High temperature and high pressure rheological properties of high-density water-based drilling fluids for deep wells

To maintain tight control over rheological properties of high-density water-based drilling fluids, it is essential to understand the factors influencing the theology of water-based drilling fluids. This paper examines temperature effects on the rheological properties of two types of high-density water-based drilling fluids （fresh water-based and brine-based） under high temperature and high pressure （HTHP） with a Fann 50SL rheometer. On the basis of the water-based drilling fluid systems formulated in laboratory, this paper mainly describes the influences of different types and concentration of clay, the content of a colloid stabilizer named GHJ-1 and fluid density on the rheological parameters such as viscosity and shear stress. In addition, the effects of aging temperature and aging time of the drilling fluid on these parameters were also examined. Clay content and proportions for different densities of brine-based fluids were recommended to effectively regulate the rheological properties. Four theological models, the Bingham, power law, Casson and H-B models, were employed to fit the rheological parameters. It turns out that the H-B model was the best one to describe the rheological properties of the high-density drilling fluid under HTHP conditions and power law model produced the worst fit. In addition, a new mathematical model that describes the apparent viscosity as a function of temperature and pressure was established and has been applied on site.

Rheological properties of oil-based drilling fluids at high temperature and high pressure

The rheological properties of two kinds of oil-based drilling fluids with typically composition were studied at pressures up to 138 MPa and temperatures up to 204 ℃ using the RheoChan 7400 Rheometer.The experimental results show that the apparent viscosity,plastic viscosity and yield point decrease with the increase of temperature,and increase with the increase of pressure.The effect of pressure on the apparent viscosity,plastic viscosity and yield point is considerable at ambient temperature.However,this effect gradually reduces with the increase of temperature.The major factor influencing the rheological properties of oil-based drilling fluids is temperature instead of pressure in the deep sections of oil wells.On the basis of numerous experiments,the model for predict the apparent viscosity,plastic viscosity and yield point of oil-based drilling fluids at high temperature and pressure was established using the method of regressive analysis.It is confirmed that the calculated data are in good agreement with the measured data,and the correlation coefficients are more than 0.98.The model is convenient for use and suitable for the application in drilling operations.

Rheological property of low-damage,ideal packing,film-forming amphoteric/sulfonation polymer drilling fluids

Low-permeability dense reservoirs,including micro-fractured reservoirs,are commonly characterized by high content of clay substances,high original water saturation,high sensitivity to invasive fluids,high capillary pressure,complicated structure and anisotropic,high flow-resistance and micro pore throats etc,.Generally they also have lots of natural micro fractures,probably leading to stress sensibility.Main damaging factors in such reservoirs are water-sensibility and water-blocking caused by invasive fluids during drilling and production operations.Once damaged,formation permeability can rarely recovered.Numerous studies have shown that damaging extent of water-blocking ranges from 70% to 90%.Main damaging mechanisms and influencing factors of water-blocking were systematically analyzed.Also some feasible precaution or treating approaches of water-blocking were put forward.In a laboratory setting,a new multi-functional drilling fluid composed mainly of amphion polymer,sulfonation polymer,high effectively preventive water-blocking surfactants,ideal packing temporary bridging agents(TBA) and film-forming agents,etc.,were developed.New low-damage drilling fluids has many advantages,such as good rheological properties,excellent effectiveness of water-blocking prevention,good temporary plugging effect,low filtration and ultra-low permeability(API filtration≤5 mL,HTHP filtration≤10 mL,mud cake frictional coefficient≤0.14,permeability recovery>81%),can efficiently prevent or minimize damage,preserve natural formation and enhance comprehensive development-investment effect in TUHA Jurassic dense sandstone reservoir formation with low-permeability,the only one developing integrated condense gas field.Some references can be provided to similar reservoir formations.

