SPE/IADC

SPE/IADC 18636

Cleaning Deviated Holes: New Experimental and

Theoretical Studies
by N.P. Brown, P.A. Bern,* and A. Weaver, BP Research Centre
*SPE Member

Copyright 1989, SPE/IADC Drilling Conference

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1989 SPE/IADC Drilling Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 28-March 3, 1989.

This paper was selected for presentation by a SPE/IADC Program Committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper,
as presented, have not been reviewed by the International Association of Drilling Contractors or the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject !o correction. by the aut.hor~s).
The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any position of SPE or the IADC, its officers, or members. Papers presented at SPE/IADC meetmgs are subJect to publ1cat1on
review by Editorial Committees of SPE and the IADC. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The abstract should
contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented. Write Publications Manager, SPE, P.O. Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836. Telex, 730989 S~EDAL.

r-------------------------------------------------------~--------------------------------------------------------1

ABSTRACT Eor hole cleaning in vertical holes do not provide

~lear guidance. Table 1 demonstrates this
A number of studies have been carried out by other clearly. It is not apparent whether a high, or
lesearchers into cleaning deviated holes. low viscosity fluid provides optimum cleaning and
However, the results to date do not provide clear whether it should be pumped to achieve a laminar,
operational recommendations. A research programme or turbulent flow regime in the annulus.
that addresses hole cleaning is in progress using
Eield-scale equipment. Experimental results have A research programme is currently in progress at
been obtained from circulating water and HEC the BP Research Centre to understand the
polymer-based pills. The experimental studies are mechanisms of hole cleaning at a fundamental
':omplemented by mathematical modelling. 1evel, make recommendations that can be
interpreted operationally and, most importantly,
A comparison of the results from the inclined obtain feedback on the recommendations.
~quipment show that not only is the transport of
cuttings initiated at lower flow rates when water This paper describes the Cuttings Transport Flow
is circulated, but also the rate at which cuttings Loop that is used in the experimental studies, the
are removed is higher. The poorest removal rates theoretical approach that is used to interpret the
generally occur with inclination angles in the ~esults and a brief discussion of these results.
region of 50 to 60 degrees. Predictions from the
mathematical model are in reasonable agreement
with the experimental data. HOLE CLEANING THEORY
Vertical and near vertical wells
INTRODUCTION
In vertical and near vertical holes cuttings are
'J:'he efficient removal of drilled cuttings is an transported from the annulus when the upward
essential part of the drilling operation. Poor velocity of the drilling fluid exceeds the 'fall'
hole cleaning may result in severe field problems velocity of the cuttings. The average nett upward
that include: velocity of the transported cuttings is the
difference between the average velocity of the
high torque and drag drilling fluid in the annulus and the fall
poor hole condition velocity of the cuttings. The Transport Ratio has
stuck pipe been defined by Sifferman et al 5 to be the
difficulty when running and cementing casing. average transport velocity of the cuttings divided
bv the average annular velocity. These workers
In field operations the root cause of the problem i~dicated that for satisfactory hole cleaning the
is often poorly understood. Although this can Transport Ratio should exceed 0.5 with the ensuing
often be attributed to difficulty in interpreting implication on annular velocity.
information available at surface it indicates that
the causes are complex and interrelated. Indeed,
published data relating to optimum conditions

References and illustrations at end of paper.

