PETE 411

Well Drilling

Lesson 12
Laminar Flow - Slot Flow

Lesson 12 - Laminar Flow - Slot Flow

4The Slot Flow Approximation
4Shear Rate Determination
4Pressure Drop Calculations
4Laminar Flow
4Turbulent Flow
4Transition Flow - Critical Velocity
2

Read:

Applied Drilling Engineering

Ch.4 to p. 145

Homework #6
On the Web
Due Friday, October 4, 2002
3

Representing the Circular Annulus as a Slot

Equal
Area
and
Height
Simpler
Equations
-yet
accurate

Area of equivalent

slot = Wh = r2 r1

Height of slot =

= (r 2 r1 )

Width of slot = W = (r 2 + r1 )

{ slot approximation is OK if (d1/d2 > 0.3 }

Free body diagram for fluid element in a narrow slot

Representing the Annulus as a Slot

F1 = pW y
dp f

F2 = p 2 W y = p
L W y
dL

F3 = WL

F4 = y + yWL = + d y WL
dy

Consider:
- pressure forces
- viscous forces
6

Representing the Annulus as a Slot

Summing forces along flow:

At steady state,

F = ma

F=0

F2 + F 3 F4 = 0

d
dpf

pWy - p L Wy + WL - + y WL = 0
dL

dy

Simplifying,

dp f
d = 0
dy
dL

Representing the Annulus as a Slot

dp f
d = 0
dy
dL

Separate variables and integrate :

dpf
=y
+ 0
dL

Evaluate 0 at wall where y = 0

With Newtonian Fluid Model,

dv
But, =
dy

dp f
dv
=
=y
+
dy
dL

o
8

Representing the Annulus as a Slot

dv
dp f

=y
+ o
dy
dL

dp f

y + 0 dy

dL

dv = -
2

0 y
y dp f
v =

+ v0
2 dL

Since v = 0 when y = 0,

v0 = 0
9

Representing the Annulus as a Slot

Since v = 0 when y = h,

h dp f 0 h
0=2 dL

h dp f
0 = 2 dL

Hence, substituting for v0 and 0 :

1 dp f
v =
2 dL

(hy y )
2

10

Representing the Annulus as a Slot

1 dp f
v =
2 dL

The total flow rate:

(hy y )
2

q = vdA = vWdy
W dp f
q =
2 dL

(hy y ) dy
h

Integrating,
But

Wh dp f
q=
12 dL
2

Wh = (r2 r1 ) and h = r2 r1
11

Representing the Annulus as a Slot

dp f 2
2
2
q =
(r2 r1 )(r2 r1 )
12 dL
But average velocity,
_

12 v
dp f

=
2
dL
(r2 r1 )

In field units,
psi/ft, cp., ft/sec, in

Wh 3 dp f
q=
12 dL

q
q
v= =
2
2
A (r2 r1 )

dp f
v
=
2
dL 1000(d 2 d1 )

12

Example 4.22
Compute the frictional pressure loss for a 7 x
5 annulus, 10,000 ft long, using the slot flow
representation in the annulus. The flow rate
is 80 gal/min. The viscosity is 15 cp.
Assume the flow pattern is laminar.
6
7

13

Example 4.22
The average velocity in the
annulus,
_
q
80
v =
=
2
2
2
2
2.448(7 5 )
2.448(d 2 d1 )
_

v = 1.362 ft/s
_

dp f
v
=
2
dL
1000 (d 2 d1 )
14

Example 4.22
p f

dp f
v
=
2
dL
1000(d 2 d1 )

(15 ) (1.362 ) (10 ,000 )

dp
=
D =
dL
1000 ( 7 5) 2

p f = 51 psi

(= 51.0750 )

A somewhat more accurate answer, using an

exact equation for a circular annulus, results
in a value of 50.9792 psi.
Difference = 0.0958 psi
i.e., within 0.2%
15

Determination of Shear Rate...(why?)

If shear rate in well is known:
1. Fluid can be evaluated in viscometer at
the proper shear rate.
2. Newtonian equations can sometimes
give good accuracy even if fluid is
non-Newtonian.
16

Determination of Shear Rate

The maximum value of shear rate will
occur at the pipe walls.
For circular pipe, at the pipe wall,

rw
=
2

dp f
dL

from (Eq. 4.51)

17

Determination of Shear Rate

From Eq. 4.54b,
_

dp f
8 v
=
2
dL
rw
w

r w dp f
=
2 dL

(at the wall)

_

rw 8 v
=
*
2
2
rw
_

4 v
=
rw
18

Determination of Shear Rate (why?)

