DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
RIG CIRCULATING SYSTEM

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
WELL CONDITIONS OF CONCERN
STATIC CONDITION IN WHICH BOTH THE FLUIDS
AND THE PIPE STRING ARE AT REST
A CIRCULATING OPERATION IN WHICH THE FLUID
IS PUMPED DOWN THE PIPE STRING AND UP THE
ANNULUS
A TRIPPING OPERATION IN WHICH THE PIPE
STRING IS BEING MOVED UP OR DOWN
THROUGH THE FLUID
TRANSPORT OF DRILLED ROCK CUTTINGS AND
IMMISCIBLE FORMATION FLUIDS BY THE
DRILLING FLUID

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DRILLING ENGINEERING CONCEPTS
CACLULATION OF SUBSURFACE
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURES TENDING TO
BURST OR COLLAPSE WELL TUBULARS
OR FRACTURE EXPOSED FORMATIONS
BLOWOUT PREVENTION
DISPLACEMENT OF CEMENT SLURRIES
SELECTION OF BIT NOZZLE SIZES
SURGE AND SWAB PRESSURES DUE TO
PIPE MOVEMENT
CARRYING CAPACITY OF DRILLING
FLUIDS
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Hydrostatic Pressure
Hydrostatic Pressure in Liquid Columns
P = 0.052D + p0
Where
P= pressure (psi)
D= depth TVD (feet)
p0= Surface pressure (psi)
= fluid density (ppg)
(Assumes fluid compressibility is negligible)
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Hydrostatic Pressure in a Gas Column
Variation of pressure with depth in a static gas column is
more complicated than for a liquid column since gas
density changes with pressure
In long or high pressure columns, gas density varies with
depth.
M(D D 0 )

p = p 0e 1.544zT

M= Molecular wt of gas
D= Lower Depth of interest
D0= Upper depth of interest
z = Gas deviation factor
T = Temp deg Rankine (0F+460)
p0 = Surface pressure
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Hydrostatic Pressure in Complex Fluid Columns
n

P=p0 + 0.052 i (Di Di-1)

i=1
p0 = Surface press (psi)
i = Density of column section (ppg)
Di = Btm depth of interest (ft)
Di-1= top depth of interest (ft)
P = total hydrostatic pressure

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HYDRAULICS
A COMPLEX LIQUID COLUMN

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Equivalent Density Concept

An equivalent single-fluid column

representing a complex well fluid column
Equivalent mud density
e = P / (0.052D)
(always referenced to a specific depth)

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Drilling Muds contain drilled solids from the rock
fragments generated by the bit and the
formation fluids contained in the rock.
If suspended in the fluid or settling at terminal
velocity, hydrostatic pressure can be
calculated by using the density of the mixture
instead of the fluid only. (P = 0.052 m D + p0)
If gas is entrained in the mud, the density
decreases with decreasing pressure

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Hydrostatic Pressure at a given depth in a gas-cut
mud column calculated by iterative procedure

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Gas Cut Mud

A drlg fluid that is measured to have a low density

due to the presence of gas bubbles is said to be
GAS CUT
Loss of hydrostatic due to normal contaminants is
negligible
Gas entrained in the mud rapidly expands as it
reaches the surface resulting from the decrease in
hydrostatic pressure
Results in severe lowering of the measured mud
density leaving the well at surface
No need to increase mud density, unless well
flows with pump off
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Gas Cut Mud
SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN ANNULAR MUD DENSITY OCCURS ONLY
IN THE RELATIVELY SHALLOW PART OF THE ANNULUS.
RAPID INCREASE IN ANNULAR DENSITY WITH DEPTH OCCURS,
SINCE GAS VOLUME DECREASES BY A FACTOR OF TWO IF GAS
PRESSURE DOUBLES
DETERMINATION OF HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE IS IMPORTANT FOR
ANNULAR PRESSURE DETERMINATION DURING WELL CONTROL
OPERATIONS TO AVOID FRACTURING A WEAK ZONE
ANNULAR PRESSURE PROFILE DEPENDS ON THE COMPOSITION OF
THE KICK FLUID
GAS KICK CAUSES HIGHER SURFACE ANNULAR PRESSURES THAN
A LIQUID KICK DUE TO LOWER DENSITY AND EXPANSION UPHOLE