1
171
2 CLEANING DEVIATED HOLES: NE~1 EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL STUDIES SPE/IADC 18636

High angle wells the need for a physically-based approach is

jmmediately apparent from the two scale-up
ln high angle hole intervals the cuttings are no situations shown in Figure 2. In this figure the
~0nger fully supported by fluid drag and it is smaller configuration represents a 5 in [127 mm]
inappropriate to make predictions of hole cleaning drillpipe in an 8 in [203 mm] cased hole, and the
trom techniques based on the fall velocity of the larger configuration the same drillpipe in a
p:1rt icles. 17,1/2 in [445 mm] hole, in both hole sizes the
concentration of cuttings is 15% (by volume).
At high hole angles the cuttings concentrate on Diagramatically, it is a~parent that scaling-up
~he low-side of the hole in the form of a bed. At ~he hole diameter and altering the drillpipe
'''-:ry loH drilling fluid circulation rates cuttings ~ccentricity pose very different situations.
~re unlikely to be removed from the wellbore. rhysically, the forces arising from the cuttings
llpon increasing the flov rate the bed becomes .=.1ncl the drilling fluids are significantly
progressively eroded, the mobile cuttings on the rlifferent.
i.n terface salta te and form dunes~ or latge
tipples. The bed then starts to move en bloc and
':U t t ings are cleaned from the well bore. This CUTTINGS TRANSPORT FLO~ LOOP
mechanism of bed movement is a more noticeable
t~ature of hole cleaning with low viscosity The experimental data have been obtained from a
Eluids. If sufficiently high annular velocity is flow loop that has been purpose-built at the
~vailable the cuttings are transported as a r-esearch Centre to investigate the transport of
pseudo~homogeneous mixture. However, cuttings. A photograph of the Flow Loop is shown
n~erationally, this situ~tion rarely exists. j.n Figure 3, and a schematic representation of the
equipment is shown in Figure 4.
''U t
present understanding of two-phase, solid~
liquid, behaviour does not permit a detailed The Flow Loop has been designed to simulate
~~scription of these flows to be made. Such a plosely field conditions in vertical and deviated
~escription would be useful to predict the ''ells. The wellbore simulator is 50ft [15.2 m]
t~ansport of cuttings in deviated wellbores. Some long providing adequate distance for the flow to
nf the earliest research work carried out to become fully established. The final 16 ft [4.9 m]
~xplore the transport of cuttings in deviated nf the wellbore section permits visual observation
wellbores was made by Iyoho 6 The results were 0f the flow. It simulates an 8 in [203 mm]
modelled by empirical correlations based on the ~iameter cased hole containing a 5 in [127 mm]
jncrease in fluid superficial velocity above a bed rliameter drillpipe. The drillpipe can be rotated
of cuttings. Attempts ean be made to 'idealise' and positioned to simulate any eccentric geometry.
the flow patterns in order to describe th~ir Drilling fluids can be circulated at flow rates
motion mathematically. Indeed, the most important that allow the range of annular velocities
situation, that of the bed of cuttings on the experienced in the field to be mirrored. Cuttings
point of incipient motion, can be readily ~te separated from the drilling fluid and removed
;malysed. r:rom the flow loop using an oil field shale
shaker. A comprehensive technical specification
Figure 1 shows a bed of cuttings in a horizontal can be found in Table 2.
wellbore. At the point of incipient motioh 1 the
driving forces on the bed, namely the pressure The Flow Loop can be used in a number of different
force on the end of the bed and the interfacial modes. For the Annulus Cleaning experiments, the
force imparted by the moving upper layer of simulator is loaded with a predetermined mass of
drilling fluid are just balanced by the friction cuttings and drilling fluid is circulated using
forces attributable to the cuttings arising at the the mud pump. The drilling fluid and any cuttings
rlrillpipe and hole walls. Gavignet and Sobey ' that are cleaned from the wellbore are directed to
h~we published a model that analyses this ~he vibrating screen separator. The cuttings are
3ituation. The model is similar to that published .ollected and weighed and the drilling fluid is
hy ~Tilson 8 ,.,hich describes the analogous ~~circulated through the simulator.
~ituation in circular pipes. The model consists
nf approximately so interrelated equations that Sxperiments that simulate drilling ahead are
~escribe the annular geometry and the bul~ conducted by circulating drilling fluid and
behaviour of the cuttings and drilli11g fluid. utt~ngs LISin~ the cuttin~s circulation pumn: The
This phy.sicAlly~based approAch nffr.>rs m;.n utt1ngs are Introduced 1nto the system v1a the
~~vantages over techniques based on the empirical ~uttings circulation pump header tank. The
c0rrelation of experimental data, including: ~nrentration of cuttings in the system is
:alculated from a given rate of penetration.
increased confidence in making predictions
outside the range of original data
better understanding of physical processes EXPERIMENTAL WORR
sensitivity analyses can be performed on
quantities not readily accessible by Aim of the Experimental Work
;-~peri mentation
potential for the reduction of experimental The aim of the early experimental work reported
r-;ffon. hr~re ,.,a.s to study the effect of:

