1. PETE 411 Drilling Engineering
Lesson Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids - - Slip Velocity -

2. 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

3. Read: Applied Drilling Engineering, Ch. 4 - all
HW #8: On the Web - due

4. 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.

5. 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)

6. 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 ft/min are generally adequate (vertical wells)

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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 STOKE’S LAW:

12. Particle Slip Velocity - small particles
Where

13. Particle Slip Velocity
Stokes’ Law gives acceptable accuracy for a particle Reynolds number < 0.1
For Nre > 0.1 an empirical friction factor
may be used.

14. What forces act on a settling particle?
Non-spherical particles experience relatively higher drag forces

15. Sphericities for Various Particle Shapes
Shape Sphericity
Sphericity =
surface area of sphere of same volume as particle
surface area of particle

17. Particle Reynolds Number, fig. 4.46
Based on real cuttings
In field units,

18. Slip Velocity Calculation using Moore’s 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.

19. Slip Velocity Calculation (using Moore’s 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.

20. Example
Use (the modified) Moore’s method to calculate the slip velocity and the net particle velocity under the following assumptions:
Well depth: 8,000 ft Yield point: 4 lbf/100ft2
Drill pipe: 4.5”, #/ft Density of Particle: 21 lbm/gal
Mud Weight: #/gal Particle diameter: 5,000 mm
Plastic viscosity: 7 cp Circulation rate: gal/min
Hole size: /8”

21. Solution - Slip Velociy Problem
1. Calculate the flow velocity
2. Determine the fluid n and K values

22. Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - cont’d
2. Determine the fluid n and K values - cont’d
(ADE)

23. Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - cont’d
3. Calculate the appropriate viscosity

24. Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - cont’d
4. Assume a value for the slip velocity
5. Calculate the corresponding Particle Reynolds No.

25. Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - cont’d
6. Obtain the drag coeff., f, from the plot of f vs. Nre.
From graph, f = 2.0

26. Solution - Slip Velocity Problem - cont’d
4 (ii) Assume
5 (ii) Particle
6 (ii) From graph,
7 (ii)
Subsequent iterations yield 0.56 ft/s and 0.56 ft/s again…...

27. Slip Velocity - Alternate Method
1. Fully Laminar:

28. Slip Velocity - Alternate Method
2. Intermediate;

29. Slip Velocity - Alternate Method
3. Fully Turbulent:
NOTE: Check NRe

30. For the above calculations:
Slip Velocity - Alternate Method
For the above calculations:
NOTE: Check NRe

31. 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.

32. Example
(i) Intermediate:
(ii) Fully Turbulent:

33. Example - cont’d Intermediate: Vs = 0.545 ft/sec
Fully Turbulent: Vs = ft/sec
The correct slip velocity is ft/sec
{ agrees reasonably well with iterative method on p.12 }
Range OK

34. Slip Velocity - API RP 13D
Iterative Procedure
Calculate Fluid Properties, n & K
Calculate Shear Rate
Calculate Apparent Viscosity
Calculate Slip Velocity
Example

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

36. 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, gs
5. Calculate the corresponding apparent viscosity, mes
6. Calculate the slip velocity, Vs
7. Use this value of Vs and repeat steps 4-6 until the assumed and calculated slip velocities ~“agree”

37. Slip Velocity - Example

38. Slip Velocity - Example
1. Calculate ns for the settling particle
2. Calculate Ks for the particle

39. Slip Velocity - Example
3. Assume a value for the slip velocity, Vs
Assume Vs = 1 ft/sec
4. Calculate the shear rate, gs

40. Slip Velocity - Example
5. Calculate the corresp. apparent viscosity:
6. Calculate the slip velocity, Vs

41. Slip Velocity - Example
6. Calculate the slip velocity, Vs
If y = 0.80, then:
Vs = ft/sec
Repeat steps 4-6

42. Slip Velocity - Example
Second Iteration - using
Vs = ft/sec
4. Shear rate: gs = sec-1
5. Apparent viscosity: mes = cp
6. Slip velocity: Vs = ft/sec
Third Iteration - using
Vs = ft/sec
4. Shear rate: gs = sec-1
5. Apparent viscosity: mes = cp
6. Slip velocity: Vs = ft/sec

43. Slip Velocity - Example
Fourth Iteration - using
Vs = ft/sec
4. Shear rate: gs = sec-1
5. Apparent viscosity: mes = cp
6. Slip velocity: Vs = ft/sec
Slip Velocity, Vs = ft/sec
{ Vs = 1.0, , , ft/sec }

44. Transport Ratio

45. Transport Ratio A transport efficiency of 50% or higher is desirable!
Note: Net particle velocity = fluid velocity - slip velocity. In example, particle slip velocity = = 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%

46. 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.]

47. 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.

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