Research on deepwater synthetic drilling fluid and its low temperature rheological properties

With the rapid development of deepwater drilling operations,more and more complex technical challenges have to be faced due to the rigorous conditions encountered.One of these challenges is that the drilling fluid used must had good rheological properties at low temperatures and high ability to inhibit hydrate formation.Synthetic drilling fluid has been widely applied to deepwater drilling operations due to its high penetration rate,excellent rheological properties,good ability to prevent hydrate formation,and high biodegradability.A synthetic drilling fluid formulation was developed in our laboratory.The rheological properties of this drilling fluid at low temperatures （0-20 °C） were tested with a 6-speed viscometer and its ability to inhibit hydrate formation was evaluated at 20 MPa CH 4 gas and 0 °C by differential scanning calorimetry （DSC）.Several factors influencing the low temperature rheological properties of this synthetic drilling fluid were studied in this paper.These included the viscosity of the base fluid,the amount of CEMU and organic clay,and the water volume fraction.

Investigation of regulating rheological properties of water-based drilling fluids by ultrasound

Regulating rheological properties of water-based drilling fluids has always been a hot topic.This paper proposed a new method for regulating rheological properties of water-based drilling fluids by ultrasonic field.The experimental results showed that the ultrasound increased the viscosity and yield point of bentonite suspension by reducing the particle size of clay,destroying the network structure between clay particles,increasing the mud yield and the cation exchange capacity of bentonite,and promoting the hydration dispersion of bentonite.The change of rheological property showed a memory effect at room temperature and high temperature.Besides,the ultrasonic energy affected the network structure between clays and polymer chains,thus regulating the rheological properties of the bentonite-polymer system.For two types of drilling fluids investigated,the rheology of the poly-sulfonate drilling fluid was regulated by damaging the grid structure between additives and clays by low-power ultrasound and reducing the clay particle size by high-power ultrasound,while the rheology of the deep-water drilling fluid was mainly regulated by disentangling the spatial grid structure between additives.Additionally,ultrasound showed no effect on the lubricity,inhibition and stability of drilling fluids,which proved the feasibility of ultrasound to regulate rheological properties of water-based drilling fluids.

An Experimental Investigation on Rheological Properties of Aqueous Xanthan Gum as a Blood Analog Fluid

Developing a shear thinning non-Newtonian fluid to substitute blood is desirable in studies of biomedicine engineering since blood is a shear thinning nonNewtonian fluid that exhibits both viscous and elastic properties, and generally not available in large volume. The rheological properties of aqueous Xanthan gum with different concentrations and temperatures were studied in present paper. The resuits show that aqueous Xanthan gum is a non-Newtonian fluid which displays remarkable shear thinning behaviour and is a suitable blood analog fluid. There is a power law distribution relationship between shear stress and shear rate, and the higher the solution concentration is, the more strongly it displays shear thinning behaviours. Viscosity values of aqueous Xanthan gum increase with the solution temperature decrease or with the solution concentration increase in linearity. Moreover at the temperature of 37℃, aqueous Xanthan gum with concentration of 0.4%e and 0.6%0 matches human blood best in rheological properties. According to the resuits, the viscosity expression varied with temperature and concentrition is obtained, and the stability of Xanthan gum solution is discussed.

Study on Theoretical Modeling of Semi-Active Electro-Rheological Fluid Damper

This paper emphases on analyzing and investigating the mechanical behavior of electro-rheological fluid (ERF) semi-active damper. Theoretical model was developed to describe the relationship between electric field and the resistance force of ERF flowing through two parallel plane electrodes. In the model, the pressure drop along electrodes was supposed to consist of two parts: one related with viscosity and the other related with dynamic yield shear stress. The concept of yield stress influence factor was developed in deriving the theoretical formula for calculating the pressure drop in the damper. The influences of some other factors, such as, non-ideal Newtonian fluid and temperature have also been taken into account. Numerical and experimental work have been performed to prove the validity of the proposed model. The comparison of both results shows that the developed model is quite effective and practicable .

Rheological properties of low consistency TMP from thinning wood of Chinese Fir

The rheological behavior of low consistency thermomechanical pulp of Chinese fir harvested by intermediate thinning was analyzed. The results show that the apparent viscosity of pulp changed along with the beating degree, pulp consistency and shearing velocity. With the increasing of pulp consistency, the apparent viscosity of pulp increased gradually. Beating degree of pulp had an effect on microstructure of pulp. The apparent viscosity of pulp declined as beating degree of pulp increased, and the apparent viscosity of pulp fell along with the shearing velocity increasing. Based on the results, the rheological models are set up. The models showed that the fluid types of the low consistency pulp could be described as pseudoplastics fluids （non-Newtonian fluids）.

