A model for the transport of cuttings in highly deviated wells

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:7199206

Gavignet, A A; Sobey, I J

At present, drilling of highly deviated wells is complicated by the possibility of the formation of a thick bed of cuttings at low flow rates. The bed of cuttings can cause large torque loads on drill pipe and can fall back around the bit resulting in a stuck bit. Previous investigators have made experimental observations which show that bed formation is characterized by a relatively rapid increase in bed thickness as either the flow rate is lowered past some critical value, or as the deviation from the vertical increases. The authors present a simple model which explains these observations. The model shows that the bed thickness is controlled by the interfacial stress caused by the different velocities of the mud and the cuttings layer. The results confirm previous observations that bed formation is relatively insensitive to mud rheology. Eccentricity of the drill pipe in the hole is an important factor. The model is used to determine critical flow rate needed to prevent the formation of a thick bed of cuttings and the inclination, hole size and rate of penetration are varied.

• Research Organization: SEDCO FOREX
• OSTI ID: 7199206
• Report Number(s): CONF-861080-
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
CUTTINGS REMOVAL
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILL PIPES
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLING FLUIDS
DYNAMIC LOADS
EQUIPMENT
FAILURES
FLOW MODELS
FLOW RATE
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PIPES
REMOVAL
RHEOLOGY
STRESSES
TORQUE
WELLS