Real-Time Evaluation of Hole Cleaning Conditions Using a Transient Cuttings Transport Model

Cayeux, Eric; Mesagan, T.; Tanripada, Sakti; Zidan, Mohamed; Fjelde, Kjell Kåre

doi:10.2118/163492-ms

Cited by 18 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Next, the drilling constraint module continuously evaluates various combinations of drilling parameters with respect to the following incidents: The computations above are based on steady-state drilling models, consisting of hydraulics, heat transfer, cuttings transport, torque and drag, and buckling models. These models have been described in detail in previous publications [20,26,33,34]. Each model is updated in real-time at frequencies ranging from 1Hz to 5Hz, which ensures the adaptive nature of the drilling constraints computations.…”

Section: Ropmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, the effect of gravitation and buoyancy on a cutting particle is difficult to estimate simply because the volume and density of an individual cutting particle is not known. This uncertainty can influence hydrostatic pressure calculations, cuttings transport [26], viscous pressure losses and even drill-string torque through the grinding mechanism that takes place when cuttings are trapped between a tool-joint and the borehole [27]. Also, the wellbore size may be different from the theoretical one.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Autonomous Decision-Making While Drilling

et al. 2021

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The drilling process is complex because unexpected situations may occur at any time. Furthermore, the drilling system is extremely long and slender, therefore prone to vibrations and often being dominated by long transient periods. Adding the fact that measurements are not well distributed along the drilling system, with the majority of real-time measurements only available at the top side and having only access to very sparse data from downhole, the drilling process is poorly observed therefore making it difficult to use standard control methods. Therefore, to achieve completely autonomous drilling operations, it is necessary to utilize a method that is capable of estimating the internal state of the drilling system from parsimonious information while being able to make decisions that will keep the operation safe but effective. A solution enabling autonomous decision-making while drilling has been developed. It relies on an optimization of the time to reach the section total depth (TD). The estimated time to reach the section TD is decomposed into the effective time spent in conducting the drilling operation and the likely time lost to solve unexpected drilling events. This optimization problem is solved by using a Markov decision process method. Several example scenarios have been run in a virtual rig environment to test the validity of the concept. It is found that the system is capable to adapt itself to various drilling conditions, as for example being aggressive when the operation runs smoothly and the estimated uncertainty of the internal states is low, but also more cautious when the downhole drilling conditions deteriorate or when observations tend to indicate more erratic behavior, which is often observed prior to a drilling event.

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Section: Ropmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Autonomous Decision-Making While Drilling

et al. 2021

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“…Many models to calculate cuttings bed height and minimum mud rate have been established. Part of these models are theoretical, including steady models [1,2,3,4] and unsteady models [5,6,7,8], and the rest are experimental [9,10,11]. The influence rules of different factors on cuttings transport have been studied deeply except the drill pipe rotation because the pipe rotation can make the two-phase flow in annular become more complicated and difficult to solve.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation on Cuttings Transport with Drillpipe Rotation in Highly-Inclined Well Section

Xiao-le¹,

Li²,

Liu³

2017

dtetr

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Abstract. Hole cleaning is one of the key techniques of extended reach drilling. Compared with horizontal and vertical well section, the cuttings transport in inclined section is more complicated and difficult to be solved analytically, especially affected by drill pipe rotation. Computational fluid dynamics method is used to simulate the cuttings-mud two-phase flow in the annulus of inclined section. Simulation result shows that back flow is a remarkable feature of cuttings transport in inclined well section. Drill pipe rotation turns the axial motion of cuttings in annular into the helical motion. Drill pipe rotation can not only reduce the total cuttings concentration in annular, but also increase the average cuttings velocity. Section with 40～60 degree of deviation angle is the most difficult cleaned section, where cuttings concentration and pressure drop are also bigger than the rest sections.

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“…It is associated with a transient hydraulic model, a drill-string mechanical model and a transient heat transfer model (Cayeux et al 2014). This paper presents the results obtained with these models in two different contexts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of a Transient Cuttings Transport Model in the Planning, Monitoring and Post Analysis of Complex Drilling Operations in the North Sea

Cayeux

Leulseged

Kluge

et al. 2016

Day 3 Thu, March 03, 2016

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Inadequate hole cleaning during a drilling operation may result in immediate problems such as excessive torque or pack-off situations, or it can lead to delayed problems such as while running in hole with a casing/liner or a completion string in a leftover cuttings bed. It is therefore desirable to provide quantitative information about hole cleaning conditions: at the planning stage, while drilling or when investigating incidents. Because the ability to transport cuttings particles varies with their position in the borehole and the current drilling parameters, hole cleaning modelling is a history-dependent problem. The precise modelling of the movement of solid particles during a drilling operation gives the possibility to estimate whether they are in suspension in the drilling fluid, settling on the low side or being eroded from a cuttings bed. These estimations may be confirmed through the change of the active volume or by the increase of downhole pressure, when PWD (Pressure While Drilling) measurements are available. A transient cuttings transport model has been used for planning and monitoring an ERD (Extended Reach Drilling) well drilled in the North Sea. The model has been used to compare the expected performance of different mud systems on both hydraulic and mechanical limits that could be expected prior to drilling. For another challenging drilling operation, the model has been used to post analyze the sequence of actions that led to problems while running in hole with a liner. Here also, the observations tended to confirm the predictions made by the hole cleaning model. Furthermore, an active use of such an advanced hole cleaning model may help determine the time required for circulation procedures prior to pull out of hole. This can help reduce the flat time associated with circulation procedures and at the same time decrease the duration by which the hole stays open thus reducing the risk of hole instability.

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Real-Time Evaluation of Hole Cleaning Conditions Using a Transient Cuttings Transport Model

Cited by 18 publications

References 31 publications

Autonomous Decision-Making While Drilling

Autonomous Decision-Making While Drilling

Simulation on Cuttings Transport with Drillpipe Rotation in Highly-Inclined Well Section

Use of a Transient Cuttings Transport Model in the Planning, Monitoring and Post Analysis of Complex Drilling Operations in the North Sea

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