some progresses were made after several years of hard work in China about Hydraulics for ERD. In the paper of “Research Progresses and Perspectives of Hydraulics for Extended Reach Drilling in China, Part I” and “ Part II”, the author demenstrated part of these progresses including cuttings transport model, precise model of pressure loss calculation, hole cleaning monitoring method and hydraulic extended limit calculation model and analysis. In this paper, the rest were presented which inlcuding hydraulics design method and risk analysis system for ERD. Based on the above studies, the author finally developed a system of hole cleaning monitoring and hydraulics design and its risk analysis which could provide theoretical support and useful tool for engineering design and risk analysis before drilling. These researches are helpful to ERD and have enriched the hydraulic theory of ERD.

Hole Cleaning Related Stuck Pipe Analysis During Extended Reach Drilling by Using a Transient Cuttings Transport Model: A Case Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Zeng ◽  
Yijin Zeng ◽  
Feifei Zhang ◽  
Guang Yang ◽  
Yuezhi Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transport Model ◽  
Drill String ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Cleaning Process ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Hole Cleaning ◽  
Solid Transport ◽  
Extended Reach Well ◽  
Extended Reach Drilling

Abstract Insufficient hole cleaning is one of the major challenges in drilling, particularly in extended-reach drilling (ERD). This paper presents a case study of a stuck pipe incident caused by cuttings pack off during drilling an extended-reach well. A generalized, transient, solid-transport model that can handle different flow patterns is used to replay the hole-cleaning process. Results show that, although cuttings beds in the deviated part of the wellbore are not significant while drilling ahead, cuttings can still cause problems during tripping. This study reinforces the facts that hole cleaning in wells with long deviated sections is complicated and a transient approach is required to fully understand the hole-cleaning condition. Effective hole cleaning does not only mean that the cuttings concentration is low or the cuttings transport ratio is high. In addition, the absence of additional cuttings being produced from the shale shaker during circulation does not necessarily indicate that the hole is clean. The cuttings accumulated behind the BHA can lead to tight spots and over-pull incidents during tripping. By conducting drill string reciprocations without circulation, the tight spots can be “worked through” but packed cuttings cannot be removed from the wellbore. This paper presents lessons learned from this incident, as well as recommendations for future operations.

Research Progresses of Hydraulics for Extended Reach Drilling in China Part II: Hole Cleaning Monitoring and Hydraulic Extended Limit

2012 ◽  
Vol 524-527 ◽  
pp. 1553-1556
Author(s):  
Xiao Le Guo ◽  
Zhi Ming Wang ◽  
Zhi Hui Long
Keyword(s):  
Risk Analysis ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Calculation Model ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Monitoring Method ◽  
Hole Cleaning ◽  
Theoretical Support ◽  
Hydraulic Theory ◽  
Extended Reach Drilling

The extended reach drilling (ERD) is being adopted widely in China. But it also brought a series of technical difficulties because of its own characteristics. Some progresses were made after several years of hard work in China about Hydraulics for ERD. In the paper of “Research Progresses and Perspectives of Hydraulics for Extended Reach Drilling in China, Part I”, the author demenstrated part of these progresses including cuttings transport model and precise model of pressure loss calculation. In this paper, the part of rest were presented which inlcuding hydraulic extended limit calculation model and analysis and hole cleaning monitoring method for ERD. Based on the above studies, the author finally developed a system of hole cleaning monitoring and hydraulics design and its risk analysis which could provide theoretical support and useful tool for engineering design and risk analysis before drilling. These researches are helpful to ERD and have enriched the hydraulic theory of ERD.

Real-Time Evaluation of Hole-Cleaning Conditions With a Transient Cuttings-Transport Model

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (01) ◽  
pp. 05-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Cayeux ◽  
Taiwo Mesagan ◽  
Sakti Tanripada ◽  
Mohamed Zidan ◽  
Kjell Kåre Fjelde
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Hole Cleaning ◽  
Time Evaluation

scholarly journals Numerical and experimental investigation on the depressurization capacity of a new type of depressure-dominated jet mill bit

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1602-1615
Author(s):  
Xu-Yue Chen ◽  
Tong Cao ◽  
Kai-An Yu ◽  
De-Li Gao ◽  
Jin Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Rate Ratio ◽  
Area Ratio ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Flow Rate Ratio ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Horizontal Drilling ◽  
Hole Cleaning ◽  
Bottom Hole ◽  
New Type

AbstractEfficient cuttings transport and improving rate of penetration (ROP) are two major challenges in horizontal drilling and extended reach drilling. A type of jet mill bit (JMB) may provide an opportunity to catch the two birds with one stone: not only enhancing cuttings transport efficiency but also improving ROP by depressuring at the bottom hole. In this paper, the JMB is further improved and a new type of depressure-dominated JMB is presented; meanwhile, the depressurization capacity of the depressure-dominated JMB is investigated by numerical simulation and experiment. The numerical study shows that low flow-rate ratio helps to enhance the depressurization capacity of the depressure-dominated JMB; for both depressurization and bottom hole cleaning concern, the flow-rate ratio is suggested to be set at approximately 1:1. With all other parameter values being constant, lower dimensionless nozzle-to-throat-area ratio may result in higher depressurization capacity and better bottom hole cleaning, and the optimal dimensionless nozzle-to-throat-area ratio is at approximately 0.15. Experiments also indicate that reducing the dimensionless flow-rate ratio may help to increase the depressurization capacity of the depressure-dominated JMB. This work provides drilling engineers with a promising tool to improve ROP.

Viscosity and Density Sweeps in Directional Wells

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evren M. Ozbayoglu ◽  
Flavio Rodrigues ◽  
Reza Ettehadi ◽  
Roland May ◽  
Dennis Clapper
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Wells ◽  
Flow Loop ◽  
Cuttings Transport ◽  
Transport Efficiency ◽  
Hole Cleaning ◽  
Bed Erosion ◽  
Inclination Angles ◽  
Similar Density ◽  
Horizontal Wellbores ◽  
The University

Abstract As explorations advance and drilling techniques become more innovative, complex and challenging trajectories arise. In consequence, cuttings transport has continued to be a subject of interest because, if the drilled cuttings cannot be removed from the wellbore, drilling cannot proceed for long. Therefore, efficient cleaning of highly inclined and horizontal wellbores is still among the most important problems to solve, because these types of wells require specialized fluid formulations and/or specific hole cleaning techniques. There are numerous studies and methods that focus in cuttings transportation in highly inclined and horizontal wells. One of them is the use of viscosity and density sweeps. Sweep pills have been used in the drilling industry as a tool to improve hole cleaning. This report presents the analysis of the performance of different sweeps pills working independently and in tandem in polymeric, oil and synthetic based systems and the comparison between them. The main objective of this project is to provide experimental evidence on which types of fluids perform better under certain conditions by studying the effect of viscosity and density in the bed erosion process in highly inclined and horizontal wells. In order to achieve that, several fluid formulations were tested at different inclination angles (90, 75, 60 degrees) in the Small Indoor Flow Loop property of The University of Tulsa’s Drilling Research Projects. The results of the tests are presented in terms of volume of drilled cuttings removed from the test section and measured differential pressures. All the tests were conducted under atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature. Moreover, a 2-Layer model is used for estimating the erosion performance of sweeps for design purposes, and the model estimations are compared with experimental results. From the experiments, it was identified that polymeric, oil and synthetic based muds with similar density and rheological properties eroded and transported the drilled cuttings similarly under similar test conditions. Furthermore, pumping the sweep pills in tandem demonstrated higher cuttings transport efficiency when compared with the sweep pills applied independently.

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