IADC/SPE 23884 IADC/SPE Flow-Rate Predictions for Cleaning Deviated Wells Yuejin Luo and P.A. Bern, BP Research Centre, and B.D. Chambers, BP Exploration Co. Ltd SPE Members opr 182, KDCISPE Dring Contaranee ‘This paper ws srepares tr porenttion a he 1982 ADCISPE Oring Confrence a in New Clans, Louis, ater 1824, 982 “This paar was elec fr presntation by an ADCISPE Progra Connie flowing rovew o!iomaton cried nan abstract sabre by heats) Cones oth apt to ponorics. nave nol been mand oy te Seco Peron Enger hw irate ssesaton ony Saar nee esa caret ao ‘Erato rear aeas nt acetates any poatan othe ADC "SEE tr cots or mbes, Papers presets RDCSSEE renga suc puso revon by Estria! Conmtisos cna De and SPE Perms gop resect soot ot mee an words as ray hot be St The sat! ‘Soin Seneuusseknowiesran ol wha anéby hone pap’ s resets We braran SPE, P.O Boxes enadeon, TX "Ed aNe8 USA Seer, Pests SPEAL ABSTRACT ‘A new physically based model is described in this paper which has been developed based on the analysis of forces acting on the cuttings and the associated dimensionless groupe. The model can ‘be used to predict the ertical (minimum) flow rate (CFR) requited 12 remove, oF prevent the formation of, stationary cuttings beds on the low-side ofthe wellbore in deviated wells. ‘The model has been validated with the experimental data obtained from an 8° wellbore simulator located at BP Research Centre Sunbury, and with field data from 8-12", 12-114" and 17-112" holes, By using the model, the effects of major drilling variables on cuttings transport are evaluated and compared with experimental {and actual field data. The results show that the model accurately predicts the effects of the major variables such as: hole angle, penetration rate, mud properties and low regime. in particular the ‘adel provides a mechanism to support the use of both low and high viscosity pills, and mud fow-shear enhancers - which have been widely used during ailing operations to improve hole cleaning. ‘The mode! has been incorporated into a computer program which can predict the CFR under the specified driling conditions. A series of simplified hole cleaning charts have also been daveloped which enable the optimum hole cleaning parameters to be ‘etormined at the ng -ste INTRODUCTION During directional ding operations, drilled cuttings wil settle on the low-side ofthe wellbore and form a stallonary bedi the annular ‘ud velocty isnot high enough. This may cause severe problems during driling and cementing operations such as high drag and torque, hole packing-of, stuck pipe and difficulties in running ceasing, Therefore, the accurate prediction ofthe eitical (minimum) flow rate (CFR) required to remove, or to prevent the formation ot, the cuttings bed is erucial for planning and drlling a deviated well ‘This becomes increasinaly important as the demands ofthe future field developments dictate more and more deeper, high-angle wells. References and tustrations a end of paper (Over the past decade, considerable etort has been expended into the research of cuttings transport in deviated wells. A large. umber of experiments have been conducted sud the eects of various parameters on cuttings bed formation|1:2:6.9.), Eton have also been made to develop mathematical models o predict Despite the eto, there is tila lack ot agreement | ' of some major variables such as mud rheology, and one ofthe provious models suceeded in proving accurate and reliable predictions for the CFR. In particular, there has been hardly any research effort yet for large sized holes where most note ‘loaning probloms actualy occur In this paper, the mathematical mode! derived by Luo!) has been ‘ocited and validated with extensive experimental data from an 8 wellbore simulator and field data trom 8-1/2, 12-1/4" and 17-1/2 holes. A computer program and hole cleaning charts have been {developed based on the model which can be easily applied during planning and ding ota deviated well EXPERIMENTS. ‘The in-house experiments ware conducted using the cuttings transport low loop lacated at the BP Research Centre in Sunbury. Fig,(1) shows the schematic ofthe flow loop. The simulates ding ‘annulus consists of a5" (127 mm) OD arilipipe and an 8° (203.2 mmm) 1D casing. The annular section is 15 m long and can be set at ‘any angle between vertical and horizontal. The drilpipe can be {tated at up to 200 rpm and can be set fo form ether a concentric fr an eccentric annulus. ‘There is a 3 m long transparent section fon the easing which is about 9 m down stream and allows visual ‘observations and video recordings ofthe experiments. A tank with '@ capacity of 2500 tres is used to hold the cutings quid mncures. ‘and a centritugal pump is used to circulate the mixture with a ‘maximum flow rate of 97 Lis (equivalent to an annular velocity of 187 mis). A shale shaker is used to separate cuttings from liquid ‘on completion of atest. ‘A variety of ids have been used during the experiments. These include water, polymer aqueous solutions (CMC or XCj and bentonite muds, which have a range of rheological properties and Low-Viscous High-Viscous Pills Pills 200; Low-Shear Enhancers 4100 ———_1__.__] 100 200 300 400 500 Consistency Index (eq.cp) FIG.8: MODEL PREDICTION FOR THE EFFECT OF CONSISTENCY INDEX SPE 25884 as Be hie a4 vw bob b & » & « vide stone) FIG.9: RHEOLOGY FACTOR CHART FOR 8-1/2" HOLES % Targpon = a} ea z 82} 5 60 Bd B10 — so a 50 52 +] T a ey boom Ow Hols Angin (eae) FIG.10; HOLE CLEANING CHART FOR €=1/2" HOLESSPE 23984 Maximum Safe ROP (m/hr) 30 25 Mud Density 20h<----- 45 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 Mud Flow Rate (gpm) FIG.11: MAXIMUM SAFE ROP FOR DRILLING A HORIZONTAL 8-1/2" HOLE 376