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A REPORT

Annular Pressure Loss Analysis

Submitted in fulfillment of the award of Degree of Bachelor of Technology
in Petroleum Engineering

Uttaranchal Institute of Technology,

Uttaranchal University Dehradun
Uttarakhand

Submitted by

Proneet Das, Enrollment No. – UU150108164

Rahul Kumar Tiwari, Enrollment No. – UU150108036
Shivalik Yougal, Enrollment No. – UU150108170

Under the Supervision of

Mr. Amkur Jaiswal

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
UTTARANCHAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
UTTARANCHAL UNIVERSITY DEHRADUN
UTTARAKHAND 248007

May, 2019
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CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the work embodies in this Project entitled ‘Annular
Pressure Loss Analysis’ being submitted by ‘Proneet Das, Enrollment No. –
UU150108164, Rahul Kumar Tiwari, Enrollment No. – UU150108036,
Shivalik Yougal, Enrollment No. - UU150108170’ for partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the award of ‘Bachelor of Technology in Petroleum
Engineering’ discipline to Uttaranchal Institute of Technology, Uttaranchal
University Dehradun (Uttarakhand) during the academic year 2018-19 is
undertaken by him under the supervision of the undersigned.

Approved and Supervised by

(Ankur Jaiswal)
(HOD PE Dept.) PE Department
UIT Dehradun UIT Dehradun
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ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION

This thesis studies the correlation between various causes and corresponding
changes in annular pressure loss of drilling fluid, using response in stand pipe
pressure as pressure indicator. Loss in ECD can not be merely explained by
frictional head losses. There are factor that factor into pressure loss causes such
viscosity, tool joints and density changes. The new models for each parameter
predicts the changes in pressure of drilling mud more accurately. Together they
help to predict wellbore pressure with enhanced accuracy. As flow-rate and well
depth increases, calculating well bore pressure has never been more important.
This culminative model helps in accurate prediction ECD which is crucial to
hydraulic calculation needed for managed pressure drilling .

Key Words : flow-rate, tool-joint, pipe rotation, annular pressure loss

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CONTENTS Pg. No.

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 List of Symbols
List the Greek symbols first English letters next, lower case letters and upper
case letters in this order. Each group should be arranged in alphabetic order.
 List of Figures
List the number and captions of the figures with page numbers here.
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1. Introduction

Oil and gas wells are getting more and more complex and with progression of
time due to the deeper depths and shorter mud windows requiring more accurate
mud pressure control in the well. Margin between the fracture pressure and pore
pressure may be very narrow. An integral part of well control is understanding
how the bottomhole pressure(BHP) profile is affected by change in drilling
parameters. As a result, wellbore pressure along with equivalent circulating
density (ECD) of drilling fluid must be calculated accurately and maintained
within the narrow margin to avoid kicks and circulation losses.

Drilling hydraulics is largely affected by friction in drillpipe, annulus, bottom-

hole assembly(BHA) and across bit. Apart from these conventional friction loses
other parameters such as string rotation, flow rate, surging and swabbing have a
significant effect on annular pressure reduction. Other factors like cutting
generation and transportation, installed stand-off devices, tool joints and change
in mud properties also cause wellbore pressure loss.

In this dissertation we present an accumulated theoretical study of the

parameters affecting BHP and the frictional pipe and annular losses.

2. Circulating system Friction pressure loss

2.1 Baseline of SPP

The "benchmark" of the standpipe weight, SPP, is characterized as the weight

amid the interim where SPP and every influencing parameter are steady. So as to
dissect weight changes from this benchmark, it is important to comprehend the
diverse commitments to the all out contact misfortune under ordinary conditions.
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Standpipe pressure (SPP) is the total pressure loss in a system occurring due to
fluid friction. It is the sum of pressure losses collectively in the annulus,
pressure loss in drill string, pressure loss in bottom hole assembly (BHA) and
pressure loss across the bit. Thus, we can write

SPP = Annulus pressure loss + Drill string pressure loss + BHA pressure loss +
pressure loss across the drill bit

Figure 1: Liquid stream way through the goose neck, top drive, drill string and
the annulus. Blue bolts demonstrate liquid stream. ∆ρDP, ∆ρBHA and ∆ρbit speak
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to the weight misfortune through drillpipe, BHA and the boring apparatus
separately. ∆ρannBHA, ∆ρannOH and ∆ρannCSG speak to the annular weight
misfortune over BHA, and over drill string in open and cased gap separately.
∆ρsurface speaks to the weight misfortune through surface channels, goose neck
and topdrive.

