CFD-DEM simulation of the hole cleaning process in a deviated well drilling： The effects of particle shape

We investigate the effect of particle shape on the transportation mechanism in well-drilling using a three-dimensional model that couples computational fluid dynamics （CFD） with the discrete element method （DEM）. This numerical method allows us to incorporate the fluid-particle interactions （drag force, contact force, Saffman lift force, Magnus lift force, buoyancy force） using momentum exchange and the non-Newtonian behavior of the fluid. The interactions of particle-particle, particle-wall, and particle-drill pipe are taken into account with the Hertz-Mindlin model. We compare the transport of spheres with non-spherical particles （non-smooth sphere, disc, and cubic） constructed via the multi- sphere method for a range of fluid inlet velocities and drill pipe inclination angles. The simulations are carried out for laboratory-scale drilling configurations. Our results demonstrate good agreement with published experimental data. We evaluate the fluid-particle flow patterns, the particle velocities, and the particle concentration profiles. The results reveal that particle sphericity plays a major role in the fluid-solid interaction. The traditional assumption of an ideal spherical particle may cause inaccurate results.

Fracture sealing performance of granular lost circulation materials at elevated temperature:A theoretical and coupled CFD-DEM simulation study

Lost circulation is a common downhole problem of drilling in geothermal and high-temperature,high-pressure(HTHP)formations.Lost circulation material(LCM)is a regular preventive and remedial measure for lost circulation.However,conventional LCMs seem ineffective in high-temperature formations.This may be due to the changes in the mechanical properties of LCMs and their sealing performance under high-temperature conditions.To understand how high temperature affects the fracture sealing performance of LCMs,we developed a coupled computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method(CFD-DEM)model to simulate the behavior of granular LCMs in fractures.We summarized the literature on the effects of high temperature on the mechanical properties of LCMs and the rheological properties of drilling fluid.We conducted sensitivity analyses to investigate how changing LCM slurry properties affected the fracture sealing efficiency at increasing temperatures.The results show that high temperature reduces the size,strength,and friction coefficient of LCMs as well as the drilling fluid viscosity.Smaller,softer,and less frictional LCM particles have lower bridging probability and slower bridging initiation.Smaller particles tend to form dual-particle bridges rather than single-particle bridges.These result in a deeper,tighter,but unstable sealing zone.Reduced drilling fluid viscosity leads to faster and shallower sealing zones.

The mechanism of microwave rock breaking and its potential application to rock-breaking technology in drilling

The exploration and development of oil and gas resources have shifted from shallow to deep and ultradeep.The difficulty of rock breaking has also increased,introducing new challenges to traditional rock-breaking technology.Hence,there is an urgent need to develop new rock-breaking technologies to improve the development efficiency of deep oil and gas resources.Therefore,this study focused on the new microwave rock-breaking technology and conducted experimental and numerical simulation research on typical deep,hard rock granite.The research results showed that granite in the microwave field exhibited high-temperature melting and fracture,and the highest temperature could reach 550°C.Under the irradiation of circulating microwaves,a minimum irradiation time threshold of 3 min was needed to cause irreversible damage to the rock.The numerical simulation results showed that the interaction of thermal stress and in situ stress would cause the inside of the rock stratum to separate into a disturbed deterioration area,disturbed unloading area and initial stress area.These results are expected to provide the necessary technical guidance and theoretical support for the research and development of high-efficiency rock-breaking drilling for deep hard rock.

STUDIES ON THE LAW OF LAMINAR HELICAL FLOW OF POWER-LAW FLUID IN ECCENTRIC ANNULI

The flow of mud under a constant axial pressure gradient in eccentric annuli was studied extensively in this paper. Assumed that the inner wall was rotating at a constant angular velocity, then the constitutive equation of power law fluid and the equation of motion were given. The expressions of apparent viscosity, velocity, flow rate and pressure loss were obtained. In Some numerical results were given by alternation-substitution method. The conclusions are that the viscosity difference between wide and narrow clearance is reduced with increasing the rotation of inner cylinder and/or decreasing the eccentric distance. The flow rate will be increased with increasing the rotation of inner cylinder and eccentric distance, etc.. The pressure loss in eccentric flow is quite large than in concentric axial flow. The results are useful for calculating hydraulic parameters in drilling engineering.

Combining Diagnosis of the Casing and Tooljoint Wear in Mud Fluid While Drilling

A ground monitoring system was developed to diagnose casing and tooljoint wear in a well dur-ing drilling by combining the analysis of wear debris with detection of the tooljoints. The result shows that the wear debris concentration in the circulating drilling mud in a well reflects the total wear rate of the tribo-elements in the well, while the wear detection of a tooljoint can indicate its wear loss between two contigu-ous times of drill-pipe lifting. A diagnosis method that integrates the two types of information was developed to identify severe wear regions in well casing. Theoretical analyses and field test show that the severe cas-ing wear region can be located relatively accurately by the integrated method. This method presents a new ground casing wear diagnosis approach with good real-time results.

Reservoir forming conditions and key exploration and development technologies for marine shale gas fields in Fuling area, South China

Although shale gas resources are abundant in China,commercial discoveries have not been made before the discovery of Fuling Shale Gas Field.SINOPEC has done lots of theoretical and technological studies on marine shale gas development in China.Research shows shale gas has dynamic accumulations with early preservation and late reconstruction and proposes high-quality shale developed in deep-water shelf as the base and good preservation conditions as the key factor for shale gas accumulation.Key technologies and facilities were developed for geophysical survey of shale gas,design and optimization of shale gas development,drilling and completion of horizontal wells,and fracturing stimulation.As the first and largest shale gas field in China,the discovery and successful development of Fuling Shale Gas Filed has made China the first country to achieve large-scale development of shale gas after North America.By August 2017,Fuling Shale Gas Field had declared 6008.14×10^(8)m^(3) proven reserves,76.8×10^(8)m^(3) production capacity and 133.9×10^(8)m^(3) cumulative production.The construction of Fuling Shale Gas Field with high level,high speed and high quality has been a good example of shale gas development in China.Its successful experiences can be used to other fields and play an important role in optimizing energy structure and improving environment.