MORPHOLOGICAL MODEL FOR RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF PLANT CELL SUSPENSION CULTURE SYSTEM

This paper puts forward a physical and mathematical model for the rheological properties of a plant cell suspension culture system.The model can explain why the system is pseudoplastic satisfactorily,thus the rheological properties of the system as the effect of the flow behavior index on plant cell concentration are interpreted correctly and the mechanism of the rheological properties of the system is further understood.Therefore the model can be applied in the technological design and optimum conditions of the system and the reformation,evaluation and scale up of reactors.

Rheological behaviors of coal slime produced by filter-pressing

It is an effective way to use coal slime as fuel for circulating fluidized bed boilers, which will not only solve its pollution to the environment, but also turn waste to treasure. In order to provide basic technical information for transportation of coal slime from the coal preparation plant to the boiler, this paper experimentally studied the rheological behaviors of coal slime produced by filter-pressing. By using a rotational viscometer, the influences of water content, temperature, and shear time on the rheological behaviors of coal slime were investigated. Experimental results show that the coal slime will behave like Bingham plastics with low water content and like Bingham pseudo-plastics with 37.5% water content,while like pseudo-plastics with 40% water content. This indicates that the water content of coal slime must be controlled in consideration of both transportation resistance and combustion efficiency. Study results also show that, the apparent viscosity of coal slime at 5℃ is about 1.5–1.7 times of that at 40℃ for water contents 32%–37.5%, while the influence of temperature can be neglected when the water content is 40%. With increasing of water content, the influences of shear time on the apparent viscosity of coal slime becomes less. When the water content is more than 30%, the effect of shear time is negligible. It indicates that water content has the most important influence on the rheological behaviors of coal slime. There must be an optimal water content in considering conveying resistance and combustion efficiency. The environmental temperature must also be considered in coal slime transportation.

Particle characteristics and rheological constitutive relations of high concentration red mud

Red mud has relatively small solid particles （d50= 13.02 μm） and will flow in paste form under high pressure during pipeline transport. Red mud belongs to a two-phase flow of materials with high viscosity and a high concentration of non-sedimentation, homogeneous solid-liquids. It is difficult to test its rheological properties under atmospheric pressure. Measurements such as rotational viscometry can not reflect the real state of the material when it is flowing in a pipe. Tested rheological parameters are somewhat higher than the actual values. In our investigation, grain shape, distinctive modality and grain size distribution of red mud were tested. Based on the principle of tube measurement, rheological experiments on red mud at different concentrations were carried out by using our independently developed tube-type pressure theology test facility, and obtained constitutive equations. We conclude that red mud behaves as non-Newtonian pseudo-plastic fluid in pipe flows. Its consistency and power-law indices vary considerably with different concentrations.

GENERALIZED ASYMMETRIC HYSTERESIS MODEL OF CONTROLLABLE MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL DAMPER FOR VEHICLE SUSPENSION ATTENUATION

A generalized model is synthesized to characterize the asymmetric hysteresisforce-velocity (F-v) properties of the magneto-rheological (MR) fluids damper. The model isrepresented as a function of the command current, excitation frequency, and displacement amplitude,based on the symmetric and asymmetric sigmoid functions. The symmetric hysteresis damping propertiesof the controllable MR-damper and properties of the conventional passive hydraulic damper can alsobe described by the proposed model. The validity of the model is verified by experiments, which showthat the results calculated from the model are consistent with the measured data. In addition, itis shown that the model applies to a wide vibration frequency range. The proposed model haspotential application in vehicle suspension design employing the symmetry MR-damper, and also indeveloping the asymmetry MR-damper especially for the vehicle suspension attenuation.