172
SPE/IADC 18636 N P Brown, P A Bern and A Weaver 3

Drillpipe Geometry
drilling fluid rheology,
circulation rate of the fluid, Two extreme situations of drillpipe position were
drillpipe geometry and studied: the drillpipe centralised in the casing
hole angle ~nd at the limiting condition posed by a tool
~oint touching the bottom of the hole. This
,_,n the effectiveness of pills. The pills ~orresponds to an eccentricity of 75%
~onsisted of either water or hydroxyethyl (sccentricity is defined as the displacement of
rsllulose (HEC) based drilling fluid. These the axis of the drillpipe from that of the hole
~~periments are similar in their intent to those divided by the difference in the radii of the hole
rs~orted by Okrajni 9 as they simulate conditions ;:1ncl the drillpipe). This limiting geometry '"as
,.rhere the bit is off bottom and the hole is 3elected as it was considered that it reflects the
~i~culated for clean-up. They are, however, most realistic downhole position of the drillpipe
rtifferent to those of other investigators at the in highly deviated holes.
University of Tulsa and by Martin et al 10 , where
both cuttings and drilling mud are injected
throughout the course of the experiment into the Hole Angle
simulated wellbore, providing conditions that more
closely resemble drilling ahead. The following angles (expressed in degrees from
the vertical) were used: 0, 20, 36, 52, 60, 79 and
rq) (horizontal).
Quantification of the Effectiveness of the Pill
The effectiveness of the pill is described in Cuttings
terms of a cleaning rate. For simplicity the
~leaning rate is defined as the weight of cuttings Ceramic be~ds are used to simulate cuttings. The
removed from the hole during the experiment beads are almost spherical in shape with a
divided by the time required to remove them. It diameter of 1/4 in [6.4 mm]. The hard ceramic
is the same as that adopted by Okrajni 9 Other material is not significantly degraded during the
n1eans of quantifying the success of a pill to ~ourse of the experiments and has a specific
~lean the hole are being assessed for both ~ravity (SG) of 2.68 which is similar to that of
practical application in the field and improved ~ilaceous formations.
data interpretation at the Research Centre.
Experimental Prog~amme
Experimental Conditions Studied
Each experiment involved filling the simulated
Drilling Fluid Rheology wellbore with beads using a standard procedure,
moving the simulator to the required hole angle
The experimental findings reported here were and circulating the pill at a steady flow rate.
obtained with water and an unweighted 3 ppb HEC If beads are transported from the wellbore, the
drilling fluid giving a plastic viscosity of 30 cP rate at which the cuttings are removed is
[30 mPa s] and a yield point of 80 lb. 100 ft- 2 recorded. Experiments were first performed in an
[38.3 Pa]. This concentration was used to provide eccentric drillpipe geometry. Using this geometry
~ comparable effective viscosity (measured at the a set of experiments was performed: each of the
pipe wall) to that which would be anticipated in a five flow rates were used at each of the seven
17,1/2 in [445 mm] hole section using a field mud. hole angles. The drillpipe ~ofas then centralised
nheologically, HEC polymer-based drilling fluid ~nrl the set of experiments repeated.
behaves as a pseudoplastic fluid.
~heinitial volumetric concentration of cuttings
in the annulus, of 15%, was selected to represent
Circulation Rate (onditions in excess of the equilibrium
concentration that would be expected whilst
Plow rates of drilling fluid between 80 gal min- 1 ~~illing ahead. In this manner any detrimental
15.0 l s- 1 ]) and 400 gal min-1 [25.2 1 s- 1 ) were ~ffects on hole cleaning due to accumuliti0n of
used. This is equivalent to a maximum superfici~l ~uttings would be exacerbated. For angles greater
~nnular velocity of 250 ft min- 1 [1.27 m s- 1 1 U1an about 60 degrees, for ~.,hi ch stable beds o
ha sed on the to tal flow area. Throughout the ~uttings could be loaded into the simulator~ the
-~nge of annular velocities studied the flow hed height along the simulator was made as even as
tegime was laminar with the polymeric drilling possible.
fluid and turbulent with water. The experiments
''r--re carried out at five annular velocities
tarting at 50 ft min- 1 [0.25 m s-1] and PRELIHINARY EXPERIUE:NTAL FINDUTGS
ncreas1ng in steps of 50 ft min- 1 to a maximum of
50ft min- 1 [1.27 m s- 1 ]. P~esentation of the findings
The results from the experiments are presented to
illustrate two principal findings from the work:

173
4 CLEANING DEVIATED HOLES: NEW EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL STUDIES SPE/IADC 18636
-------- - -- ---------------------

