Loading...

Modeling and simulation of barite deposition in an annulus space of a well using CFD

Movahedi, H ; Sharif University of Technology | 2018

1450 Viewed
  1. Type of Document: Article
  2. DOI: 10.1016/j.petrol.2017.12.014
  3. Publisher: Elsevier B.V , 2018
  4. Abstract:
  5. In drilling industry, barite particles settling and barite sag as a major problem can potentially impose significant operational issues. Static conditions, in which well undergoes an extended shut-in period, could occur during different drilling and completion operations such fishing operation, tripping, and logging. Despite its importance, such phenomenon is not well understood yet. To avoid issues related to barite settlement and barite sag, a good understanding of the impact of different drilling parameters on barite settlement and sag phenomenon is required. Recently, the mathematical formulation and modeling of settlement and sag processes have gained more attention. In order to better design the drilling fluids and to optimize the operational conditions such as flow rate and drill pipe rotation speed, as well as drilling well trajectory design to avoid barite settlement, the mathematical formulation and modeling of such physical phenomena is required. This study is aimed at mathematically describing and analyzing the settling of barite particles in annular concentric space without axial flow by the means of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation. The modeling approach consists of two main steps: a) simple vertical annular domain and b) complex three dimensional barite settlement process in a deviated well with rotational drill pipe. The current work is based on Eulerian two phase model. The settling of the single particle and the hindering effect of other particles on settling velocity have been investigated. Based on single particle model, the rate of barite settlement and fluid pressure reduction have been modeled. However, the single particle model cannot describe the particle to particle interactions and their impacts on settlement such as particle shearing viscosity, kinetic particle viscosity, and collisional effects. In this study, the accurate and comprehensive modeling of barite settlement has been done by applying the Eulerian-Eulerian approach. The models have been validated against available published experimental data in the literature. In addition, in order to further validate the model presented here, drill pipe rotation, fluid rheology, and inclination angle impacts have been experimental investigation and compared with results of the proposed model. The results indicate that the model based on using Eulerian-Eulerian approach accurately predicts the experimental data results. Afterward, the sensitivity analyses were carried out to show the impact of inclination angle, inner pipe rotation, fluid rheology, and barite content on the rate of settlement. This study showed that drag forces induced resuspension plays a vital role in barite settlement inside a deviated well. The results reveal that the settling rate is decreased with increasing the inner pipe rotation and the vortex effect created by inner pipe rotational, play a major role in the reduction of barite settlement. The results also show that the maximum settlement rate accrues at the deviation angles between of 45–60°. © 2017
  6. Keywords:
  7. Barite settling ; CFD simulation ; Eulerian-eulerian model ; Single particle model ; Barite ; Deflected boreholes ; Drag ; Drill pipe ; Drilling fluids ; Drills ; Elasticity ; Fluid dynamics ; Non newtonian liquids ; Oil well drilling equipment ; Rotation ; Sensitivity analysis ; Viscosity ; CFD simulations ; Drilling and completion ; Eulerian two-phase models ; Eulerian-eulerian approach ; Eulerian-eulerian modeling ; Experimental investigations ; Mathematical formulation ; Single-particle model ; Computational fluid dynamics ; Computer simulation ; Depositional environment ; Eulerian analysis ; Numerical model
  8. Source: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering ; Volume 161 , 2018 , Pages 476-496 ; 09204105 (ISSN)
  9. URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0920410517309701