Importance of Hydraulics

Cuttings removal in the annulus

Hydrostatic pressure to balance pore pressure and
prevent the wellbore from collapsing
ECD (Equivalent Circulating Density)
Surge/swab pressures during tripping
Limitation of pump capacity
Optimisation of the drilling operation
It becomes more important for HPHT and extended
reach wells:
Small margin between pore and fracture
pressures
Increased ECD for extended reach wells
Circulating System

Mud pump

Mud pit

Casing & cement

Drill pipe

Annulus Open hole

Drill bit Drill collar

Components of the Pressure Losses

Pressure loss through the surface equipment

From the pump to the top of the drill pipe
Difficult to calculate due to the variation from rig to rig
It is usually taken as 100 psi. Consult the rig personnel.
Pressure loss through the drill string
Downhole tool pressure loss
Varied from 200 psi up to 2000 psi depending on the tools
No general model available.
Consult the service company
Bit hydraulics
Pressure loss through the annulus
Pore Pressure & Fracture Pressure

Pore pressure
The pressure of the formation fluids.
Fracture pressure
The pressure to fracture the formation.
Design criteria
Pore Pressure < Mud Pressure < Fracture Pressure
Consequences of poor design:
Formation fluids flows into the borehole if mud pressure is less
than the pore pressure.
Lost circulation occurs if mud pressure exceeds the fracture
pressure.
Operating Margin of Mud Pressures
Pressure

Mud
pressure
Depth

Fracture
pressure

Pore
pressure
Basic Concepts

Average fluid velocity:

Fluid velocity through the annulus Vf (ft/min)
24 .51 Q
vf
( d h2 d p2 )
Fluid velocity through the drill string Vf (ft/min)
24.51 Q
vf
d2
Where: Q = pump rate (gpm)
d2 = wellbore diameter (inch)
d1 = Outer diameter of the drill string (inch)
d = Inner diameter of the drill string (inch)
Basic Concepts

Hydrostatic pressure:
The pressure acting on the hole bottom due to mud weight.
For a given mud density rf, the pressure imposed by the mud
at a given true vertical depth (TVD) is:

Pst 0.052 r f TVD

rf: = Mud density (ppg)

TVD: = The true vertical depth (ft)
Pst : = Hydrostatic mud pressure (psi)
Criteria for the hydrostatic mud pressure:
High enough to balance the pore pressure of the formation
Low enough to avoid fracturing the formation.
Basic Concepts
Equivalent circulating density (ECD):
Mud weight rf (ppg)
Pressure loss through the annulus Pa (psi)
True Vertical Depth (TVD) (ft)
pa
ECD r f
0.052 TVD
ECD = Equivalent Circulating Density (ppg)
Factors affecting the ECD:
Mud density.
Annular pressure loss Pa.
TVD. The smaller the TVD, the higher the ECD.
Rate of penetration and cuttings size
 Basic Concepts

Equivalent viscosity meq:

In the pressure loss calculations for non-Newtonian fluids, the
equations for Newtonian fluids are usually used. The effective
viscosity for non-Newtonian fluids is the equivalent Newtonian
viscosity of the fluid which would give the same friction factor
versus Reynolds number relationship as that for Newtonian
fluids.
Equivalent diameter Deq:
The equivalent diameter of a non-circular conduit is the
geometric parameter of the conduit based on which a laminar
Newtonian fluid flow through the conduit would give the same
friction factor vs. Reynolds number relationship as that for
Newtonian laminar flow through a circular pipe.
 Basic Concepts
Reynolds number NRe:
Reynolds number is defined as follows (in consistent unit
system):
Deq v f r f 15.47( D 2 D1) v f r f
N Re N Re a
meq m

Critical Reynolds number NRec:

The number for the transition from laminar flow to turbulent flow.
If the fluid Reynolds number is greater than the critical Reynolds
number, the fluid is in turbulent flow regime. Otherwise, the fluid
is in laminar flow regime.
For Newtonian and Bingham plastic fluids: NRec = 2100
For Power Law fluids
N Re c 3470 1370 n
 Reynolds Number

Reynolds number Drill Pipe (NRe)):

378 .78 Q.r

N Re
D.PV

NRe = Reynolds Number

D = Pipe diameter, (in).
PV = Plastic Viscosity (cps).
Q = Flow Rate (gpm).
r = Density (lb/gal).
Pressure Loss Equations Bingham Fluids
The critical velocity (drill pipe):