The minimum annular velocity required to cuttings from the hole. Data are presented at
initiate the removal of cuttings from the annular velocities of 200 ft min- 1 [1.02 m s- 1 ]
,.,ell bore. and 250ft min- 1 1
1.27 m s- ]. Data at these
The effectiveness of the pill in cleaning the velocities are reported here since not all the
cuttings from the wellbore, once transport of cuttings are removed from the annulus at lower
cuttings is established. floH rates. Open symbols indicate results from
the higher velocity experiments.
The first value is of considerable importance
~ince, until the minimum annular velocity is Figure 7 shows dataobtained in a centralised
established, no cuttings are removed from the ~rillpipe geometry. For both velocities water
hole. Once cuttings are removed from the hole it ~ives better cleaning than the polymer drilling
is then possible to measure their rate of removal. Eluid. At hole angles below about 50 degrees
water shows a markedly superior hole cleaning
Performance. This effect is particularly apparent
Annular Velocity Required to Initiate in the vertical hole where cleaning rates with
Cleaning of the Hole ater are almost double those measured with the
polymer drilling fluid. This marked difference in
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the effect of flow hehaviour is thought to be attributable to the
geometry on the annular velocity required to difference in the nature of the flow and the shape
initiate hole cleaning. In both of these figures, of the velocity profiles; the flow structure with
~ombinations of annular velocity and hole angle water is highly turbulent in comparison to the
that exist below the envelope of data points (for laminar behaviour of the highly non-Newtonian
~ given drilling fluid) pertain to no hole polymer drilling fluid. Similar behaviour has
cleaning. Conditions prevailing above the been reported by Williams and Bruce 2
envelope pertain to removal of cuttings from the
hole. Figure 8 illustrates data from the experiments in
which the drillpipe is lying on the low-side of
The data contained in Figure 5 indicate that, at the hole. The rate at which cuttings are removed
hole angles close to vertical, the movement of from the hole is markedly decreased by
cuttings is initiated at lower velocities with the decentralising the drillpipe. Data discussed
HEC based drilling fluid than with water. Indeed, earlier for a vertical hole (shown in Figure 6)
the inference that no cleaning occurs with HEC showed that cuttings started to move at a lower
below 50 ft min- 1 [0.25 m s- 1 ] could well be annular velocity with HEC. Although cleaning
misleading since this is the lowest of the five commences at a lower velocity, it can readily be
velocities at which experiments are performed. seen from Figure 8 that the rate at which cuttings
From a consideration of the fall velocity of the are removed from. the hole at higher velocities is
cuttings a much lower value, of around 10 ft min- 1 harely one quarter of the rate that is achieved
[0.06 m s~ 1 ], would be expected. At hole angles with water. Very poor cleaning rates are obtained
in the region of 30 degrees cleaning is initiated at the highest annular velocity using HEC as a
at lower velocities with water than with HEC. viscous pill. Using water, the poorest cleaning
rate is measured at angles around 50 to
In high angle wells it is unreasonable to assume 60 degrees.
that the drillpipe is centralised. A more likely
situation is that the drillpipe is lying on the In annular flow geometries, the frictional
low-side of the hole. The data in Figure 6 pressure drop that is measured while circulating
reflect conditions required to initiate removal of drilling fluid is a maximum when the drillpipe is
cuttings in an eccentric geometry. The most centralised. A reduction of pressure drop has
noticeable effect of this change in geometry is l)een experienced in the eccentric Flow Loop
the marked increase in annular velocity required ~eometry of up to 25% with non-Newtonian fluids
to initiate cleaning with HEC at hole angles and about half this figure for water. At high
IJeyond vertical. The effect is so dramatic that, hole angles the poor cleaning rates obtained in
at hole angles of 50 degrees and above, the the eccentric geometry can be attributed to the
highest flmr rate of 250 ft min- 1 (1.27 m s- 1 ) Has reduction in pressure driving force on the bed and
insufficient to initiate cleaning. When Hater is the increase in cuttings-wall friction.
used as a pill, an increase in the flow rate ab0vc
rha t required in a centralised geometry j_s ne-2derl
to initiate cleaning at hole angles aroun~ INTERPRETATION Of RESULTS
1~0 degrees.
-~model based on that described by Gavignet and
The results shown in Figures 5 and 6 confirm ~obey has been constructed and has been used to
findings published by other workers (Martin et Predict the m1n1mum annular velocity that is
.:'11 10 and Tomren et al 11 ) that it is more required to initiate the cleaning of cuttings from
difficult to clean deviated holes than those close the Flow Loop. For non-Newtonian fluids the
t0 vertical. technique of modifying the Reynolds number
provided by Dodge and Metzner 12 has been adopted.
Vhilst it is appreciated that the technique is not
r.:lec.ning Rate Obtained Vhile Circulating a J?:Ul 1deaL it is however compatible ~orith the
Philosophy of the model. A cuttings-vrall friction
Figures 7 and 8 show the effect of hole angle and ~~ctor was measured and after applying . the
~~illpipe geometry on the cleaning rate of r':lliclance offered by Gavignet and Sabey the