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Buoyancy
The net effect of hydraulic pressure acting on a foreign
body immersed in a fluid is called buoyancy
Archimedes Principle
Upward buoyant force is equal to the weight of fluid
displaced
We = W ( 1 - m / s )
where
We = Effective weight in fluid (lbs)
W = Weight in air (lbs)
m = Mud Density (ppg)
s = Density of steel 65.5 ppg (or 490 lbs/cuft)
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Apart from buoyancy, axial stress in pipe
string is important
Axial Stress = Axial Tension / Xsect Area
Effective points of application of the
hydrostatic pressure must be considered
Axial tension is the net effect of the weight
acting down and the hydrostatic forces
acting both up and down on the pipe
body
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
AXIAL STRESS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

BUCKLING

Long slender columns such as drillpipe will

fail by buckling if subjected to vertical
compressional loading.
Generally helical buckling will occur in the
lower portion of the string.
Helical buckling is resisted by the moment
of inertia of the pipe which is given by
I = /64(dn4-d4) where dn = Pipe OD and d = pipe ID
(function of xsectional area)
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Drill Collars Xsectional area usually
enough to resist buckling.
Helical buckling occurs in DP above DC
Rotation in a buckled state will cause
tool joints to fail quickly in fatigue
Point above which there is no tendency
to buckle is called the neutral pt
Current design practice to maintain the
neutral point below the DP
Effect of buoyancy on buckling must be
considered stability force
concept

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
For air drilling, with very low drilling
torque requirements, radial and
tengential stresses in the DP is
considered negligible
For these conditions, length of DC reqd
will be (Max WOB reqd/wt per ft of DC)
This puts neutral point at junction
between DC & DP

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

The effect of buoyancy on buckling tendency

cannot be ignored
If compressional loading is simply added to
buoyancy force, it ignores the effect of
hydrostatic pressure on the radial and
tangential stresses on the pipe at the neutral
point.
Result is prediction of a much longer string of
DC required to prevent buckling of DP
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
To consider the effect of buoyancy on
buckling, the concept of a stability force
was introduced
Stability Force =Fs=Aipi Aopo
where pi is press inside the pipe
po is press outside the pipe
Ai is xsect area using pipe ID, d
Ao is xsect area using pipe OD, dn

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Effects due to fluid circulation and torque
reqd for DP rotation are neglected
Wall friction makes it difficult to
determine bit loading force.
Safety factor of at least 1.3 for length of
DC section is usually recommended

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

(P=0.052x15x10600=8286 psi)

(P=0.052x15x10000=7800 psi)

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Pressure determination at various points in the
well is complicated due to friction when the
mud and/or drillstring are moving

Drilling Engineering Calculations

Flowing BHP or ECD during drilling or cementing

BHP or ECD when tripping
Optimum pump pressure, flow rate and bit nozzle
sizes during drilling
Cuttings carrying capacity of the mud
Surface and downhole pressures in the drill string
during well control operations for different flow rates

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
FLOW VELOCITY

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
ENERGY BALANCE
Pressure at the bottom of the drlg string
P2= P1+0.052(D2-D1)-8.074x10-4 (v2-v1)
+Pp- Pf

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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Hydraulics Flow through Nozzles

A rock bit has more than one
nozzle, usually the same
number of nozzles and cones.
When more than one nozzle is
present. the pressure drop
applied across all of the
nozzles must be the same (Fig.
4.18).
If the pressure drop is the
same for each nozzle, the
velocities through all nozzles
are equal.
Velocity through each nozzle is
equal to total flow rate divided
by total flow area
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Flow through Jet Bit Nozzles
Nozzle Velocity

Vn=Cd (Pb/(8.074x10-4 )

ft/sec

Cd = Nozzle Discharge Coefficient (0.95)

= Mud Density (ppg)
Pb = Press Drop across bit (psi)
NOTE: Velocity through each nozzle is the same
EQUIVALENT Nozzle Area
Note: Nozzle sizes are usually given
in 32nd of an Inch

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
PRESSURE DROP ACROSS BIT

HYDRAULIC POWER

HYDRAULIC IMPACT FORCE

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

RHEOLOGY

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Rheological Models
Rheology The study of deformation and
flow of matter
Three rheological models used

