PETE 411

Drilling Engineering

Lesson 16
- Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids -
- Slip Velocity -

1
 Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids
- Slip Velocity -

Fluid Velocity in Annulus

Particle Slip Velocity
Particle Reynolds Number
Friction Coefficient
Example
Iterative Solution Method
Alternative Solution Method
API RP 13D Method
2
 Read:
Applied Drilling Engineering, Ch. 4 - all

HW #8:
On the Web - due 10-14-02

3
 Messages from Darla-Jean Weatherford

The seniors were supposed to have submitted the

drafts of their papers for the Student Paper Contest
to me last Friday; a few more than half did. Will you
please remind the rest that I need those papers to
complete their grades for 485?

We also are looking for recruiters for the fairs in

Houston, which will be 18 to 22 November this
year. If they can go with us any evening or Friday
morning, they need to let Larry Piper know soon so
we can get t-shirts and transportation (and meals!)
arranged.
4
 Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids

Historically, when an operator felt that

the hole was not being cleared of cuttings
at a satisfactory rate, he would:

Increase the circulation rate

Thicken the mud

(increase YP/PV)

5
 Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids

More recent analysis shows that:

Turbulent flow cleans the hole better.

Pipe rotation aids cuttings removal.

With water as drilling fluid, annular

velocities of 100-125 ft/min are
generally adequate (vertical wells)
6
 Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids

A relatively flat velocity

profile is better than a
highly pointed one.

Mud properties can be

modified to obtain a
flatter profile in laminar flow
e.g., decrease n

7
 Density & Velocity

Drilled cuttings typically

have a density of
Vslip
about 21 lb/gal. _
V fluid
Since the fluid density is Vparticle
less than 21 lb/gal the
cuttings will tend to
settle, or slip relative
to the drilling mud.
Vparticle Vfluid Vslip
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 Velocity Profile

The slip velocity can be reduced by

modifying the mud properties such
that the velocity profile is flattened:

Increase the ratio (YP/PV)

(yield point/plastic viscosity) or

Decrease the value of n

9
 Plug Flow

Plug Flow is good for hole

cleaning. Plug flow refers
to a completely flat
velocity profile.

The shear rate is zero

where the velocity profile
is flat.
10
 Participle Slip Velocity

Newtonian Fluids:
The terminal velocity of a small
spherical particle settling
(slipping) through a Newtonian
fluid under Laminar flow
conditions is given by STOKES
LAW: 2
138(s f )ds
vs

11
Particle Slip Velocity - small particles
2
138(s f )ds
vs

Where v s slip velocity, ft/s

s density of solid particle, lbm/gal
f density of fluid, lbm/gal

ds diameter of particle, in
fluid viscosity, cp

12
 Particle Slip Velocity

Stokes Law gives acceptable accuracy for a

particle Reynolds number < 0.1

928 f v s ds
NRe

For Nre > 0.1 an empirical friction factor

may be used.
13
What forces act
on a settling
particle?

Non-
spherical
particles
experience
relatively
higher drag
forces

14
Sphericities for Various Particle Shapes
Shape Sphericity
Sphere 1.00
Octahedron 0.85
Cube 0.81 Sphericity =
Prism
* * 2 0.77
surface area of
* 2 * 3 0.73
sphere of same
Cylinders
volume as particle
h r/15 0.25
h r/3 0.59
h r 0.83
surface area of
h 2r 0.87 particle
h 20r 0.58
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16
 Particle Reynolds Number, fig. 4.46
Based on real cuttings

ds s
In field units, v s 1.89 1 .......... .Eq.( 4.104d)
f f
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 Slip Velocity Calculation
using Moores graph (Fig. 4.46)

1. Calculate the flow velocity.

2. Determine the fluid n and K values.
3. Calculate the appropriate viscosity
(apparent viscosity).
4. Assume a value for the slip velocity.
5. Calculate the corresponding
Particle Reynolds number.
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 Slip Velocity Calculation
(using Moores graph)

6. Obtain the corresponding drag coeff., f,

from the plot of f vs. Nre.
7. Calculate the slip velocity and compare
with the value assumed in step 4 above.
8. If the two values are not close enough,
repeat steps 4 through 7 using the
calculated Vs as the assumed slip
velocity in step 4.
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 Example
Use (the modified) Moores method to
calculate the slip velocity and the net particle
velocity under the following assumptions:
Well depth: 8,000 ft Yield point: 4 lbf/100ft 2
Drill pipe: 4.5, 16.6 #/ft Density of Particle: 21 lbm/gal
Mud Weight: 9.1 #/gal Particle diameter: 5,000 m
Plastic viscosity: 7 cp Circulation rate: 340 gal/min
Hole size: 7-7/8