174
 SPE/IADC 18636 N P Brown, P A Bern and A Weaver 5
----------------------------------------
-- -------------- --------------------

resultant value was 0.2. This value was used for A. In practice the volume and frequency of low
all the predictions. The loose-packed viscosity pill should be estimated in the
concentration of beads was measured and found to light of: perceived severity of hole cleaning
be 0.55, this value was used for the bed problems; the effect of the pill on the ECD;
concentration. tolerance of bulk mud system to contamination;
maximum potential annular velocity; hole
The comparison between the predictions and the geometry and well profile.
experimental data is made for water in Figure 9
and for HEC in Figure 10. The predictions from
the model are indicated by a dotted line at hole ACKNOWLEDGMENT
angles below 30 degrees. This is used to indicate
that the model is unsuitable for application in The permission of The British Petroleum Co plc to
low angle wells. A general observation from these publish the studies reported here is acknowledged.
figures is that the model presently over predicts In addition, the authors wish to thank their
for water and under predicts for the highly non- ~olleagues for assistance in conducting the
Newtonian polymer drilling fluid. ~xperimental programme.

For both fluids the discrepancy between the

experimental data and the predictions could be REFERENCES
attributable to a number of factors. The
frictional force attributable to the cuttings on 1_. Pigott, R J S: "Mud flow in drilling", Drill
the containing walls is not rigorously the same as and Prod Prac, API, 1941, 91-103.
that proposed by Wilson 8 In a subsequent
analysis Wilson 13 analyses the stresses Williams, C E and Bruce, G H: "Carrying
attributable to the cuttings in non-horizontal capacity of drilling muds", Trans AIME, 1951,
geometries. This analysis appears to be most 192, 111-120.
applicable to these studies. The flow of the
drilling mud in the segmented annular geometry is Hopkin, E A: "Factors affecting cuttings
poorly modelled, especially at high bed heights, removal during rotary drilling", paper SPE
~1ich will influence the pressure driving force 1697, pres at SPE-AIME 45th Annual Fall
and the interfacial stress. Non-Newtonian effects Meeting, Houston, USA, Oct 1970.
are not rigorously modelled. The description of
.!,_ Zeidler, H U: "An experimental analysis of the
the interfacial shear stress does not account for
dilation of the cuttings that is observed at the transport of drilled particles", Soc Pet Eng
interface. J, 1972, 12, 39-48.