2.2 Fluid rheology

Drilling liquids are intended to have a few capacities amid dissemination, for
example, cooling, oil and transport of cuttings. Boring liquids can be a mind
boggling blend of various parts so as to acquire the ideal properties and
characteristics required for a particular activity. The conduct of liquids amid
stream can be portrayed by various stream models as follows:

 Newtonian Model : τ is the shear stress, µ the fluid viscosity, and Γ the shear
rate.
τ = µΓ ,

 Non-Newtonian Model : deviation from the Newtonian fluid behavior occurs

when the simple shear data σ − Γ does not pass through the origin and/ or
does not result into a linear relationship between σ and Γ.

a) Time Independent Viscosity

i. Bingham plastic model: τy is the yield point which defines the minimum
shear stress needed to enable flow, while µpl is the plastic viscosity.

τ = τy + µplΓ ,

ii. Power law model: K is the consistency index and n is the flow behaviour
index (n < 1 for drilling fluids).

τ = KΓn ,
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iii. Herschel-Bulkley fluid : Alluded to as a yield power law model (YPL), has a
yield point beneath which the liquid won't stream. This yield point, or shear
pressure is hypothetically equivalent to the yield point in the Bingham
Plastic model, however has an alternate determined esteem [Hemphill et al.,
1993]. Model parameters n and K can be gotten from the plastic thickness
(PL), yield point (YP), and yield pressure (τy).

τ = τy + KΓn ,

b) Time Dependent Viscosity

i. Thixotropic fluid : Upon application of stress viscosity decreases, shear
thinning.
ii. Rheopectic fluid : Upon application of stress viscosity increases, shear
thickening occurs.

Figure 2: Shear pressure τ versus shear rate Γ for rheology models Newtonian,
Bingham Plastic, Power law and Herschel-Bulkley (Yield Power law). Rheology
estimations are taken from one of the segments in the informational index
utilized for examination.
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Boring liquids are normally non-Newtonian liquids with shear-diminishing

properties. This makes the thickness of the penetrating liquid reduction as the
shear powers following up on the liquid are expanding.

At a particular shear rate, viscosity(γ), is characterized as the subsidiary of the

shear stress as for shear rate, as appeared in condition beneath

However, lower Reynold’s numbers is associated with turbulence, due to the

flow complexity during drilling.

2.3 Pressure loss through the drill pipe

As boring liquid is siphoned down the drill string, a grinding weight misfortune
happens because of the shear powers between the liquid and the pipe divider and
kinematic powers in the liquid. The rubbing weight misfortune over a pipe
section with length L and internal distance across di can be determined by
utilizing the Darcy-Weisbach condition

where ρ is the fluid density and v is the fluid velocity. The friction factor, f, can
be determined by the use of Haaland equation:

ε is the outright unpleasantness of the pipe divider, and Re is the Reynolds. d is

the inward measurement for stream in pipe, or water driven distance across for
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move through annulus. The relative harshness εrel rises to the supreme
unpleasantness partitioned by the width of the pipe.

Interior of the drill string can be considered as moderately smooth and

geometrically reliable from surface to BHA. There is little variety of the steel
surface harshness within the pipe, contrasted with the outside of the drill pipe,
where device joints and the borehole dividers have a rougher surface.

