PETE 203

DRILLING ENGINEERING

Drilling Hydraulics

Drilling Hydraulics
Energy Balance
Flow Through Nozzles
Hydraulic Horsepower
Hydraulic Impact Force
Rheological Models
Optimum Bit Hydraulics

Nonstatic Well Conditions

Physical Laws:
Conservation of Mass
Conservation of energy

Conservation of momentum
Rheological Models
Newtonian
Bingham Plastic
Power Law
API Power-Law
Equations of State
Incompressible fluid
Slightly compressible fluid
Ideal gas
Real gas

Average Fluid Velocity

Pipe Flow

q
v
2.448 d 2

Annular Flow

q
v
2
2
2.448 d 2 d1

WHERE

v = average velocity, ft/s

q = flow rate, gal/min
d = internal diameter of pipe, in.
d2 = internal diameter of outer pipe
d1

or borehole, in.

=external diameter of inner pipe, in.

Law of Conservation of Energy

States that as a fluid flows
from point 1 to point 2:

E 2 E1 p2V2

p1V1

1 2
2
g D2 D1
v 2 v1
2
W Q
In the wellbore, in many cases

Q = 0 (heat)
= constant

In practical field units

this equation simplifies to:

p2 p1 0.052
8.074 *10
where

D2 D1

2
2

2
1

p f

p1 and p2
are pressures in psi
is density in lbm/gal.
v1 and v2
are velocities in ft/sec.
pp
is pressure added by pump
between points 1 and 2 in psi
pf
is frictional pressure loss in psi
D1 and D2 are depths in ft.

Determine the pressure at the

bottom of the drill collars, if
p f 1,400 psi
q

D2

400 gal/min.
12 lbm/gal.
10,000 ft.

(bottom of drill collars)

D1

(mud pits)

IDDC 2.5 in.

p p 3,000 psi

Velocity in drill collars

v2

2
2.448 d

(gal/min)
2
(in )

400
v2
26 .14 ft/sec
2
2.448 * (2.5)

Velocity in mud pits, v1 0

p 2 p1 0.052 (D2 D1 )
8.074 * 10 - 4 ( v 22 v 12 ) Pp Pf
p 2 0 0.052 * 12 (10,000 - 0)
- 8.074 * 10 - 4 * 12 (26.14 2 0 2 ) 3,000 1,400
0 6,240 6.6 3,000 1,400

Pressure at bottom of drill collars = 7,833 psig

NOTE: KE in collars

May be ignored in many cases

p2 p1 0.052 ( D2 D1 )
8.074 *10

-4

(v v ) Pp Pf
2
2

2
1

Fluid Flow Through Nozzle

Assume:

D 2 D1
Pp 0

v1

v 2 vn

Pf 0
4

p 2 p1 8.074 * 10 v

and

vn

2
n

p
8.074 * 10 4

If

Pf 0

Equation may be written as

vn c d

p
8.074 * 10 4

c d 0.95

This accounts for all the losses in the nozzle.

Example:

vn 0.95

1,000
305 ft/sec
4
8.074 * 10 * 12

For multiple nozzles in

//

Vn is the same for each nozzle

even if the

dn varies!
This follows since
each nozzle.

vn c d

p
8.074 * 10 4

is the same across

&

q
vn
3.117 A t

8.311 * 10 q
-5

p bit

C2d A 2t

Hydraulic Horsepower
HHP of pump putting out 400 gpm at 3,000 psi = ?
Power

rate of doing work

F* s/t
p * A

q
A

PH qp

In field units:

qp
HHP
1714

400 * 3,000

700hp
1714

Hydraulic Impact Force

What is the HHP Developed by bit?
Consider:

CD 0.95
q 400 gal/min
12 lb/gal
p n 1,169 psi

Impact = rate of change of momentum

q vn
mv m
Fj

v
t
32.17 * 60
t
CD 0.95

Fj 0.01823 c d q p

q 400 gal/min
12 lb/gal
p n 1,169 psi

Fj 0.01823 * 0.95 * 400 12 * 1,169 820 lbf

Newtonian Fluid Model

Experimentally ,

F
V

A
L

Shear stress = viscosity * shear rate

F
V

A
L

Laminar Flow of Newtonian Fluids

Newtonian Fluid Model

In a Newtonian fluid the shear stress is directly
proportional to the shear rate (in laminar flow):

i.e.,

dyne
1

2
cm
sec

The constant of proportionality, is the

viscosity of the fluid and is independent of
shear rate.