The predictions from the model are however
encouraging in that they show the trend of
increasing velocity with in~reasing angle. Effort
will be expended to improve the description of the
phenomena identified above.
DISCUSSION
l. The Cuttings Transport Flow Loop facility has
been constructed at a cost of 0.75 million
pounds Sterling with a field-scale flow
geometry. The Flow Loop was commissioned in
early 1987. Since that time a large number of
experiments have been conducted that simulate
hole cleaning using a pill. Physically-based
mathematical modelling has been used to
complement the experimental work.
From the experiments, preliminary findings
indicate that hole cleaning is most efficient
with water in turbulent flow but, in low angle
wells, cuttings transport is initiated at ~
lower annular velocity with the vfscous HEC
fluid. Hole angles in the region of 50 to 60
degrees present the most difficult sections to
clean in a deviated hole.
. )) . Whilst work is still at an early stage
recommendations are already being made to
field groups on optimisation of hole cleaning.
)_ Sifferman, T R, Myers, G M Haden, E l and
Hahl, H A: "Drill-cuttings transport in full-
scale vertical annuli", J Pet Tech, Nov 1974,
1295-1302.
6. Iyoho, A W: "Drilled-cuttings transport by
non-Newtonian drilling fluids through
inclined, eccentric annuli", PhD thesis Uni v
of Tulsa, 1980.
7- Gavignet, A A and Sobey, I J: "A model for the
transport of cuttings in highly deviated
wells.", SPE paper 15417, pres at 61st Ann
Tech Con and Exhib of the Soc Pet Engrs, New
Orleans, Oct 5-6, 1986, USA.
'Tilson, K C: "Slip point of beds in solid-
liquid pipeline flow.'', J of Hyd Div ASCE.
1970, 96, HY1, 1-12.
f)
Okrajni, s S: "Mud cuttings tra.nspo1:t in
directional "'ell drilling", SPE paper 16.178:
pres at 60th Ann Tech Conf and Exhib of the
Soc Pet Engrs, Las Vegas, NV, Sep 22-25, 1985.
10. Martin, M, Georges, C, Bisson, P and Konirsch,
0: "Transport of cuttings in directional
wells", SPE/IADC paper 16083, pres at SPE/IADC
Drilling Con, New Orleans, LA, Mar 15-18.
1987. .
11. Tomren, P H, Iyoho, A W and Azar, J J:
"Experimental study of cuttings transport in

175
 CLEANING DEVIATED HOLES: NEW EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL STUDIES SPE/IADC 18636

directional wells~, SPE Drilling Eng, 1, 1,

43-56, 1986.

1.2. Dodge, D ''' and Metzner, A B: ~Turbulent flow

of non-Newtonian systems~, AIChE J, 5, 189-
20Lf, 1959 .

.1.3. Wilson, K C and Tse, J K P: ~Deposition limit

for coarse-particle transport in inclined - - - - - - - - - - TABLE l
pipes'', paper D1, pres at Hydrotansport 9, the
9th Int Conf on the transport of solids in CONDITIONS FOR OPTII1UH TRA.NSPORT OF
pipes, Rome, Italy, 17-19 Oct, 1984, Org by
BHRA Fluid Eng, Cranfield, Eng, UK. CUTTINGS IN VERTICAL HOLES

INVESTIGATOR DATE VISCOSITY REGIME

PIGOTT 1 1941 LmT LAMINAR

HILLIAMS and BRUCE 2 1951 LOW' TURBULENT
HOPKIN 3 1970 HIGH LAMINAR
ZEIDLER 4 1972 L0~7 TURBULENT

SIFFERMAN et al 5 1973 HIGH LAMINAR

IYOHO 6 1980 EITHER EITHER

176
 SPE 186 3 6

----------------------------- TABLE 2
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR THE ClnTINGS TRAllSPORT FLOV LOOP

VELLBORE SIMULATOR

Outer pipe (inside diameter) 8 in [203 mm]

Drillpipe (outside diameter) 5 in [127 mm]
Eccentricity 0 to 100%
Maximum drillpipe speed 200 rev min- 1
Length 50 ft [15.2 m]
Length of visual section 16 ft [4.9 m]
Deviation of wellbore horizontal to vertical

PUUPS
Fluid circulation:
Progressing cavity design 75 hp [56 kW]
Maximum flow rate 500 gal min-1 [31 l s- 1 ]

Cuttings circulation:
Centrifugal slurry pump 147.5 hp [110 kW]
Maximum flow rate 500 gal min- 1 [31 l s- 1 ]
Maximum size of cuttings 1/2 in [12.7 mm]

TANKS

Main mud tank 30 barrels [4770 1]

Auxiliary mud tank 20 barrels [3180 l]
Viscous slug tank 20 barrels [3180 l]

INSTRUMENTATION
Flow rate and temperature of circulated fluid
Differential pressure along simulated wellbore
In situ density of mud and cuttings entering and leaving wellbore
Full-flow sampler
Automatic cuttings collection system
Tank levels
Drillpipe torque and speed
Inclinometer to measure the angle of the wellbore
Probes to detect flow regime of cuttings in the wellbore
LDV measurement system
Video recording and cuttings enhancemsnt system
All instrumentation is connected to a data logger

177
 SPE 186 3 6

'"":::::
FLUID-WALL SHEAR STRESS

INTERFACIAL

...... PRESSURE DIFFERENCE - - - - - - .

