Investigating the Solid Transport Capability of Non-Newtonian Fluid in Annulus Bend Section

A directional drilling operation may include one or more bending sections along the drilling profile. These bend sections are the critical segments from the hole cleaning point of view. In this study, a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method was used to investigate the hole cleaning behaviour in annulus bending section. Eulerian-Eulerian multiphase flow model was adopted in this study. The developed CFD model was validated with experimental data. Different non-Newtonian Herschel Bulkley fluids were used to simulate the drilling mud. Solid cuttings of different sizes (2 mm, 4 mm, and 5 mm) were used to replicate the drill cuttings. Different fluid flow rate (0.5 m/s, 1.0 m/s, 1.5 m/s and 2.0 m/s) were investigated to observe the solid settling tendency in the horizontal and bending section. Cuttings accumulation behaviour at different bending radius (10 inch. and 20 inch.) and bending angle (15°, 30°, and 60° from horizontal) were investigated. The simulation study shows that higher viscous fluid performs better hole cleaning at low mud velocity. Furthermore, a turbulent flow regime performs better solid transport in the bending section. Finally, this study summarizes the hole cleaning behaviour of a bend section for a range of fluid velocity, cuttings size and radius of curvature and inclination.

Phenotypic and genetic variation in lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus): applications towards sustainable aquaculture of cleaner fish

Ectoparasitic lice threaten sustainable Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture, as high farm stocking densities facilitate louse infestation thereby increasing mortality rates. Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) have recently been demonstrated to remove lice and are increasingly deployed onto farms as cleaner fish. Commercial stocks of lumpfish are now produced in hatcheries to meet growing demand from farms across the Atlantic, however, concern grows regarding the long-term viability of this practise due to insufficient knowledge on lumpfish biology. Challenges include understanding how patterns of genetic and phenotypic variation influence performance, whether desirable traits can inform captive breeding, potential impacts on wild populations and whether intraspecific variation in cleaning behaviour can be optimized. Therefore, this thesis examined genetic and phenotypic variation in lumpfish across multiple biological scales, ranging from populations down to family stocks and individuals, investigating factors influencing aquaculture performance. Chapter 1 found genetic structure in populations across the Atlantic, with limited gene flow separating regions of lumpfish aquaculture. Chapter 2 identified phenotypic differences in the body morphology of stocks, including variation in scutes and body depth of northern and southern phenotypes. Sexual dimorphism was identified in the mouth, flag, hump and caudal peduncle. Chapter 3 showed further phenotypic differences in fitness-related traits, with faster growth, more active swimming and lower survival associated with northern stocks. Chapter 4 developed protocols to quantify lumpfish personality and found that bolder individuals interacted more with salmon, whereas, a syndrome for social-aggression was linked to antagonistic behaviour. Patterns of genetic and phenotypic variation imply population differentiation is reflected in stocks commonly used in aquaculture. Common-garden trials suggested translocated lumpfish show reduced fitness, therefore establishing regionally-specific stocks may benefit performance and minimise detriment to wild populations via introgression through farm escapes. Personality constituted a major source of variation in cleaning behaviour, selecting bold lumpfish could optimise efficiency.