PETE 411

Well Drilling

Lesson 14
Jet Bit Nozzle Size Selection

1
 14. Jet Bit Nozzle Size Selection

Nozzle Size Selection for Optimum Bit

Hydraulics:
Max. Nozzle Velocity

Max. Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

Max. Jet Impact Force

Graphical Analysis

Surge Pressure due to Pipe Movement

2
 Read:
Applied Drilling Engineering, to p.162

HW #7:
On the Web - due 10-09-02

Quiz A
Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 - 9 p.m. Rm. 101
Closed Book
1 Equation sheet allowed, 8 1/2x 11 (both sides)

{ Quiz A_2001 is on the web }

3
Jet Bit Nozzle Size Selection

Proper bottom-hole cleaning

will eliminate excessive regrinding of drilled
solids, and
will result in improved penetration rates

Bottom-hole cleaning efficiency

is achieved through proper selection of bit
nozzle sizes
4
 Jet Bit Nozzle Size Selection
- Optimization -

Through nozzle size selection,

optimization may be based on
maximizing one of the following:
Bit Nozzle Velocity
Bit Hydraulic Horsepower
Jet impact force

There is no general agreement on which of

these three parameters should be maximized.
5
 Maximum Nozzle Velocity

Nozzle velocity may be maximized consistent with

the following two constraints:
1. The annular fluid velocity needs to be high
enough to lift the drill cuttings out of the hole.
- This requirement sets the minimum
fluid circulation rate.
2. The surface pump pressure must stay within the
maximum allowable pressure rating of the
pump and the surface equipment.
6
 Maximum Nozzle Velocity

Pb
From Eq. (4.31) v n Cd
8.074 *10
4

i.e. v n Pb

so the bit pressure drop should be maximized in

order to obtain the maximum nozzle velocity

7
 Maximum Nozzle Velocity

This (maximization) will be achieved when

the surface pressure is maximized and the
frictional pressure loss everywhere is
minimized, i.e., when the flow rate is
minimized.

v n is maximized when 1& 2 above are satisfied,

at the minimum circulation rate
and the maximum allowable surface pressure.

8
Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

The hydraulic horsepower at the bit is

maximized when ( p bit q) is maximized.

ppump p d pbit

p bit p pump p d

where p d may be called the parasitic pressure

loss in the system (friction).
9
 Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

The parasitic pressure loss in the system,

p d p s p dp p dc p dca p dpa cq 1.75

if the flow is turbulent.

In general, p d cq m
where 0 m 2

10
Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

p bit p pump p d p d cq m

m 1
pbit q p pump q cq
PHbit
1714 1714

dPHbit
0 when p pump c(m 1)q 0 m

dq

11
Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

p pump c(m 1)q 0

m

i.e., when p pump ( m 1) pd

1
i.e., when p d p pump
m 1

PHbit is maximum when

1
pd p pump
m 1 12
 Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower
- Examples -
1
In turbulent flow, m = 1.75 p d
m 1
pp

1
p d p pump *100%
1.75 1

36% of p pump

p bit 64% of p pump

13
Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower
Examples - contd

In laminar flow, for Newtonian fluids, m=1

1
p d p pump *100%
11

50% of p pump

p b 50% of p pump
14
Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

In general, the hydraulic horsepower is not

optimized at all times

It is usually more convenient to select a

pump liner size that will be suitable for the
entire well

Note that at no time should the flow rate be

allowed to drop below the minimum
required for proper cuttings removal
15
 Maximum Jet Impact Force

The jet impact force is given by Eq. 4.37:

F j 0.01823 cd q pbit

0.01823 c d q (p pump pd )

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 Maximum Jet Impact Force

F j 0.01823 c d q (p pump pd )

But parasitic pressure drop,

pd cq m

F j 0.01823 cd p p q cd q
2 m2

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 Maximum Jet Impact Force

Upon differentiating, setting the first derivative

to zero, and solving the resulting quadratic
equation, it may be seen that the impact
force is maximized when,

2
p d p p
m2

18
 Maximum Jet p d
2
p p
Impact Force m2

- Examples -

Thus, if m 1.75, p d 53% of p p

and p b 47% of p p

Also, if m 1.00 p d 67% of p p

and p b 33% of p p
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Nozzle Size Selection

- Graphical Approach -

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21
22
 1. Show opt. hydraulic path
2. Plot pd vs q
3. From Plot, determine
optimum q and pd

4. Calculate p bit p pump p d

5. Calculate 8.311 *10 qopt
5 2

Total Nozzle Area: ( At ) opt 2

(TFA) Cd ( pb ) opt

6. Calculate Nozzle Diameter

4A tot
With 3 nozzles: dN
3 23
 Example 4.31

Determine the proper pump operating

conditions and bit nozzle sizes for max.
jet impact force for the next bit run.