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 Solution - Slip Velociy Problem
1. Calculate the flow velocity
_
q 340
v
2
2.448(d2 d1 )
2
2 . 448( 7 . 875 2
4 . 5 2
)

3.325 ft/sec
2. Determine the fluid n and K values

y 300 p 300 y p 4 7 11
p 600 300 600 p 300 7 11 18
21
Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - contd

2. Determine the fluid n and K values - contd (ADE)

600
n 3.32 log 3.32 log (18/11)
300
n 0.7101

(510 )300 (510 )11

K
511n 5110.7101

K 66.94 eq.cp

22
 Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - contd
3. Calculate the appropriate viscosity
n
1n 1
K d2 d1 (2 )
a n .......... Eq. (4.107)
144 _
0.0208
v

0.7101
1
10.7101 (2 )
66.94 7.875 4.5 0.7101
a
144 3.325 0.0208


p 7 cp
a 17.94 cp
K 66.94 eq cp
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Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - contd

4. Assume a value___for the slip velocity

V 3.325
Vs 1.663 ft / sec
2 2
5. Calculate the corresponding Particle Reynolds No.
928 f v s ds
NRe
a
cm in

928(9.1)(1.663) 5000 m
10 4
m 2.54 cm

17.94

N Re 154 92.8 vs {d s 0.1969 in}

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 Solution - Slip Velociy Problem - contd
6. Obtain the drag coeff., f, from the plot of f vs. Nre.

From graph, f = 2.0

ds s
v s 1.89 1 Eq. (4.104d)
f f
0.1969 21.0 0.959
1.89 1
2.0 9.1 f
v s 0.678 ft/s 1.663
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Solution - Slip Velocity Problem - contd

4 (ii) Assume v s 0.678

5 (ii) Particle NRe 92.7 * 0.678 62.9
6 (ii) From graph, f 2 .7
7 (ii) 0.959
vs 0.58 ft / s.....etc.
2 .7
Subsequent iterations yield 0.56 ft/s and
0.56 ft/s again...

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 Slip Velocity - Alternate Method

1. Fully Laminar:

NRe 3 :

40
f ;
NRe
2
s _
ds
v s 1.89
ds
1 v s 82.87 s f
f f a
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 Slip Velocity - Alternate Method

2. Intermediate;

3 NRe 300 :

22
f ;
NRe
_ 2.90 ds ( s f )2/3
vs
( f a )1/3
28
 Slip Velocity - Alternate Method

3. Fully Turbulent:

N Re 300 :

f 1.5;

NOTE: d s ( s f )
v s 1.54
Check NRe f
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 Slip Velocity - Alternate Method

For the above calculations:

928 f v s ds
NRe NOTE: Check NRe
a

ds s
v s 1.89 1 .........E q.(4.104 d)
f f

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 Slip Velocity - Alternate Method_2

If the flow is fully laminar, cuttings transport is

not likely to be a problem.

Method:
1. Calculate slip velocity for Intermediate
mode
2. Calculate slip velocity for Fully Turbulent
Mode.
3. Choose the lower value.
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 Example

(i) Intermediate:
_
2.90ds ( s f )2/3
vs
( f a )1/3

_
2.90 * 0.1969 * (21 9.1)2/3
vs 1/3
0.545 ft/sec
(9.1 * 17.94)
_
d s ( s f )
v s 1.54
(ii) Fully Turbulent: f

_ 0.1969 (21 9.1)

v s 1.54 0.781 ft/sec
9.1
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 Example - contd

Intermediate: Vs = 0.545 ft/sec

Fully Turbulent: Vs = 0.781 ft/sec

The correct slip velocity is 0.545 ft/sec

{ agrees reasonably well with iterative method on p.12 }

928 * 9.1* 0.545 * 0.1969

Check : N Re 51
17.94
Range OK
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 Slip Velocity - API RP 13D

Iterative Procedure
Calculate Fluid Properties, n & K
Calculate Shear Rate
Calculate Apparent Viscosity
Calculate Slip Velocity
Example