Newtonian Fluid Model

dyne sec
cm 2

Viscosity may be expressed in poise or centipoise.

dyne - s
g
1 poise 1
1
2
cm
cm s
1 centipoise 0.01 poise

Shear Stress vs. Shear Rate for a Newtonian

Fluid

Slope of line

Example - Newtonian Fluid

Example 4.16

Area of upper plate = 20 cm2

Distance between plates = 1 cm
Force reqd to move upper plate at 10 cm/s
= 100 dynes.
What is fluid viscosity?

Example 4.16

shear stress F / A 100 / 20 dynes/cm

-1
shear rate V / L
10/1 sec

5
dyne s

0.5
0.5 poise
2
10
cm

50 cp

Bingham Plastic Model

Bingham Plastic Model

p y

if y
if - y y

p y

if - y

and y are often expressed in lbf/100 sq.ft

Power-Law Model

Power-Law Model

n 1

if 0

if 0

n = flow behavior index

K = consistency index

Rheological Models
1. Newtonian Fluid:

shear stress
absolute viscosity

shear rate

2. Bingham Plastic Fluid:

y ( p ) *
What if y

y yield point
p plastic viscosity

Rheological Models
3. Power Law Fluid:

K ( )

K = consistency index
n = flow behavior index

When n = 1, fluid is Newtonian and K =

We shall use power-law model(s) to
calculate pressure losses (mostly).

Velocity Profiles
(laminar flow)

Fig. 4-26. Velocity profiles for laminar flow:

(a) pipe flow and (b) annular flow

3D View of Laminar Flow in a pipe

- Newtonian Fluid

It looks like concentric rings of fluid

telescoping down the pipe at different velocities

Summary of Laminar Flow Equations for Pipes and Annuli

Fig 4.33: Critical Reynolds number for

Bingham plastic fluids.

Fig 4.34:

Fraction Factors for Power-law

fluid model.

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)

Total Pump Pressure

PPUMP PSC PDP PDC

PB PDCA PDPA (P

HYD

Types of Flow
Laminar Flow

Flow pattern is linear (no radial flow)

Velocity at wall is ZERO
Produces minimal hole erosion

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.

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

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

Turbulent Flow - Newtonian Fluid

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

N Re

vd

In field
units,

N Re

928 v d

Turbulent Flow Newtonian Fluid

N Re

928 v d

where fluid density, lbm/gal

_

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

Pressure Drop Calculations

Q = 280 gal/min

= 12.5 lb/gal
PPUMP = PDP + PDC
+ PBIT NOZZLES
+ PDC/ANN + PDP/ANN
+ PHYD

PPUMP

"Friction" Pressures
2,500

DRILLPIPE

"Friction" Pressure, psi

2103

2,000
1,500

DRILL COLLARS

1,000

BIT NOZZLES

500

ANNULUS

0
0

5,000

10,000

15,000

Distance from Standpipe, ft

20,000

25,000

Optimum Bit Hydraulics

Under what conditions do we get the
best hydraulic cleaning at the bit?
Maximum hydraulic horsepower?
Maximum impact force?
Both these items increase when the circulation
rate increases.
However, when the circulation rate increases,
so does the frictional pressure drop.

Jet Bit Nozzle Size Selection

Nozzle Size Selection for Optimum Bit
Hydraulics:
Max. Nozzle Velocity
Max. Bit Hydraulic Horsepower
Max. Jet Impact Force

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

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.

Maximum Nozzle Velocity

From Eq. (4.31)

i.e.

v n Cd

Pb
4
8.074 *10

v n Pb

so the bit pressure drop should be maximized in order

to obtain the maximum nozzle velocity

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.

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).

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

where 0 m 2

Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

p bit p pump p d
PHbit

p d cq

pbit q p pump q cq

1714
1714

dPHbit

0 when
dq

m 1

p pump c(m 1)q 0

m

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

pd

p pump
m 1

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 )

Maximum Jet Impact Force

F j 0.01823 c d q (p pump pd )
But parasitic pressure drop,

pd cq
F j 0.01823 cd

p p q cd q
2

m2

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