Review of Non-Newtonian Mathematical Models for Rheological Characteristics of Viscoelastic Composites

This study presents an overview of viscoelastic characteristics of biocomposites derived of natural-fibre-reinforced thermoplastic polymers and predictive models have been presented in order to understand their rheological behavior. Various constitutive equations are reviewed for a better understanding of their applicability to polymer melt in determining the viscosity. The models to be investigated are the Giesekus-Leonov model, the Upper Convected Maxwell (UCM) model, the White-Metzner model, K-BKZ model, the Oldroyd-B model, and the Phan-Thien-Tanner models. The aforementioned models are the most powerful for predicting the rheological behavior of hybrid and green viscoelastic materials in the presence of high shear rate and in all dimensions. The Phan-Thien Tanner model, the Oldroyd-B model, and the Giesekus model can be used in various modes to fit the relaxation modulus accurately and to predict the shear thinning as well as shear thickening characteristics. The Phan-Thien Tanner, K-BKZ, Upper convected Maxwell, Oldroyd-B, and Giesekus models predicted the steady shear viscosity and the transient first normal stress coefficient better than the White-Metzner model for green-fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites.

Investigation into the effect of silica nanoparticles on the rheological characteristics of water-in-heavy oil emulsions

The effect of silica nanoparticles on the rheological characteristics of water-in-heavy oil emulsions has been investigated.Enhanced oil recovery methods for heavy oil production(most especially,thermal fluid injection)usually result in the formation of water-in-oil(W/O)emulsion.In reality,the emulsion produced also contains some fine solid mineral particles such as silica,which,depending on its quantity,may alter the viscosity and/or rheological properties of the fluid.A series of binary-component emulsions were separately prepared by dispersing silica nanoparticles[phase fraction,βs,=0.5%–5.75%(wt/v)]in heavy oil(S/O suspension)and by dispersing water[water cut,θw=10%–53%(v/v)]in heavy oil(W/O emulsion).Ternary-component emulsions comprising heavy oil,water droplets and suspended silica nanoparticles(S/W/O)were also prepared with similar ranges ofθw andβs.The viscosity was measured at different shear rates(5.1–1021.4 s-1)and temperatures(30–70°C).Both binary-component and ternary-component emulsion systems were observed to exhibit nonNewtonian shear thinning behaviour.The viscosity of the heavy oil and W/O emulsions increased in the presence of silica nanoparticles.The effect was,however,less signifi cant belowβs=2%(wt/v).Moreover,a generalized correlation has been proposed to predict the viscosity of both binary-component and ternary-component emulsions.

Crustal Texture and Rheological Evolution of Tongbai－Dabie Orogenic Belt，China

The crustal texture and rheological evolution of the Tongbai-Dabie orogenic belt are approached from a physical standpoint on the basis of a large body of geological, chronological and geophysical data available in the region. Rheological profiles showing variation of rock Strength with depth in the continental crust are constructed for 1-D crustal structure limited to the Present and Meso-Neoproterozoic structural configurations of the deformed belt, respectively .It is emphasized that the crustal texture and composition have been heterogeneous with the rheological stratification and complicated rheological evolution since the Meso-Neoproterozoic at least. The data appear that the Tongbai - Dabie tectonic belt is a polyphase collisional orogen with evidence for cyclically transition from compressional to extensional regimes and rheological behavior in the levels of the crust.

Experiments and analysis for rheological properties of MRF

The work principle of flat-plate structure under shearing mode is expounded based on a vertical type rheometer for MRF which combined data acquisition with treatment and result display.The formula to calculate shearing stress is deduced.Based on different recipe for MRF,experiments under different working gap length were done by altering the intensity of magnetic field.The rheological model for MRF was established and the relationships between shearing stress,viscosity and magnetic field intensity were deduced.Experiments indicate that MRF has the flowing characters:with an increase of the magnetic induction and the nominal shear rate,the shear stress of MRF increases.However,as the working gap decreases,the shear stress increases.MRF has shear thinning property under magnetic field.

