Experimental determination of solids friction factors and minimum volumetric requirements in foam and mist drilling and well-cleanout operations. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5059796

Okpobiri, G A; Ikoku, C U

In order to accurately predict minimum air and liquid volumetric requirements for foam drilling operations, the frictional losses due to the solid phase and the settling velocities of such solids must be taken into account. To adequately account for pressure drop across the bits, a new equation which takes the compressibility of foam into consideration is required. Thus, the objectives of this study are: (a) to present a semi-empirical model for predicting frictional losses due to the solid phase in solids-foam slurry flow, (b) to develop a theoretical model for predicting pressure drops across bits for foam, and (c) to utilize these models to predict minimum volumetric requirements for foam drilling operations, taking into consideration the settling velocities of drilled particles. A theoretical model for predicting pressure drop across bit nozzles for foam and mist flows is proposed. It accounts for the compressibility of foams but assumes negligible pressure losses due to friction and changes in elevation. Semi-empirical correlations for predicting friction factor due to solids and suspension are presented for sandstone and limestone particles. A realistic model has been developed for predicting minimum volumetric requirements for foam and mist drilling operations. It accounts for frictional losses due to the solid phase, pressure drop across nozzles and particle settling velocities. The technique offers a high degree of flexibility in the selection of wellhead injection pressures and volumetric requirements. Actual field application of this work can be accomplished by two different methods depending on compressor specifications. These are the variable back pressure and constant back pressure schedules. They are primarily graphical.

• Research Organization: Tulsa Univ., OK (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC19-79BC10079
• OSTI ID: 5059796
• Report Number(s): DOE/BC/10079-48; ON: DE82020945
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
42 ENGINEERING
ROCK DRILLING
FRICTION
PRESSURE DROP
WELL DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
AIR
CORRELATIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUID INJECTION
FOAMS
GAS INJECTION
LIMESTONE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SANDSTONES
CARBONATE ROCKS
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
DRILLING
FLUIDS
GASES
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing
420206 - Engineering- Mining & Drilling Equipment & Facilities- (1980-1989)