_

Using the Newtonian Model,

_

4 v
rw

w 1 4 v 4 v
=
= *
=

rw
rw

96 v
Changing to field units, =
d
sec-1, ft/sec, in

(circular pipe)

19

Annulus:
From the slot flow approximation,

w
But,

h dp f
( r2 r1 ) dp f
=
=
2 dL
2
dL
_

12 v
=
2
dL
( r2 r1 )

dp

Eq. 4.60 c

20

Shear Rate in Annulus

_
_

(r2 r1 ) 12 v 6 v
=
w =
2
2 (r2 r1 ) r2 r1

_
_

w
1 6 v
6v
=
=
=
r 2 r1

r 2 r1

In field units:

Where,

144 v
=
d 2 d1

(annulus)

v is in ft/sec
d 1 and d 2 are in inches

21

Power - Law: Example 4.24

A cement slurry has a flow behavior index of
0.3 and a consistency index of 9,400 eq. cp.
The slurry is being pumped in an 8.097 * 4.5 inch annulus at 200 gal/min.
n = 0.3
K = 9,400

(i) Assuming the flow pattern is laminar,

compute the frictional pressure
loss per 1,000 ft of annulus.
(ii) What is the shear rate at the wall?
22

Example 4.24
q
(i) Avg. vel., v =
2
2
2.448(d 2 d1 )
_

200
v=
2
2
2.448 8.097 4.5
_

v = 1.803 ft / s
23

Example 4.24
1

2+
dp f
Kv
n

Press.Drop ,
=
dL 144,000(d 2 d 1 )1+ n 0.0208

0.3
1

2+
dp f
9,400(1.803) 0.3
0.3

=
dL 144,000(8.097 4.5)1.3 0.0208

_
n

dp
= 0 . 0779 psi/ft
dL

= 77.9 psi/1,000 ft
24

Example 4.24 contd

(ii) Shear rate at pipe wall,
_

48 v
1

=
2 +
(d 2 d 1 )
n
1
48 * 1.803
=
2 +

0.3
8.097 4.5

w = 128 s

= 75 RPM
25

Total Pump Pressure

Pressure loss in surf. equipment

Pressure loss in drill pipe

Pressure loss in drill collars

Pressure drop across the bit nozzles

Pressure loss in the annulus between the drill
collars and the hole wall

Pressure loss in the annulus between the drill
pipe and the hole wall

Hydrostatic pressure difference

( varies)
26

Total Pump Pressure

PPUMP= PSC + PDP + PDC + PB + PDCA+ PDPA (+PHYD)

PUMP

27

Types of Flow
Laminar Flow

Flow pattern is linear (no radial flow)

Velocity at wall is ZERO

Produces minimal hole erosion
28

Types of Flow - Laminar

Mud properties strongly affect
pressure losses

Is preferred flow type for annulus
(in vertical wells)

Laminar flow is sometimes referred to
as sheet flow, or layered flow:

* As the flow velocity increases, the flow type

changes from laminar to turbulent.
29

Types of Flow

Turbulent Flow

Flow pattern is random (flow in all directions)

Tends to produce hole erosion

Results in higher pressure losses
(takes more energy)

Provides excellent hole cleaningbut
30

Types of flow
Turbulent flow, contd

Mud properties have little effect on pressure losses

Is the usual flow type inside the drill pipe and collars

Thin laminar boundary layer at the wall

Fig. 4-30. Laminar and turbulent flow patterns in a circular pipe: (a) laminar
flow, (b) transition between laminar and turbulent flow and (c) turbulent flow

31

Turbulent Flow - Newtonian Fluid

The onset of turbulence in pipe flow is
characterized by the dimensionless
group known as the Reynolds number
_

N Re
In field units,

vd
=

N Re =

928 v d

32

Turbulent Flow Newtonian Fluid

N Re =

928 v d

= fluid density, lbm/gal

where
_

v = avg. fluid velocity, ft/s

d = pipe I.D., in
= viscosity of fluid, cp.

We often assume that fluid flow is

turbulent if Nre > 2,100
33