2.4 Pressure loss through BHA and bit

a) Pressure loss through the BHA

The weight drop achieved by stream check through the base hole get together
(BHA) must be resolved freely, as the inner separation crosswise over of each
BHA portion shifts. Besides, turbines and coordinating systems are driven by
the mud stream, causing additional weight disasters. An instance of such
setbacks can be the hardship over the pivoting steerable structure (RSS). RSS
can be driven by a mud stream being diverted as it enters the controlling
instrument. This causes an additional weight disaster, and will add to an
extension in SPP. The weight misfortune over such a device is given as

where ρm - mud weight, qm - flow rate, and CRSS - constant specified by the
producer [Schlumberger, 2010].

b) Pressure loss over bit

As the boring liquid goes through the spout funnels and spouts in the bit, the
stream speed increments. This prompts a change in kinematic vitality just as a
contact weight misfortune through the spout channels. To assess the weight
misfortune over the bit, the Bernoulli condition can be utilized. Point 1 and 2
imply previously and inside the spouts individually.
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Ρ is the weight at the picked point, ρ is the liquid thickness, g is Earth’s gravity,
z is the vertical stature, and v is the normal liquid speed. ∆ρloss is the grinding
misfortune through the spout funnels. The hydrostatic weight distinction over
the bit is irrelevant because of the little contrast somewhere in the range of z1
and z2. Reworking condition above so as to discover the distinction in weight
over the bit gives

The speed through the spouts is thought to be a lot higher than the speed before
the spout funnels. The misfortune through the spout channels, ∆ρloss, just as
passageway and end impacts are made up for by a spout misfortune coefficient,
Kbit, typically provided with a value of 1.11 [Skalle, 2013]. Using these
simplifications, equation above reduces to

where vnozzle is the fluid flow average velocity through the nozzles expressed as

where N is the quantity of spouts in the bit and dnozzle is within distance across of
the spout. Extra weight misfortune may happen if mud is obstructing the spouts
of the bit while penetrating. This is alluded to as "bit balling".

2.5 Pressure loss through the annulus

Like liquid move through a pipe, there is a grating weight misfortune as liquid is
coursed through annulus. Amid annular stream, shear powers will act between
the liquid and the outside of the pipe and borehole divider. A water driven
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measurement, dhyd, must be utilized while ascertaining contact weight

misfortune. The water driven distance across is given as

where Aann is the cross sectional territory of the annulus and Sann is the wetted
border of the annulus. By setting in for the cross sectional territory and the
wetted border of the annulus and growing the articulation for Aann, the condition
for dhyd decreases to

where do and di are the external and internal width of the annulus individually.
In a penetrating circumstance, this will commonly relate to the breadth of the
borehole and external width of the drill pipe or BHA. A general unpleasantness
of 0.05 is normally utilized as a gauge in the open gap some portion of the well,
yet the smoothness of the borehole divider relies upon the development [Woods
et al., 1966].

2.6 Correlation between SPP and ECD

In exhausting exercises, augments in well weight in light of grinding weight

mishap must be considered and made game plans for to deflect breaking and
incidents to the improvement. As of late referenced, SPP addresses the full scale
weight hardship through the course system. The disintegration weight setback
through the drill string, BHA and bit does not impact the base opening weight
(BHP), as they occur before the drilling fluid enters the annulus. They are thus
unnecessary to the weight profile displayed to the course of action. The weight
hardship through the annulus, on the other hand, causes an extension in BHP.

3. Parameters affecting annular pressure losses, theoretical evaluation

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A few parameters influence the weight misfortune through the annulus. The
impact of cuttings in SPP would first be able to be recognized when different
impacts from change in penetrating parameters are comprehended. In this area,
parameters that largely affect SPP are assessed.

3.1 Flow rate

As found in the past segment, the weight misfortune through the drill string, bit,
RSS and annulus are corresponding to the stream rate squared, q2m.
Modifications in the stream rate largely affects SPP and ECD. At the point when
the stream rate is adjusted, the adjustment in weight will happen right away. It is
sensible to expect that interims with steady stream rate will be unaffected by any
past modifications in stream rate. In any case, a short deferral in SPP can be seen
while changing the stream rate. This can be cleared up by the compressibility of
the mud and drill opening, where the length of this delay depends upon the
length of the well. An evaluating bumble in the stream rate may moreover be the
explanation behind this deferral.

