PETE 411

Drilling Engineering

Lesson 16
- Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids - Slip Velocity -

Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids

- Slip Velocity Fluid Velocity in Annulus
Particle Slip Velocity
Particle Reynolds Number
Friction Coefficient
Example
Iterative Solution Method
Alternative Solution Method
API RP 13D Method
2

Read:
Applied Drilling Engineering, Ch. 4 - all

HW #8:
On the Web - due 10-14-02

Messages from Darla-Jean Weatherford

The seniors were supposed to have submitted the
drafts of their papers for the Student Paper Contest
to me last Friday; a few more than half did. Will you
please remind the rest that I need those papers to
complete their grades for 485?
We also are looking for recruiters for the fairs in
Houston, which will be 18 to 22 November this
year. If they can go with us any evening or Friday
morning, they need to let Larry Piper know soon so
we can get t-shirts and transportation (and meals!)
arranged.
4

Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids

Historically, when an operator felt that
the hole was not being cleared of cuttings
at a satisfactory rate, he would:
Increase the circulation rate
Thicken the mud
(increase YP/PV)
5

Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids

More recent analysis shows that:
Turbulent flow cleans the hole better.

Pipe rotation aids cuttings removal.

With water as drilling fluid, annular
velocities of 100-125 ft/min are
generally adequate (vertical wells)
6

Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids

A relatively flat velocity
profile is better than a
highly pointed one.
Mud properties can be
modified to obtain a
flatter
profile in laminar flow
e.g., decrease n
7

Density & Velocity

Drilled cuttings typically
have a density of
about 21 lb/gal.

Since the fluid density is

less than 21 lb/gal the
cuttings will tend to
settle, or slip relative
to the drilling mud.

V f luid

Vslip
Vparticle

Vparticle Vf luid Vslip

8

Velocity Profile
The slip velocity can be reduced by
modifying the mud properties such
that the velocity profile is flattened:
Increase the ratio (YP/PV)
(yield point/plastic viscosity)

or

Decrease the value of n

9

Plug Flow
Plug Flow is good for hole
cleaning. Plug flow refers
to a completely flat
velocity profile.
The shear rate is zero
where the velocity profile
is flat.
10

Participle Slip Velocity

Newtonian Fluids:
The terminal velocity of a small
spherical particle settling
(slipping) through a Newtonian
fluid under Laminar flow
conditions is given by STOKES
LAW:
2
138(s f )ds
vs

11

Particle Slip Velocity - small particles

138(s f )ds
vs

Where v s slip velocity, ft/s

s density of solid particle, lbm/gal
f density of fluid, lbm/gal
ds diameter of particle, in
fluid viscosity, cp
12

Particle Slip Velocity

Stokes Law gives acceptable accuracy for a
particle Reynolds number < 0.1

NRe

928 f v s ds

For Nre > 0.1 an empirical friction factor

may be used.
13

What forces act

on a settling
particle?
Nonspherical
particles
experience
relatively
higher drag
forces
14

Sphericities for Various Particle Shapes

Shape
Sphere

Sphericity
1.00

Octahedron 0.85
Cube

0.81

Sphericity =

* * 2

0.77

* 2 * 3

0.73

surface area of
sphere of same
volume as particle

Prism

Cylinders
h r/15

0.25

h r/3

0.59

h r

0.83

h 2r

0.87

h 20r

0.58

surface area of
particle
15

16

Particle Reynolds Number, fig. 4.46

Based on real cuttings

In field units, v s 1.89 ds s 1 .......... .Eq.( 4.104d)

f f

17

Slip Velocity Calculation

using Moores graph (Fig. 4.46)
1. Calculate the flow velocity.
2. Determine the fluid n and K values.
3. Calculate the appropriate viscosity
(apparent viscosity).
4. Assume a value for the slip velocity.
5. Calculate the corresponding
Particle Reynolds number.
18

Slip Velocity Calculation

(using Moores graph)
6. Obtain the corresponding drag coeff., f,
from the plot of f vs. Nre.
7. Calculate the slip velocity and compare
with the value assumed in step 4 above.
8. If the two values are not close enough,
repeat steps 4 through 7 using the
calculated Vs as the assumed slip
velocity in step 4.
19

Example
Use (the modified) Moores method to
calculate the slip velocity and the net particle
velocity under the following assumptions:
Well depth:

8,000 ft

Yield point: 4 lbf/100ft 2

Drill pipe: 4.5, 16.6 #/ft

Density of Particle: 21 lbm/gal

Mud Weight:

Particle diameter:

9.1 #/gal

Plastic viscosity: 7 cp
Hole size:

5,000 m

Circulation rate: 340 gal/min

7-7/8
20

Solution - Slip Velociy Problem

1. Calculate the flow velocity
_
q
340
v

2
2
2
2
2
.
448
(
7
.
875

4
.
5
)
2.448(d2 d1 )
3.325 ft/sec

2. Determine the fluid n and K values

y 300 p

300 y p 4 7 11

p 600 300

600 p 300 7 11 18
21

Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - contd

2. Determine the fluid n and K values - contd

600
n 3.32 log
300

(ADE)

3.32 log (18/11)

n 0.7101
(510 )300
K
511n

(510)11

5110.7101

K 66.94 eq.cp
22

Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - contd

3. Calculate the appropriate viscosity
K d2 d1
a
_

144
v

1
(2 )
n

0.0208

1n

.......... Eq. (4.107)

66.94 7.875 4.5

a

144
3.325

a 17.94 cp

)
0.7101
0.0208

(2

1 0.7101

p 7 cp

0.7101

K 66.94 eq cp
23

Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - contd

4. Assume a value___
for the slip velocity

V 3.325
Vs

1.663 ft / sec
2
2

5. Calculate the corresponding Particle Reynolds No.

NRe

928 f v s ds
a

cm
in

928(9.1)(1 .663) 5000 m

4

10

m
2.54
cm

17.94

N Re 154

92.8 vs

{d s 0.1969 in }
24

Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - contd

6. Obtain the drag coeff., f, from the plot of f vs. Nre.
From graph,

ds
v s 1.89
f

f = 2.0

1
f

0.1969 21.0

1.89
1

2.0 9.1

v s 0.678 ft/s
1.663

Eq. (4.104d)

0.959

25

Solution - Slip Velocity Problem - contd

4 (ii) Assume
5 (ii) Particle

v s 0.678
NRe 92.7 * 0.678 62.9

6 (ii) From graph,

7 (ii)

f 2.7

0.959
vs
0.58 ft / s..... etc.
2 .7

Subsequent iterations yield 0.56 ft/s and

0.56 ft/s again...
26

Slip Velocity - Alternate Method

1. Fully Laminar:
NRe 3 :
40
f
;
NRe
ds
v s 1.89
f

1
f

ds
s f
v s 82.87
a
27

Slip Velocity - Alternate Method

2. Intermediate;

3 NRe 300 :
22
f
;
NRe
_

vs

2.90 ds ( s f )2/3
1/3

( f a )

28

Slip Velocity - Alternate Method

3. Fully Turbulent:
N Re 300 :
f 1.5;

NOTE:
Check NRe

d s ( s f )
v s 1.54
f
29

Slip Velocity - Alternate Method

For the above calculations:
NRe

928 f v s ds

ds s

v s 1.89
1
f f

NOTE: Check NRe

.........E q.(4.104 d)
30

Slip Velocity - Alternate Method_2

If the flow is fully laminar, cuttings transport is
not likely to be a problem.
Method:
1. Calculate slip velocity for Intermediate
mode
2. Calculate slip velocity for Fully Turbulent
Mode.
3. Choose the lower value.
31

Example
2.90d s ( s f )2/3
vs
( f a )1/3
_

(i) Intermediate:

2.90 * 0.1969 * (21 9.1) 2/3

vs
0.545 ft/sec
1/3
(9.1 * 17.94)
_

d s ( s f )
v s 1.54
f
_

(ii) Fully Turbulent:

_

v s 1.54

0.1969 (21 9.1)

9.1

0.781 ft/sec
32

Example - contd
Intermediate:
Fully Turbulent:

Vs = 0.545 ft/sec
Vs = 0.781 ft/sec

The correct slip velocity is 0.545 ft/sec

{ agrees reasonably well with iterative method on p.12 }

Check :

N Re

928 * 9.1* 0.545 * 0.1969

51
17.94
Range OK
33

Slip Velocity - API RP 13D

Iterative Procedure
Calculate Fluid Properties, n & K
Calculate Shear Rate
Calculate Apparent Viscosity
Calculate Slip Velocity
Example
34