Newtonian Model

Bingham Plastic Model

Power Law Model

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Rheological Terms

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

Rheological Terms - Contd

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Rheological Terms - Contd

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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Hydraulics Velocity Profiles

For Newtonian Liquids
Avg Vel =1/2 x Vmax (Max Vel)
For Turbulent Flow
Avg Vel
= Vmax (Max Vel)
For Non-Newtonian liquids
Avg Vel
>1/2 Vmax (Max Vel )

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
FLOW REGIMES - LAMINAR

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
FLOW REGIMES - TURBULENT

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
FLOW REGIMES - TRANSITIONAL

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Distinguishing between turbulent and laminar flow has
always been a problem.
With classic fluids such as water, turbulence occurs at a
Reynolds Number of 2,000.
With non-Newtonian fluids, the transition can occur
anywhere between Reynolds Number of 2,000 to 4,000.
Below a Reynolds Number of 2,000, turbulent flow is not
possible.

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
TWO BASIC TYPES OF FLUIDS

NEWTONIAN
Have a constant viscosity at a given temperature
and pressure
(Examples: Diesel, water, glycerin, clear brines)
NON-NEWTONIAN
Have viscosities that depend on measured shear
rates for a given temperature and pressure
condition and prior shear rate history
(Examples: Most drilling Fluids , Cements)
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
NEWTONIAN FLUID
Shear stress is directly proportional to the
shear rate
=
( is the constant of proportionality called viscosity)
Valid only as long as the fluid moves in layers or
laminar flow usually at low shear rates
At higher shear rates flow pattern changes to
turbulent flow

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
NEWTONIAN FLUID
Viscosity is constant and only influenced
by changes in temperature and pressure

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
NEWTONIAN FLUID

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID
Does not show a linear relationship
between and
> Viscosity is proportional to the
magnitude of the shear stress or the
duration of the shear

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
NON- NEWTONIAN FLUIDS
Shear rate dependent fluids (timeindependent)
Pseudoplastic
Dilatant

if apparent viscosity decreases with

increasing shear rate
if apparent viscosity increases with
increasing shear rate

Shear time dependent fluids

Thixotropic Apparent viscosity decreases with time,
after shear rate is increased to a new
constant value
Rheopectic -

Apparent viscosity decreases with time,

after shear rate is increased to a new
constant value (gypsum & bentonite suspensions)

MOST DRILLING FLUIDS ARE PSEUDOPLASTIC

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
BINGHAM PLASTIC FLUID NON-NEWTONIAN

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
BINGHAM PLASTIC FLUID

Characterizes a fluid in the high

shear rate range

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
BINGHAM PLASTIC FLUID

Model assumes true plastic behavior

Can over predict YIELD STRESS (shear
stress at zero shear rate) by 40-90 %
More realistic yield stresses if fluid is assumed
to exhibit true plastic behavior only in the low
shear-rate range
A low shear rate YP can be calculated by:
LSR YP= 2(3)- 6
The LSR Yield Stress value agrees with more
complex models
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

Describes the behavior of polymer-based fluids that

do not exhibit yield stress
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
POWERLAW FLUID

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
POWER LAW FLUID

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
POWERLAW FLUID
FLUID BEHAVIOR INDEX

Units - Dimensionless

CONSISTENCY INDEX

Units equivalent cp (eq cp)

Large K values indicate a thick fluid

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
NON- NEWTONIAN FLUIDS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
NON- NEWTONIAN FLUIDS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

If Yield Stress
= 0 Power Law Behavior is described
If the flow exponent (n) = 1 Bingham Plastic Behavior is described
If Yield Stress = 0 and n = 1 Newtonian Behavior is described and
K is the Newtonian viscosity.
Log-log plot of (-y) vs will be similar to power law plot with slope =n
Intercept at =1 is the constant K

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
VISCOSITY MEASUREMENTS - Rotational Viscometer
Newtonian Fluid

If 600 = 2 x 300 Newtonian Fluid Behavior

If 600 < 2 x 300 Fluid is Non-newtonian and Shear Thinning

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
VISCOSITY MEASUREMENTS - Rotational Viscometer
Non-Newtonian Fluid