3.2 String rotation

At the point when the drill string is turned, the annular stream examples will
vary from those when there is no pivot. Revolution yields an unrelated speed
notwithstanding the pivotal speed from course. As a result of the shear powers
between the pipe and boring liquid, a helical stream example may shape in the
annulus because of the distracting and hub speed as showed in the left piece of
figure 3. The adjusted speed from pivot can influence the rubbing weight
misfortune in various ways. Lab ponders on the impact of pipe revolution on
erosion weight misfortune demonstrate that pivot can cause an abatement in
rubbing weight [Ahmed and Miska, 2008]. Boring liquids are normally non-
Newtonian liquids with shear-diminishing properties. Turn of the drill string
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makes the consistency of the boring liquid lessening, as the shear rate is
expanded.

The apparent viscosity µ for a Herschel-Bulkley fluid can be derived from

Herschel-Bulkley model, yielding

Figure 3: Left: Helical stream designs created by annular stream and turn of the
drill string in a concentric annulus. Right: Capricious annulus where the drill
string is situated of focus in the annular cross area. This adds to altering the
course and increasing speed of the annular stream, causing disturbance and
diminishing the shear diminishing impact.

As observed from above condition, consistency µ diminishes with an expanding

shear rate Γ. The shear rate, Γ, which is the situation amid turn [Ahmed and
Miska, 2008]. A diminishing thickness yields a higher Reynolds number,
bringing about a lower grinding component and grating weight misfortune.
Following this, a higher pivot yields a lower annular weight misfortune. Be that
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as it may, for this situation it is accepted that the annulus is concentric, giving a
helical stream design in the annulus.

The supposition of a concentric annulus is oftentimes not sensible. The drill

string is adaptable and has the probability to wobble in the hole. It will in
general be arranged contrastingly in the wellbore cross section at different
profundities, dependent upon propensity and catch load. In perspective on
irregularity, wobbling and geometrical irregularities in the well, unevenness can
occur, as spoke to in figure 3 (right). This adds to an extension in annular weight
setback, as saw in most field cases, where the effect of the unpredictability
manages the shear-lessening sway [Ahmed and Miska, 2008].

3.3 Swab and Surge

When tripping the drill string into the borehole, mud is uprooted by the drill
string. The dislodged mud causes a change in annular stream speed around the
pipe, prompting an expanded grinding weight misfortune. This extra
commitment to the BHP is alluded to as flood weight. In the event that the pipe
is hauled out of the opening, the penetrating liquid will stream to supplant the
volume of drill pipe expelled from the gap. This will cause a reduction in
annular speed, and along these lines a diminishing in grinding weight misfortune.
The accompanying decrease in SPP brought about by this, is alluded to as swab.
Annular stream brought about by pipe development is outlined in figure 4.
While computing weight changes from either flood or swab, it is important to
make improving presumptions.
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Figure 4: Annular flow as a result of pipe pulling and running.

When performing computations on flood and swab weights, the drill string is
normally thought to be close-finished at the base. By expecting this, the
additional volume either involved amid flood or expelled amid swab, can be
determined. Condition beneath demonstrates the absolute stream rate as a
component of pipe development, siphon rate and opening size.

qm is the siphon rate of the boring liquid, V is the volume rate being expelled or
dislodged by the drill string amid swab or flood separately. vp is the stumbling
speed, for example the speed of the drill string while being kept running in or
out of the opening. Running the pipe into the pipe is characterized as the
positive course, giving an expanded liquid stream rate while stumbling in, and a
diminished stream while stumbling out. qcling represents the mud that sticks to
the string when pulling or running the pipe. Ap is the cross sectional region of
the shut drill pipe.
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By separating the all out stream rate by the annular cross segment, the annular
speed brought about by course and drill string development can be
communicated:

do is the borehole diameter or casing diameter and dp is the drill pipe’s outer
diameter

Consistent state stream conditions are generally expected, which means no

adjustments in stream rate while the segment is being assessed. All together for
the stream example to stay consistent over the assessed segment, the annular
geometry is thought to be concentric, in spite of the fact that this is typically not
the situation in a reasonable circumstance. Trial results demonstrate that the
weight change brought about by flood and swab can be decreased by up to 40 %
because of capriciousness [Crespo et al., 2012].