Settling
Velocity
of Drilled
Cuttings
in Water
From
API RP 13D
p.24
35

Calculation Procedure
1. Calculate ns for the settling particle
2. Calculate Ks for the particle
3. Assume a value for the slip velocity, Vs
4. Calculate the shear rate,

5. Calculate the corresponding apparent viscosity, es

6. Calculate the slip velocity, Vs
7. Use this value of Vs and repeat steps 4-6 until the
assumed and calculated slip velocities ~agree36

Slip Velocity - Example

ASSUMPTIONS:
3 RPM Reading
100 RPM Reading

R3
R100

lbf/100 ft2

20

lbf/100 ft2

Particle Density
Mud Density

22.5
12.5

lb/gal
lb/gal

Particle Dia. =

Dp

0.5

in
37

Slip Velocity - Example

1. Calculate ns for the settling particle
R100

nS 0.657 log
R3

20
nS 0.657 log
0.5413
3

2. Calculate Ks for the particle

5.11 R100
KS
170.2ns

5.11 * 20
dyne sec n
KS
6.336
0.5413
170.2
cm2
38

Slip Velocity - Example

3. Assume a value for the slip velocity, Vs
Assume

Vs = 1 ft/sec

4. Calculate the shear rate,

12 VS
S
Dp

12 * 1
S
24.0 sec 1
0 .5
39

Slip Velocity - Example

5. Calculate the corresp. apparent
viscosity:
n s 1
es 100 K s s
es 100 * 6.336 * 24 0.5413 1 147.5 cp

6. Calculate the slip velocity, Vs

5.03 es
Vs 0.0002403 e
D
p

p
Dp
5.03

1 (920,790 e
Dp
1

es

40

Slip Velocity - Example

6. Calculate the slip velocity, Vs
If then:
es

Vs 0.01344
D
p
147.48
Vs 0.01344

0
.
5
*
12
.
5

p
Dp

1 16,465 Dp
1

es

22.5
0.5 * 12.5
1 16,465 * 0.5
1

12
.
5
147
.
48

Vs = 0.8078 ft/sec

Repeat steps 4-6

41

Slip Velocity - Example

Second Iteration - using

s = 19.386

4. Shear rate:
5. Apparent viscosity:
6. Slip velocity:

5. Apparent viscosity:
6. Slip velocity:

sec-1

es = 162.65 cp
Vs = 0.7854 ft/sec

Third Iteration - using

4. Shear rate:

Vs = 0.8078 ft/sec

Vs = 0.7854 ft/sec

s = 18.849

sec-1

es = 164.75 cp
Vs = 0.7823 ft/sec

42

Slip Velocity - Example

Fourth Iteration - using
4. Shear rate:
5. Apparent viscosity:
6. Slip velocity:

Vs = 0.7823 ft/sec

s = 18.776

sec-1

es = 165.04 cp
Vs = 0.7819 ft/sec

Slip Velocity, Vs = 0.7819 ft/sec

{ Vs = 1.0, 0.808, 0.782, 0.782 ft/sec }
43

Transport Ratio
particle velocity
Transport Ratio
fluid velocity
particle velocity
Transport Efficiency
* 100%
fluid velocity
Example : Particle velocity
Fluid velocity

90 ft/min
120 ft/min

Transport Efficiency ?
44

Transport Ratio
Transport efficiency (90 / 120) *100%
75%
A transport efficiency of 50% or higher is desirable!
Note: Net particle velocity = fluid velocity - slip velocity.
In example, particle slip velocity = 120 - 90 = 30 ft/min
With a fluid velocity of 120 ft/min a minimum particle
velocity of 60 ft/min is required to attain a transport
efficiency of 50%
45

Potential Hole-Cleaning Problems

1. Hole is enlarged. This may result in
reduced fluid velocity which is lower
than the slip velocity.
2. High downhole temperatures may
adversely affect mud properties
downhole.
[ We measured these at the surface.]
46

Potential Hole-Cleaning Problems

3. Lost circulation problems may preclude
using thick mud or high circulating
velocity. Thick slugs may be the
answer.
4. Slow rate of mud thickening - after it has
been sheared (and thinned)
through the
bit nozzles, where the
shear rate is very high.
47

The End
Lesson 16
- Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids - Slip Velocity -

48