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

Fluid velocities profiles and associated

pressure drops (losses) are a function of :

rheological model used

Newtonian
Bingham plastic
Power law
Yield power law
type of flow regime
laminar
Turbulent
Type of flow
In pipe
Annular

Mathematical equations and empirical correlations used

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
When fluid flows through pipe or annuli,
frictional forces internally and at the
interface of fluid and conduit develop,
dissipating the fluid energy
Frictional forces are referred to as
pressure drop or pressure loss
Sometimes referred to as the pressure
drop per unit length

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Factors affecting the magnitude of the
pressure drop
Length
Flow rate and type of regime
Rheological properties (model)
Pipe/annular geometry
Pipe Eccentricity
Pipe surface roughness

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Pressure drop calculations using the
YPL (Herschel-Bulkley) model will
be omitted due to the complexity of
the derivation and use of the
equations for fluid flow and pressure
drop.

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

In most operations pump rates are too high to

maintain laminar flow
The fluid laminae break up into a chaotic
diffused flow pattern called turbulent flow
Rigorous mathematical development of flow
equations for turbulent flow has not been
possible
Experimental work has allowed the
development of empirical methods based on
dimensionless numbers

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Once it has been established that the
flow pattern is turbulent, the
determination of the frictional pressure
loss must be based on empirical
correlations.
The most widely used correlations are
base on a dimensionless quantity known
as the friction factor

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
SOME ADDITIONAL CONCEPTS AND TERMINOLOGY

Reynolds Number (NRe)

A dimensionless numerical term governing
whether a fluid will be in laminar or turbulent
flow regime
Critical Reynolds Number (NRec)
The Reynolds number at which laminar flow
turns to turbulent
Fanning Friction factor (f)
Relates Reynolds number to a relative
roughness term for pipe
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Note on Reynolds Number

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Stanton Chart
Friction factor from the Colebrook function
vs Nre on Log-log plot
(Newtonian Fluid fully developed turbulent flow)

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

For transition region between laminar and fully

developed turbulent flow, niether laminar nor
turbulent flow equations may predict correct
pressure drop (2100<Nre<4000)
Transition assumed to occur when pressure
drop from laminar flow and turbulent flow
equations are equal
Use the numerically higher value of laminar &
turbulent flow pressure drop calculations.

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Bingham Plastic FLUIDS

p for Bingham Plastic fluids in turbulent flow

is affected primarily by density & PV
If p only is reqd, approach is to calculate
friction loss for both laminar & turbulent flow
and use the numerically higher value
If actual flowrate at which turbulence begins is
reqd, (eg. cementing), an apparent or
effective viscosity is calculated and used in the
Reynolds number correlation to determine flow
regime.

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Bingham Plastic FLUIDS

Hedstrom Number (NHe)

Correlation with the critical Reynolds
number to predict onset of turbulent flow
for Bingham plastic fluids

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Bingham Plastic FLUIDS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Power law FLUIDS
Calculate Reynolds number

Calculate friction factor per Dodge and Metzner correlation

Calculate Pressure drop (NRe >2100)

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Summary of Friction Pressure Loss Equations

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Summary of Friction Pressure Loss Equations

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Summary of Friction Pressure Loss Equations

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
VARIABLES INFLUENCING HYDRAULICS & HOLE
CLEANING
SURFACE EQUIPMENT
PUMP PRESSURE
FLOW RATE
MUD DENSITY
MUD PROPERTIES
CUTTINGS DENSITY
DEPTH OF HOLE
CASING SIZE
DRILLPIPE SIZE
DRILLSTRING COMPONENTS
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Points (1) & (3) are same level
on surface
P1 = P in Surface connections
P2 = P in Drill pipe
P3 = P in Drill collars
P4 = P in Drill pipe annulus
P5 = P in Drill collar annulus
PB = P at Bit