Weight changes because of flood and swab is experienced amid pulling or

running of pipe in opening, for example, amid trek out or in. This proposal
centers around weight changes identified with penetrating and reaming. The
most astounding channel speed applicable to dissected interims in this
proposition, will be experienced amid reaming. The weight changes brought
about by this must be mulled over while distinguishing key commitments to SPP.
The weight change experienced amid flood and swab is given by condition
underneath [Crespo et al., 2012].
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f is the fanning grinding factor, vann is the annular speed from the mud siphons,
do is the breadth of the drag gap and L is the deliberate profundity from surface
to bit. The rubbing component can be determined by utilizing the Haaland.

3.4 Change in Mud Properties

Change in temperature largely influences SPP [Rommetveit and Bjørkevoll,

1997], as the consistency and thickness of the entering fluid are the two
components of temperature. A general rule is that consistency lessens with
extending temperatures. Advancement temperature increases with vertical
significance, warming infection infiltrating mud when guided down from the
contraption or stage. Right when the mud passes the bit and adventures upwards,
the mud will at some point or another have a higher temperature than the game
plan temperature, inciting cooling of the mud. Both present minute and whole
deal impacts in SPP can happen in light of changes in temperature. After a
period of no siphoning and irrelevant course of the mud, the mud temperature
approaches the temperature of the advancement. While keeping siphoning, hot
mud will be ousted by colder mud, causing fast weight changes. As mud is
warmed by the course of action in the midst of dispersal, the temperature of the
mud in the pits on the mechanical assembly will increase, influencing the mud
properties and SPP on longer term. Infiltrating mud is a compressible fluid, and
mass thickness of the fluid is a component of both weight and temperature. A
development in weight will pack the fluid, and result in a higher thickness, while
a decrease in weight will influence the fluid to develop. Growing temperature
will in like manner cause a decrease in thickness, while the thickness augments
by cooling of the mud. Inside the drill pipe the weight is high and the
temperature modestly low, realizing a high thickness. The least mass thickness
occurs in the wake of passing the bit, where the mud has been warmed by the
earth, and weight is commonly low after a broad weight drop over the bit. The
thickness by then additions upwards through the annulus on account of cooling,
in spite of the way that weight is reducing [Cayeux et al., 2013]. An other
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marvel that may impact SPP is gelling of the mud, for instance increase in
consistency after a progressively drawn out nonattendance of shear powers
associated on the exhausting fluid. After a period without turn or course, for
instance, in the midst of affiliations, a higher SPP can be seen when starting the
mud siphons. The SPP comes back to normal after a couple of minutes if the
affiliation time is short. Regardless, higher SPP in view of gelling can be looked
for a couple of hours depending upon the shear history of the mud, according to
Rommetveit and Bjørkevoll [1997]. High consistency pills, for instance
siphoning high thickness mud briefly to improve opening cleaning, may in like
manner impact the SPP. When drilling into an advancement containing gas, the
gas seeks after the mud up to surface, lessening the consistency of the mud. This
may incite a decrease in SPP.

The changes in mud properties referenced above are hard to address for as there
are various darken parameters, confined appropriated theory and uncertain and
fluctuating downhole conditions. Our system in this speculations is thusly to
keep up a key separation from data breaks where recently referenced effects may
occur, and rather look at changes in SPP between stable periods.

3.5 Tool-joint Effect

Total annular frictional losses due to tool joint including:

i) pressure loss across the tool-joint that doesn't account for the contraction and
expansion losses; and

ii) .pressure loss due to tool-joint contraction and expansion,

as shown in Figure 5.
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Figure 5 : Tool-joint section of drill string

Hence, …(1)

The pressure loss ΔPf1 includes pressure losses in the narrow and wide regions
of the tool joint. Therefore, ΔPf1 is calculated as the sum of these two
components:

...(2)
Under the condition of laminar flow, for power law fluids, shear stress on the
walls in the annulus can be predicted using the narrow slot approximation
method as:

...(3)
For turbulent flow, shear stress on the wall is calculated as:

…(4)
Wheref is the fanning friction factor. It can be estimated using the following
correlation. For smooth pipe, friction factorcan be calculated by Dodge and
Metzner equation [13]:
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…(5)
For rough pipe, fanning friction factor is calculated as:

