A Study on the Thickness of a Cutting Bed Monitor and Control in an Extended Reach Well

• Published in: Petroleum science and technology Vol. 29; no. 13; pp. 1397 - 1406
• Main Authors: Wang, Z. M., Hao, X. N., Guo, X. L., Zhai, Y. J., Sun, L. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2010; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Applied sciences; borehole cleaning; Boreholes; Circulating; Cleaning; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Cutting; cutting transport; Density; Dynamics; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; extended reach well; Fuels; Mathematical models; Petroleum products, gas and fuels. Motor fuels, lubricants and asphalts; Processing of crude oil and oils from shales and tar sands. Processes. Equipment. Refinery and treatment units; Regression; thickness of cutting bed; three layers model; borehole cleaning; thickness of cutting bed; cutting transport; three layers model; Cleaning; extended reach well; Density
• ISSN: 1091-6466; 1532-2459
• DOI: 10.1080/10916466.2010.481648

Based on solid-liquid flow mechanics, considering the interaction between layers, the slip between solid and liquid phase, and the effect of drillpipe rotation, a dynamic three-layer cutting transport model was developed. By orthogonal experiment regression, a formula for calculating the thickness of the cutting bed was developed that is suitable for field application. The dynamic thickness of the cutting bed can be predicted by measured equivalent circulating density (ECD). Research has shown that the field equipment cannot attain the capability to keep the borehole clean, and when the thickness of the cutting bed exceeds 10%, a flushing method must be used to keep the borehole clean.