97 PV 97 PV 2 8.2 D 2 .YPr
Vc
r .D

Vc = Critical Velocity (ft/min)

D = Pipe diameter, (in).
PV = Plastic Viscosity (cps).
YP = Yield Point (lb/100ft2).
r = Density (lb/gal).
Pressure Loss - Pipe

Pressure Loss in Laminar Flow (V<Vc):

L PV .V
Pd (YP )
300.D 5D

Pd = Pressure Loss (psi)

D = Drill Pipe diameter, (in).
PV = Plastic Viscosity (cps).
L = Length of pipe (ft)
V = Fluid Velocity (ft/min)
YP = Yield Point (lb/100ft2).
Pressure Loss Pipe

Pressure Loss in Turbulent Flow (V>Vc):

8.91 x10 5.r 0.8 .Q1.8 .PV 0.2 .L

Pd
D 4.8

Pd = Pressure Loss (psi)

D = Drill Pipe diameter, (in).
PV = Plastic Viscosity (cps).
L = Length of pipe (ft)
Q = Flow rate (gpm)
YP = Yield Point (lb/100ft2).
r = Density (lb/gal).
 Reynolds Number

Reynolds number Annulus (NRe)):

378 .78 Q.r

N Re
( Dh Dp ). PV

NRe = Reynolds Number

Dh = Hole diameter, (in).
Dp = Pipe diameter, (in).
PV = Plastic Viscosity (cps).
Q = Flow Rate (gpm).
r = Density (lb/gal).
Pressure Loss Annulus
The critical velocity (annulus):

97 PV 97 PV 2 6.2( Dh Dp ) 2 .YPr
Vc
r .(Dh Dp )

Vc = Critical Velocity (ft/min)

Dh = Hole diameter, (in).
Dp = Pipe diameter, (in).
PV = Plastic Viscosity (cps).
YP = Yield Point (lb/100ft2).
r = Density (lb/gal).
Pressure Loss - Annulus

Pressure Loss (annulus) in Laminar Flow (V<Vc):

PV .V .L YP.L
Pd
60000 .( Dh Dp ) 2 200 .( Dh Dp )

Pd = Pressure Loss (psi)

Dh = Hole diameter, (in).
Dp = Pipe diameter, (in).
PV = Plastic Viscosity (cps).
L = Length of pipe (ft)
V = Fluid Velocity (ft/min)
YP = Yield Point (lb/100ft2).
Pressure Loss Annulus
Pressure Loss (annulus) in Turbulent Flow (V>Vc):

8.91 x10 5.r 0.8 .Q1.8 .PV 0.2 .L

Pd
( DH Dp ) 3 ( Dh Dp )1.8

Pd = Pressure Loss (psi)

Dh = Hole diameter, (in).
Dp = Pipe diameter, (in).
PV = Plastic Viscosity (cps).
L = Length of pipe (ft)
Q = Flow Rate (gpm)
YP = Yield Point (lb/100ft2).
r = Density (lb/gal).
Bit Hydraulics
Pressure loss at bit PN:

156.8 rQ 2
PN =
( D 1 2 ) 2

PN = Nozzle pressure loss (psi).

r = Fluid density (ppg).
Q = Flow rate (gpm).
D12 = Sum of square of nozzles (32nd inch).

Pbit = Pstandpipe (Pdrillpipe + Pannulus)

Bit Hydraulics

ECD = Equivalent Circulating Density (ppg)

pa
ECD r f
0.052 TVD
Factors affecting the ECD:
Mud density.
Annular pressure loss Pa.
TVD. The smaller the TVD, the higher the ECD.
Rate of penetration and cuttings size
Nozzle Velocity
Nozzle Velocity Vn: Pbit
Vn = Nozzle velocity (fps). VN 33.36
r
Pbit = Pressure Loss at Bit (psi).
r = Mud density (ppg).

If the nozzle velocity is too high hole erosion will occur.

Guidelines for nozzle velocities.
Formation. Nozzle Velocity. (ft/sec)
Hard competent 380 - 450
Medium hard 340 - 380
Fractured, faulted, dipped 320 - 400
or rubble like, soft
Soft, gummy, sticky formations 290- 320
Nozzle Size
Nozzle Size:

0.32.Q
AT
VN

Vn = Nozzle velocity (fps).

Q = Flow rate (gpm).

