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INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. ProQuest Information and Leaming 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UMI UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE DEVELOPMENT OF A THREE-SEGMENT HYDRAULIC MODEL FOR CUTTINGS TRANSPORT IN HORIZONTAL AND DEVIATED WELLS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Hyun Cho Norman, Oklahoma 2001 UMI Number: 3025980 Copyright 2001 by Cho, Hyun All rights reserved. UMI UMI Microform 3025980 Copyright 2001 by Bell & Howell Information and Leaming Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Leaming Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 © Copyright by Hyun Cho 2001 All (lights Reserved. DEVELOPMENT OF A THREE-SEGMENT HYDRAULIC MODEL FOR CUTTINGS TRANSPORT IN HORIZONTAL AND DEVIATED WELLS A Dissertation Approved for the Mewboume School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering BY Dr. Subhash N. Shah (Chair) S s i Dr. Samuel O. Osisanya (Cp-uhair) Dr. Michael L. \ ^ i g g i i ) ^ / ^ Dr/Rimard G. Hughes Dr. Daniel E. ResagoT^ DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to the memory of my father, Young-Chul, to my mother, Hoon, to my wife, Eun-Sook, and to my two boys, Yang-Hoon and Ji-Hoon for their love, sacrifices, and encouragement. IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Subhash N. Shah for his support in all matters related to the difficult challenge imposed by cuttings transport research. Dr. Shah provided me with the opportunity to know, work with, and learn from a group of excellent experts at the Well Construction Technology Center (WCTC) at the University of Oklahoma. Communication with them has greatly enriched my knowledge about the current industry’s concerns as well as the state-of-the-art research. Without this precious experience and the generous support of Dr. Shah, the completion of this dissertation would not be possible. 1 am also extremely grateful to Dr. Samuel O. Osisanya, the co-chair of my doctoral advisory committee, for his support and invaluable guidance throughout the course of this research. The author appreciates and is indebted to Dr. Michael L. Wiggins, Dr. Richard Hughes, and Dr. Daniel E. Resasco for their thorough reviews, helpful comments, and suggestions as members of my doctoral advisory committee. Many important technical concepts were acquired during the courses taken from them. Special thanks are also due to Mr. Milt Bishop, Mr. Joe Flenniken, Mr. Max Mefford, Ms. C.K. Westbrook, and Dr. Joao Tadeu Vidal de Sousa at the WCTC for their friendly support and open door policy. I would like to thank Mr. Francis Tuedor, director of Network of Excellence in Training for his suggestions based on industry’s concerns. Many thanks are also extended to Dr. Naval Goel, Sudhakar D. Khade, and Ameet S. Raichurkar, my colleagues at the WCTC, for their suggestions and help. A special note of gratitude is due to Ivan R. Gil, former officemate and classmate, whose contributions and suggestions have aided so much. I would like to thank my family members; my mother, Hoon, who always loves me and has always been ready to help by praying; my elder brother, Une, who loves me in his own special way; and my elder sister, Jung-Hae, who supports me with her versatile mind and guides me in every aspect; my brother-in-law, Yun-Seok Suh, for his pray and support. Finally, I give thanks to my wife, Eun-Sook, for her unfailing encouragement and love, and my two boys, Yang-Hoon and Ji-Hoon for their moments of joy. This work is dedicated to them with love. Without all of this love, support, encouragement, understanding, sacrifice, and patience, the completion of this work would not have been possible. Hyun Cho Norman, Oklahoma September 2001 VI ABSTRACT A new mathematical model is presented to overcome the limitations in existing hydraulic models used to predict cuttings transport when drilling a horizontal or deviated well. A new three-segment (a horizontal and near horizontal segment, a vertical and near vertical segment, and a transit segment) hydraulic model under two- phase (solid-liquid) flow in an annulus was developed to predict and interpret cuttings transport mechanisms. In particular, the model developed in this study advances a three-layer (a stationary bed layer of drilled cuttings at the bottom, a moving bed layer above it, and a heterogeneous suspension layer at the top) hydraulic model for the horizontal and near horizontal segment. .<\n existing two-layer model was modified for a transit segment, and a one- layer model is used for the vertical and near vertical segment. This study describes the model development for each segment, the combination of each model, the solution, and the simulation results of the combined three-segment model. To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the effects of the parameters affecting cutting transport efficiency, the simulation under drilling mode was performed. This involves build-up of cuttings-bed and the cuttings transport out of an existing cuttings-bed. The concept of minimum anti-sliding velocity (MASV) of the cuttings-bed was developed for the transit segment. From a cuttings transport point of view, this segment is the most critical and difficult based on the inter-relationship between parameters. These parameters involve fluid rheology, wellbore deviation, interfacial faction between a suspension layer and a cuttings-bed, and in-situ fluid velocity in a suspension layer. For vn this segment, the following were quantitatively analyzed: cuttings-bed distribution with its wellbore deviation, cuttings-bed movement and its direction, MASV, and pressure gradient. In this study a user friendly simulator, CT-WellClean®, was developed based on the three-segment hydraulic model. This simulation program is capable of predicting the cuttings transport in coiled tubing while drilling under the following conditions: fluid pumping rate, fluid rheological characteristics, wellbore geometry, formation characteristics, and wellbore deviation. In addition, it is capable of providing solutions to problems related to selection of drilling fluids and prediction of fnctional pressure losses of drilling hydraulic systems. This simulation program also allows drilling engineers to simulate all possible in-situ drilling conditions, resulting in the proper design of drilling programs and selection of fluid systems. The simulation results of CT-WellClean® show how to obtain a reasonable pumping velocity, and how to optimize the rheology of drilling fluids for the lowest possible pressure gradient. These results can serve as an operational guideline for the design of a drilling program. Moreover, sensitivity analyses of the effects of the parameters that affect the efficiency of cuttings transport were performed. The results of the sensitivity analysis are compared with published experimental data. Finally, the observed agreement and discrepancies concerning these results are also discussed. viu TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES CHAPTER I. FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM 1.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Literature Review......................................................................................4 1.3 Objectives and Methodology .................................................................. 10 1.3.1 Objectives .................................................................................. 10 1.3.2 M ethodology .............................................................................. 11 II. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF CUTTINGS TRANSPORT MECHANISM 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 14 2.2 Factors Affecting Cuttings Transport ................................................... 15 2.3 Coiled Tubing H ydraulics........................................................................ 18 2.3.1 Background and Significance ................................................ 18 2.3.2 Friction Pressure Losses in Straight Tubing ........................ 19 2.3.3 Friction Pressure