Current nozzle sizes: 3 EA 12/32

Mud Density = 9.6 lbm.gal
At 485 gal/min, Ppump = 2,800 psi
At 247 gal/min, Ppump = 900 psi
24
 Example 4.31 - given data:

Max pump HP (Mech.) = 1,250 hp

Pump Efficiency = 0.91

Max pump pressure = 3,000 psig

Minimum flow rate

to lift cuttings = 225 gal/min

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 Example 4.31 - 1(a), 485 gpm
Calculate pressure drop through bit nozzles:
8.311 *10 q 5 2

Eq.( 4.34) : pb 2 2
cd At

8.311(10 -5 )(9.6)( 485 )2

pb 2
1,894 psi
2
12
2

(0.95) 3
4 32

parasitic pressure loss 2,800 - 1,894 906 psi

26
 Example 4.31 - 1(b), 247 gpm

5 2
8.311(10 )(9.6)(247)
pb 2
491 psi
2
12
2

(0.95) 3
4 32

parasitic pressure loss 900 - 491 409 psi

(q1, p1) = (485, 906) Plot these two

(q2, p2) = (247, 409) points in Fig. 4.36
27
28
 Example 4.31 - contd 3
2
2. For optimum hydraulics:
(a ) Interval 1, 1
1,714 PHp E 1,714(1,250)(0.91)
q max 650 gal/min
Pmax 3,000
2 2
(b) Interval 2, p d Pmax (3,000)
m2 1.2 2

1,875 psi
(c) Interval 3, q min 225 gal/min
29
 Example 4.31
3. From graph, optimum point is at
gal
q 650 , p d 1,300 psi pb 1,700 psi
min

8.311 *10 qopt

5 2 -5 2
8.311 *10 * 9.6 * (650)
( At ) opt 2
2
Cd (pb ) opt (0.95) * (1,700)

A opt 0.47 in 2
d N opt 14 32 nds
in

30
 gal
q 650 , p d 1,300 psi pb 1,700 psi
min 31
 Example 4.32

Well Planning

It is desired to estimate the proper pump

operating conditions and bit nozzle sizes for
maximum bit horsepower at 1,000-ft
increments for an interval of the well
between surface casing at 4,000 ft and
intermediate casing at 9,000 ft. The well
plan calls for the following conditions:
32
 Example 4.32

Pump: 3,423 psi maximum surface pressure

1,600 hp maximum input
0.85 pump efficiency

Drillstring: 4.5-in., 16.6-lbm/ft drillpipe

(3.826-in. I.D.)
600 ft of 7.5-in.-O.D. x 2.75-in.-
I.D. drill collars
33
 Example 4.32

Surface Equipment: Equivalent to 340

ft. of drillpipe

Hole Size: 9.857 in. washed out to 10.05 in.

10.05-in.-I.D. casing

Minimum Annular Velocity: 120 ft/min

34
 Mud Program

Mud Plastic Yield

Depth Density Viscosity Point
(ft) (lbm/gal) (cp) (lbf/100 sq ft)

5,000 9.5 15 5
6,000 9.5 15 5
7,000 9.5 15 5
8,000 12.0 25 9
9,000 13.0 30 12
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 Solution

The path of optimum hydraulics is as

follows:
Interval 1
1,714 PHp E 1,714(1,600)(0.85)
q max
p max 3,423

681 gal/min.

36
 Solution

Interval 2
Since measured pump pressure data are not
available and a simplified solution technique
is desired, a theoretical m value of 1.75 is
used. For maximum bit horsepower,
1 1
pd pmax 3,423
m 1 1.75 1
1,245 psia
37
 Solution

Interval 3
For a minimum annular velocity of
120 ft/min opposite the drillpipe,

qmin 2.448 10.05 4.5
2 2
120

60
395 gal/min

38
 Table

The frictional pressure loss in other

sections is computed following a
procedure similar to that outlined above for
the sections of drillpipe. The entire
procedure then can be repeated to
determine the total parasitic losses at
depths of 6,000, 7,000, 8,000 and 9,000 ft.
The results of these computations are
summarized in the following table:
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 Table

Depth p s p dp p dc p dca p dpa p d

5,000 38 490 320 20 20 888
6,000 38 601 320 20 25 1,004
7,000 38 713 320 20 29 1,120
8,000 51 1,116 433 28 75* 1,703
9,000 57 1,407 482 27* 111* 2,084

* Laminar flow pattern indicated by

Hedstrom number criteria.
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 Table
The proper pump operating conditions
and nozzle areas, are as follows:
(l)Depth (2)Flow Rate (3)p d (4)p b (5)A t
(ft ) (gal/min) (psi) (psi) (sq in.)

5,000 600 1,245 2,178 0.380

6,000 570 1,245 2,178 0.361
7,000 533 1,245 2,178 0.338
8,000 420 1,245 2,178 0.299
9,000 395 1,370 2,053 0.302 41
 Table

The first three columns were read directly

from Fig. 4.37. (depth, flow rate and pd)

Col. 4 (pb) was obtained by subtracting p d

shown in Col.3 from the maximum pump
pressure of 3,423 psi.

Col.5 (Atot) was obtained using Eq. 4.85

42
43
Surge Pressure due to Pipe Movement

When a string of pipe is

being lowered into the
wellbore, drilling fluid is
being displaced and forced
out of the wellbore.
The pressure required to
force the displaced fluid out
of the wellbore is called the
surge pressure.
44
Surge Pressure due to Pipe Movement

An excessively high surge pressure can

result in breakdown of a formation.
When pipe is being withdrawn a similar
reduction is pressure is experienced. This
is called a swab pressure, and may be
high enough to suck fluids into the
wellbore, resulting in a kick.

For fixed v pipe , Psurge Pswab

45
 Figure 4.40B

- Velocity profile for laminar flow pattern when closed

pipe is being run into hole 46