34
 Settling
Velocity
of Drilled
Cuttings
in Water

From
API RP 13D
p.24

35
 Calculation Procedure

1. Calculate ns for the settling particle

2. Calculate Ks for the particle
3. Assume a value for the slip velocity, Vs

4. Calculate the shear rate, s

5. Calculate the corresponding apparent viscosity, es
6. Calculate the slip velocity, Vs
7. Use this value of Vs and repeat steps 4-6 until the
assumed and calculated slip velocities ~agree
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 Slip Velocity - Example

ASSUMPTIONS:

3 RPM Reading R3 3 lbf/100 ft2

100 RPM Reading R100 20 lbf/100 ft2

Particle Density p 22.5 lb/gal

Mud Density 12.5 lb/gal

Particle Dia. = Dp 0.5 in

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 Slip Velocity - Example

1. Calculate ns for the settling particle

R100 20
nS 0.657 log nS 0.657 log 0.5413
R3 3

2. Calculate Ks for the particle

5.11 R100 5.11 * 20 dyne sec n

KS KS 6.336
170.2ns 170.2 0.5413
cm2

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 Slip Velocity - Example

3. Assume a value for the slip velocity, Vs

Assume Vs = 1 ft/sec

4. Calculate the shear rate, s

12 VS 12 * 1
S S 24.0 sec 1
Dp 0 .5

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 Slip Velocity - Example

5. Calculate the corresp. apparent

viscosity: n s 1
es 100 K s s

es 100 * 6.336 * 24 0.5413 1 147.5 cp

6. Calculate the slip velocity, Vs

2
5.03 es p Dp
Vs 0.0002403 e 1 (920,790 e 5.03
Dp 1 1
D
p es

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 Slip Velocity - Example
6. Calculate the slip velocity, Vs
If then:

es 2
p Dp
Vs 0.01344
1 16,465 Dp 1 1
D es
p

147.48
2
22.5 0.5 * 12.5
Vs 0.01344 1 16,465 * 0.5 1 1
0 . 5 * 12 . 5 12 . 5 147 . 48

Vs = 0.8078 ft/sec Repeat steps 4-6

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 Slip Velocity - Example
Second Iteration - using Vs = 0.8078 ft/sec

4. Shear rate: s = 19.386 sec-1

5. Apparent viscosity: es = 162.65 cp
6. Slip velocity: Vs = 0.7854 ft/sec
Third Iteration - using Vs = 0.7854 ft/sec

4. Shear rate: s = 18.849 sec-1

5. Apparent viscosity: es = 164.75 cp
6. Slip velocity: Vs = 0.7823 ft/sec
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 Slip Velocity - Example
Fourth Iteration - using Vs = 0.7823 ft/sec

4. Shear rate: s = 18.776 sec-1

5. Apparent viscosity: es = 165.04 cp
6. Slip velocity: Vs = 0.7819 ft/sec

Slip Velocity, Vs = 0.7819 ft/sec

{ Vs = 1.0, 0.808, 0.782, 0.782 ft/sec }

43
 Transport Ratio

particle velocity
Transport Ratio
fluid velocity

particle velocity
Transport Efficiency * 100%
fluid velocity

Example : Particle velocity 90 ft/min

Fluid velocity 120 ft/min
Transport Efficiency ?

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 Transport Ratio
Transport efficiency (90 / 120) *100%
75%
A transport efficiency of 50% or higher is desirable!

Note: Net particle velocity = fluid velocity - slip velocity.

In example, particle slip velocity = 120 - 90 = 30 ft/min

With a fluid velocity of 120 ft/min a minimum particle

velocity of 60 ft/min is required to attain a transport
efficiency of 50%
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 Potential Hole-Cleaning Problems

1. Hole is enlarged. This may result in

reduced fluid velocity which is lower
than the slip velocity.

2. High downhole temperatures may

adversely affect mud properties
downhole.
[ We measured these at the surface.]

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 Potential Hole-Cleaning Problems

3. Lost circulation problems may preclude

using thick mud or high circulating
velocity. Thick slugs may be the
answer.

4. Slow rate of mud thickening - after it has

been sheared (and thinned)
through the bit nozzles, where the
shear rate is very high.

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 The End

Lesson 16
- Lifting Capacity of Drilling Fluids -
- Slip Velocity -

48