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The objective of any hydraulics programme is to optimize

pressure drop across the bit such that maximum cleaning' of
bottom hole is achieved.
For a given length of drill string (drill pipe and drill collars) and
given mud properties, pressure losses P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5 will
remain constant.
However, the pressure loss across the bit is greatly influenced by
the sizes of nozzles used, and the latter determine the amount of
hydraulic horsepower available at the bit.
The smaller the nozzle the greater the pressure drop and the
greater the nozzle velocity.
In some situations where the rock is soft to medium in hardness,
the main objective is to provide maximum cleaning and not
maximum jetting action. In this case a high flow rate is required
with bigger nozzles.
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
PRESSURE LOSSES
SURFACE EQUIPMENT
Standpipe/ manifold
Kelly hose
Gooseneck
Swivel
Kelly/Top Drive
DRILLSTRING
Drill Pipe
Drill collars
Downhole tools
BIT Nozzles
Annulus
Drillpipe/open hole
Drill collars & BHA/open hole
Drillpipe/casing

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
SURFACE PRESSURE LOSSES

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SURFACE PRESSURE LOSSES

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
HYDRAULICS OPTIMIZATION

Jet Bit Nozzle Size Selection

Significant increase in ROP with proper choice of
nozzles due to improved cleaning at the bottom of
the hole.
Common hydraulic design parameters
Bit Nozzle velocity
Bit hydraulic horsepower
Jet impact force
Select nozzle sizes to maximize one of above
parameters

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
HYDRAULICS OPTIMIZATION

Maximum Nozzle Velocity

Nozzles sized such that surface pressure, at

chosen flow rate, equals maximum allowable
surface pressure.

Then nozzle velocity is maximum that can be

achieved and still lift cuttings when pressure
drop at the bit is a maximum

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Bit Hydraulics
Nozzle Velocity

Pressure drop across the bit

Cd = 0.95 (Discharge coefficient)

At = Total nozzle area (sq ins)
Q = flow rate (gpm)
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS

Pump pressure

Friction loss to and from the bit is called Parasitic Pressure Loss
For a given pump horsepower, PHP, maximum flow rate (qmax) is given by

1714 PHP E
qmax = ------------------pmax
Where E is the overall pump efficiency

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Normally in good drilling operations, the pressure loss
through the bit will be approximately 50 percent of the
surface pressure.
The flow regime through the surface connections and
inside the drill string is turbulent and is usually 60 to 80
percent of the remaining 50 percent of the surface
pressure.
The flow regime in the annulus is generally laminar and
is usually 20 to 40 percent of the circulating frictional
pressure losses excluding the bit.
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
HYDRAULICS DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

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HYDRAULICS DESIGN
Goal is to determine nozzle sizes and flow rate to deliver
max HHP/in2 or Jet Impact force, within specified rig
operating constraints, consistent with optimum ROP.

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
HYDRAULICS RECOMMENDATIONS

Flow Rate Requirements

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Maximum Hydraulic Horsepower

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Maximum Jet Impact Force

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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
Max HHP VS Max Jet Impact Force

Approximately only 7%-10% difference in

the horsepower expended at the bit for
either Max HHP or Max Jet impact force.
Max HHP allows lower flow rates to be
used
As long as hole cleaning is adequate,
pumps run at lower speed
Operationally, conditions for Max HHP at
the bit are more desirable
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DRILLING HYDRAULICS
HYDRAULICS RECOMMENDATIONS

30-50 GPM per inch of hole diameter

3 7 Hydraulic HP per sq inch of hole area

Not always feasible

2.5 5.0 HHP/ sq in probably more realistic

50-65 % of available pump pressure for bit

hydraulics
18% or less flow through center jet (18% of
TFA)
Two (2) jets for smaller sized bits at low ROP,
otherwise use three (3) jets
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Problem Examples

CHAPTER 4 PROBLEMS

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Hydraulics Pressure to Initiate

Circulation

Drilling muds usually will exhibit a thixothropic

behavior at the time circulation is started.
the pressure required to initiate circulation in
the annulus may be a good deal higher than
the pressure required to sustain circulation at
the desired flow rate.
The pressure gradient required to start
circulation can be computed if the gel strength
of the drilling fluid is known.
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Hydraulics Pressure to Initiate

Circulation

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119

Hydraulics Example Problem

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120

Other Topics
Swab & Surge Pressures
Carrying capacity & cuttings transport

particle slip velocity

Cuttings transport ratio

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121

Rheology & Hydraulics

END

DRLG310B/dr

122