…(6)
The hydraulic diameters of the narrow and wide parts of the tool-joint are
determined as:

…(7)
The pressure loss ΔPf2 includes pressure losses due to tool-joint contraction and
expansion. Hence:

…(8)
Dci ‐ the inner diameter of casing, m; Dpo, DTJ ‐ the outer diameters of the
drillpipe and tool-joint, respectively, m; ΔPc ‐ the pressure loss due to tool-joint
contraction and expansion, respectively, Pa; Contraction and expansion effects
of the tool-joint are modeled using the same definition as Jeong and Shah.
Accordingly, the contraction pressure loss, ΔPc, is:

…(9)
where, Kc is the contraction head loss coefficient. For squared tool-joint, the
contraction head loss coefficient is:

…(10)
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For tapered tool-joint, the contraction head loss coefficient is calculated as:

…(11)
Similarly, the expansion pressure loss ΔPe can be defined as:

…(12)
where, Ke is the expansion head loss coefficient, which can be determined for
both squared and tapered tool-joint as:

…(13)
Applying the energy balance, the pressure difference between Point 1 and Point
2 (i.e. pressure loss) is expressed as:

…(14)
where, ρ ‐ density of the fluid, kg/m3; vN ‐ the fluid mean velocity in the
narrow area around the tool-joint, m/s. AN, AW ‐ the areas of the narrow and
wide sections of the tool joints, respectively, m2.
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CONCLUSIONS

From this study we can see a few trends materializing. Further conclusions can
be drawn:

i. A correlation between changes in ROP and standpipe pressure is observed in

throughout the sections.

ii. Friction factor is directly related to flow rate. A steady flow rate reduces
frictional losses in mud.

iii. Friction factor is low during swabbing and high during surging giving rise to
low and high frictional losses respectively.

iv. As pipe rotation increases, at low flow rates annular pressure loss slightly
decreases . However, the annular pressure loss increase at high low rates.

v. As pipe revolution increments, there is no clear pattern at low stream rates in

apparatus joint weight misfortune. At high stream rates, the weight
misfortune may increment or reduction relying upon the aftereffect of
inertial impact and shear diminishing.

vi. As pipe revolution increments, there is no clear pattern at low stream rates in
apparatus joint weight misfortune. At high stream rates, the weight
misfortune may increment or reduction relying upon the aftereffect of
inertial impact and shear diminishing.
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References

I. Majed Sadeg Enfis,“The Effects of Tool-joint on Annular Pressure Loss”, M.

S Thesis, U. of Oklahoma, 2011

II. Dodge D.W, Metzner A.B,“Turbulent Flow of Non-Newtonian Systems”.

AIChE Journal, vol.5, 1959, pp.189-204.

III. Ooms G, Kampman-Reinhartz B.E,“Influence of Drillpipe Rotation and

Eccentricity on Pressure Drop over Borehole with Newtonian Liquid during
Drilling”. J. SPE Drill and Completion, vol.15,pp. 249-253, 2000,
doi:10.2118/67618-PA.

IV. Scheid C.M, Calcada L.A.,“Prediction of Pressure Losses in Drilling Fluid

Flows in Circular and Annular Pipes and Accessories”, SPE Latin
American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference,Colombia,31
May-3 June, 2009,doi:10.2118/122072-MS.

V. Ahmed R. M., Enfis M. S.,“The Effect of Drillstring Rotation on Equivalent

Circulation Density: Modeling and Analysis of Field Measurements”, SPE
Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Italy, 19-22 Sep., 2010,
doi:10.2118/135587-MS.

VI. Ahmed R. M., Miska S. Z.,“Experimental Study and Modeling of Yield

Power-Law Fluid Flow in Annuli with Drillpipe Rotation”,IADC/SPE
Drilling Conference, Florida, 4-6 March, 2008, doi:10.2118/112604-MS.

VII. Beltran J.C., Gabaldon O.R.,“Case Studies - Proactive Managed

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VIII. Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Drilling Application in SanJoaquin

Wells”, SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, 24-
27 Sep., 2006,doi:10.2118/100927-MS.