Correlations of mud rheological properties with cuttings-transport performance in directional drilling

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Drilling Engineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/19535-PA· OSTI ID:5678893

Becker, T E ^[1]; Azar, J J; Okrajni, S S ^[2]

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1. Mobil E and P Services (US)
2. Tulsa Univ., OK (United States)

An experimental study comparing the effects of mud rheological parameters on annular drill-cutting buildup was conducted in a large-scale flow section. Rheological parameters examined were mud yield point (YP); plastic viscosity (PV); YP/PV ratio; power-law exponent; consistency index; Fann V-G Meter dial readings at 600, 300, 200, 100, 6, and 3 rev/min; effective viscosity (calculated by the power-law derivation); and initial and 10-minute gel strengths. Fifteen bentonite/polymer water-based muds were used, ranging from water to a mud with YP and PV values of 20 lbf/100 ft{sup 2} and 40 cp (19.6 Pa and 0.04 pa {center dot} s), respectively. For each mud, flow test were run at annular velocities from 120 to 240 ft/min (37 to 73 m/min) and hole angles from 30 to 90{degrees} from vertical. In this paper the effective drilling rate for all test was 50 ft/hr (15 m/h). Although, 180 tests are analyzed. When data were correlated with annular cuttings volume in steady-state flow, the best fit was obtained with low-shear-rate parameters. These parameters include the 6- and 3-rev/min dial readings and initial gel strength. Correlation coefficients for these were often from 0.9 to 0.95. For hole angles {le}45{degrees} (from vertical), increasing values of these parameters improved cuttings removal (i.e., reduced cutting volume). The same was observed at angles near horizontal, but only in the laminar flow regime. Cuttings volumes were always smaller in the turbulent regime during near-horizontal flow.

• OSTI ID: 5678893
• Journal Information: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Drilling Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Drilling Engineering; (United States) Vol. 6:1; ISSN 0885-9744; ISSN SDENE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
COLLOIDS
CUTTINGS REMOVAL
DISPERSIONS
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
FLUIDS
GELS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
REMOVAL
RHEOLOGY
TESTING
VELOCITY
VISCOSITY
WELL DRILLING