COMPUTER SIMULATION OF CONTINUOUS ELECTROMAGNETIC STIRRING FOR MAKING RHEOLOGIC SEMI-SOLID SLURRY OF ZL112Y ALUMINUM ALLOY

To realize the technology of fabricating the rheologic semi-solid slurry of ZL112Y aluminum alloy via continues electromagnetic stirring process, ANSYS software was used to simulate electromagnetic force field and fluid velocity field in the alloy melt in a crucible tube in three coils. In the first section of the paper, eletromagnetic force field and fluid velocity field caused by single coil were simulated. The result of this simulation gives an average velocity of 3.2 cm/s and it is called critical velocity because a fluid velocity over it will cause a fine and spherical structure of solid primary a in a semi-solid melt. And, from this result, a reasonable temperature of semi-solid of the alloy and an electrical current intensity were established. The electrical current intensity of the result of this simulation corresponded to the current intensity used in a practice experiment, in which the primary α was obviously refined and sphericized. Based on this simulation of single coil electromagnetic stirring, in the second section of the paper, eletromagnetic force field and fluid velocity field caused by three coils were simulated. The result of the simulation shows that, 1） there is a semi-solid zone of 32 mm from bottom of the crucible tube to the upper; 2） the electrical current intensities of three coils of 400 A, 600 A, and 400 A, which were set to top range, middle range and bottom range of the tube, respectively, were the optimum parameters of electromagnetic current intensity under the condition of this investigation; and 3） under effect of these electromagnetic current intensity, the fluid velocities of the melt in the tube were 6.3 cm/s in top range, 3.75 cm/s in middle range, and 3.9 cm/s in bottom range of it, respectively.

Novel KCl/Silicate Drilling Fluids for Alleviating Problems in Troublesome Shale Formations in Sudan

For several decades, wells drilled in Block 6, Sudan, have experienced serious hole-instability problems related to drilling fluids due to the highly reactive and dispersive shales that exist in the Aradeiba and Abu Gabra formations. These problems included washout hole sections combined with tight holes, as well as serious sloughing. Frequent wiper trips were required and logging of the wells was not usually successful. Previously, several conventional inhibitive water-based drilling fluids such as KCl/polymer, KCl/lime/polymer and KCl/PHPA （partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide） have been used in this area, but with only marginal improvements in hole stability and drilling performance. Recently, a newly formulated KCl/sodium silicate system, which is characterized by the good rheological properties and filtration control, was developed and used for providing the necessary inhibitive character. The first trial well was drilled with this kind of drilling fluid in Block 6, Sudan, and the following benefits were observed： （1） Excellent integrity exhibited by drilled cuttings for shale formations; （2） Stable borehole kept with lower mud weight; （3） Reduced wiper trips; and （4） In-gauge borehole shown from caliper logs. Later on, five more wells were drilled with the KCl/sodium silicate system in this area. It was found that the KCl/sodium silicate system can fully meet the demands of drilling operations in this area. Case studies are presented in this paper in terms of wiper trips, inhibitive character of cuttings, hole conditions and mud weight.

A high-temperature resistant and high-density polymeric saturated brine-based drilling fluid

Three high-temperature resistant polymeric additives for water-based drilling fluids are designed and developed:weakly cross-linked zwitterionic polymer fluid loss reducer(WCZ),flexible polymer microsphere nano-plugging agent(FPM)and comb-structure polymeric lubricant(CSP).A high-temperature resistant and high-density polymeric saturated brine-based drilling fluid was developed for deep drilling.The WCZ has a good anti-polyelectrolyte effect and exhibits the API fluid loss less than 8 mL after aging in saturated salt environment at 200°C.The FPM can reduce the fluid loss by improving the quality of the mud cake and has a good plugging effect on nano-scale pores/fractures.The CSP,with a weight average molecular weight of 4804,has multiple polar adsorption sites and exhibits excellent lubricating performance under high temperature and high salt conditions.The developed drilling fluid system with a density of 2.0 g/cm^(3)has good rheological properties.It shows a fluid loss less than 15 mL at 200°C and high pressure,a sedimentation factor(SF)smaller than 0.52 after standing at high temperature for 5 d,and a rolling recovery of hydratable drill cuttings similar to oil-based drilling fluid.Besides,it has good plugging and lubricating performance.