Figure 1: Schematic representation of the physically-based

force balance model

0 w
CONCENTRIC GEOMETRY
v 75% ECCENTRIC GEOMETRY

CONCENTRATION OF CUTTINGS 15% v/v

5 inch - 8 inch and 5 inch - 17 1/2 inch drill pipe - hole geometries

Figure 2: The effect of scaling- up hole diameter and altering the

eccentricity

178
 Vibrating
screen
Well bore il::;z;l><J::z,:zz::a::~ separator

~
.~
0
0

Cuttings
circulation Mud circulation
Figure 3: The Cuttings Transport Flow Loop pump pump

Figure 4: Schematic representation of the Flow Loop equipment

....
to

----
DRIWNG FLUID SYMBOL DRIWNG FLUID SYMBOL
-6.--
--6.--
----
WATER WATER
.3 ppb HEC POLYMER .3 ppb HEC POLYMER

250 250

E E
~ 200
/- _g; 200

--- ~~
-......._ -......._
........................
~ ~ ......... 6.
u 150 u 150
g
w
>
0:: 100
/i</
- - - - - - -A- -A- - -
-A
0
w
>
_J

0:: 100
::5 ::5
:::::l ::J
z z
~ 50
z
<( 50

0 0 C/)

..
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 -o
VERTICAL HOLE ANGLE /(degree) HORIZONTAL VERTICAL HOLE ANGLE /(degree) HORIZONTAL rn
Figure 5: Annular velocity required to initiate the transport of 6 mm beads Figure 6: Annular velocity required to initiate the transport of 6 mm beads
with the drillpipe centralised with the drillpipe lying on the low-side of the hole Q)

"''
VII
<l'
 ANNULAR VELOCITY (fpm): 200 ,;, , 250 = 0 ANNULAR VELOCITY (fpm): 200 = , 250 =0
DRILUNG FLUID: - - - WATER DRILUNG FLUID: - --WATER
- - - 3 ppb HEC POLYMER - - - 3 ppb HEC POLYMER

120 120

c.E 100
.E
c 100
.......... ..........
(J"I (J"I

6 80 6 80
.......... ..........
:: ... ,!J .....
w ' ... / w .......

___
!;i: 60 -o- .JJ, . o-.<-o !;i: 60
0:::
'
---o- ~
', , '0- - -
1
0:::
.......
.......
.......

~ ----.
(!) (!)
z ...... o,
z
z
~
40
- --......... /----.-
'
........ _ 0 "'
0- '--0 -
--
z
~
40 ......
......
........
......
.....
i.:::::::::::-- 0___...:--'e...... 'o ....... _o

-
u
_J
20 ----- u
_J
20 .......
......
'o-- - -
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
0
10 20 30 40
......
......

50 60
-------
0 70 80 90
VERTICAL HOLE ANGLE /(degree) HORIZONTAL VERTICAL HOLE ANGLE /(degree) HORIZONTAL

Figure 7: Cleaning rate while circulating a pill with the Figure 8: Cleaning rate while circulating a pill with the drillpipe
drillpipe centralised lying on the low-side of the hole

CD
c:::J

DRIUPIPE GEOMETRY EXPERIMENTAL PREDICTION DRIUPIPE GEOMETRY EXPERIMENTAL PREDICTION

DATA FROM MODEL DATA FROM MODEL
CENTRALISED -.6- CENTRALISED -.6-
LYING ON LOW-SIDE OF HOLE --l:::.-- LYING ON LOW-SIDE OF HOLE --l:::.--

300 300
,,_... __. -------
E 250 E 250
~ .9-
..........

//A--A------
..........
200 ,......t::.--1:::.- ..... 200 1:::.
~ ~ / />(' /
0
0
/ "' 0
0_J
-........____

~
/
150 150 /
_J
w
>
0:::
j 100
!:::.-
......- - - - --1:::. w
>
0:::
~ 100
/
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.

/
//
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.
:::> :::> b / /
z z
z
<{ 50 z
<{ 50
1(/)
""0
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 rn
VERTICAL HOLE ANGLE /(degree) riORIZONTAL VERTICAL HOLE ANGLE /(degree) rlORIZONTAL
....
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Figure 9: Comparison of predictions from the Gavignet and Sobey model figure 10: Comparison of the predictions from the physically-based model
to the experimental data obtained using water to the experimental data obtained using HEC drilling fluid <l'
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