4 At
Nsize 32 .
3
Bit Hydraulics

Hydraulics impact force Fim:

r Q vn
Fim
1930
r = Fluid density (ppg).
Q = Flow rate (gpm).
Fim = Impact force (lbs)
Vn = Nozzle velocity (f/sec)
Hydraulic Horsepower
At bit: (P N )(Q)
HHP bit =
1714

(P T)(Q)
At pump: HHP pump =
1714
HHP = Hydraulic horse power.
PN = Nozzle pressure loss (psi).
PT = Total pressure loss (psi).
Q = Flow rate (gpm).
Bit hydraulic horsepower relates to the rate at which the fluid
performs work at the bit. (efficiency of cuttings removal from
beneath the bit).
As a rule of thumb the bit HHP should be 3.5 - 4 HHP per
square inch of hole cross section area being drilled.
Surge and Swab Pressures (I)
Surge pressure. Mud pressure increase when running
into the hole.
Swab pressure. Mud pressure decrease when tripping
out of hole.
Affecting parameters:
Viscosity
Tripping speed
Annular geometry
Mud density
Surge and Swab Pressures (II)
The effect is similar to that of a plunger:
A large proportion of kicks while tripping are due to
swabbing.
Excessive surges cause lost circulation, the resultant
loss of hydrostatic head could cause a kick.
The pressure changes caused by surges and swabs
may cause hole sloughing, solids bridges and solids fill
on bottom.
Swab pressures may result in mud contamination by
formation fluids entering the system.
Surge and swab pressures can be reduced by
reducing the pipe running / pulling speed and by
reducing the viscosity.
Effects of P & T on Mud Density

Compressed by pressure
Expanded by temperature
Overall density variation depending on the thermal gradient and
compositions of the fluid.
Water is less compressible than oil or synthetic fluids.
The effects of P & T are more pronounced for OBM than for WBM.
The variation in solids content of mud at a given weight has small
influence on the variation of mud density at depth.
Hole Cleaning Efficiency

Rheology, higher viscosities give better hole cleaning.

Flow rate, needs to be greater than settling velocity.
Particle size, shape; and density will affect its settling
velocity.
Fluid density, higher densities will be more buoyant.
ROP, the rate the particles come to the surface will be the
annular velocity - the settling rate - the R.O.P.
Hole angle, deviated holes are more difficult to clean.
Hole geometry, washed out sections will have lower
annular velocities.
Particle Slip Velocity - Stokes Law
The particle slip velocity is given by:

vs

8160 rp r d p2
(N Re 01
.)
m

vs = Particle slip velocity (fpm).

dp = Diameter of particle (inch).
rp = Density of particle (ppg).
r = Density of Fluid.
h = Viscosity of fluid around the particle (cps).
Procedure for Pressure Loss calculations

Select rheology model and derive rheology parameters based

on viscometer readings
Select the pressure loss equations
Calculate the followings for each section of the string and
annulus:
Critical flow rate
Pressure loss
Compute the bit pressure loss
Estimate the pressure loss through downhole tools and surface
lines
Add all the pressure losses to obtain the pump pressure
Dilemmas in Rheology & Hydraulics Design

Parameters Advantages Disadvantages

High High pump pressure

flow rate Good hole cleaning High ECD
More hole washouts
No kicks or blowouts Loss circulation
High mud
Stable hole Low ROP
density
Good hole cleaning Pressure sticking
Good hole cleaning High ECD
High mud Lower torque, drag High pump pressure
viscosity Good suspension of Low ROP
barite Diff. for solids control
Design Philosophy and Necessary Tools

Definition of optimum rheology and hydraulics:

Best compromises (rheology, hydraulics and related drilling
parameters)
Design philosophy:
Modify mud rheology and hydraulics to meet drilling
requirements
Modify drilling parameters to meet the needs of hydraulics
Necessary tools:
Hydraulics programme
Hole cleaning model
 Criteria of Optimum Hydraulics Design

Pump capacity Hole cleaning Bit hydraulics

Maximum ROP
Tripping in/out

BHA design Cementing

Design criteria operations

Weighting
agent sag Running casing

Pore pressure < mud pressure

Frac. pressure > mud pressure Breaking circulation
 Optimisation of Rheology & Hydraulics
Given parameters

Hole Pump Barite Mud pressures

Other
cleaning pressure sagging Bit hydraulics
criteria

yes yes yes

yes

OK? OK? Tolerable? Tolerable? All met?

no no no no no
yes

Optimum design
Modify parameters parameters