Drill Bit Hydraulics

Assumptions
1) Change of pressure due to elevation is negligible.
2) Velocity upstream is negligible compared to nozzles.
3) Pressure due to friction is negligible.
PB 8.075 E 4 v n2 = 0

PB Pressure drop across bit, vn nozzle velocity

Solving for nozzle velocity

vn =

PB
8.074 E 4

In the field it has been shown that velocity predicted by this equation is off.
So it has been modified,
vn = C d

PB
8.074 E 4

the recommended valve for Cd is .95.

If 3 nozzles are present

v=

q1 q 2 q3
=
=
A1 A2 A3

the velocity is equal in all the jets.

q = q1 + q 2 + q3 = v n A1 + v n A2 + v n A3

That gives us
vn = q

At

In field units vn = q 3.117 A

t

q in gpm, At in inches2, vn in ft/sec

solving for the pressure drop
8.311E 5 q 2
PB =
C d2 At2

is #/gal
Flow Exponent
It can be deduced that
Pf = CQ C is a constant
log Pf = log C + log Q

So the log log plot of this equation is a straight line with a slope of .
can found if two Pf and Q are known, this can be achieved by measuring
the standpipe or surface pressure for 2 pumping rates. Ps=Pf+PB so by using
the above equation PB can be calculated and subtracted from Ps to find Pf.
B

Pf = Ps

8.311E 5q 2
after finding Pf , can be found by
C d2 At2

log f 2

P
f1

=
log Q2
Q1

Maximum Drill Bit Hydraulic Horsepower Criterion assumes that optimum

hole cleaning is achieved if the hydraulic horsepower across the bit is
maximized with respect to the flow rate Q.
H HB = PB Q

Sub in

PB = Ps CQ
H HB = Ps CQ +1

Take the first derivative of H with respect to Q set the result to 0.

gH HB
= Ps ( + 1)CQ = 0
dQ
Ps ( 1)Pf = 0

Pf = CQ

or

Pf =

1
PS
+1

this is the root that makes HHB a maximum.

Hence the optimum bit hydraulics will be achieved if friction pressure loss
in the system is maintained at an optimum value of
Pfopt =

1
Ps max
+1

across the nozzles

PBopt = Ps max Pfopt =

+1

Ps max

Calculate or measure a Pfqa @ some Qa then knowing Pfopt a Qopt can

be calculated by
1
P
Qopt = Qa anti log log fopt
P
fqa

With Qopt known the PBopt can be rewritten

PBopt =

solve for Atopt

8.3E 5Qopt
2
Atopt
C d2

Atopt =

8.3E 5Qopt
C d2 PBopt

if all nozzles are the same size Atopt =

solve for dnopt

d nopt =

Atopt
n

2
n is the number of nozzles
nd nopt

Example:
DP 41/2 20#/ft, Collars 7 120.3#/ft 1000
600 29,
15.5 #/gal
Mud 300 21,
Pump Pmax 5440 psi
HHP 1600hp 80%
TD 12,000
Vamin 85 ft/min
Bit 8 7/8 14-14-14
Hole size 9 7/8
Rate data
Q1 300 GPM
Q2 400 GPM

@ Ps1 2966 psi

@ Ps2 4883 psi

Find
8.311E 5Q 2
PB =
Cd2 At2
PB1 =

8.311E 5 15.5 300 2

= 631.6 psi
.952.45099 2

PB 2 =

Pf 1 = 2966 631.6 = 2344.4 psi

8.311E 5 15.5 400 2

= 1122.8 psi
.952.45099 2

Pf 2 = 4883 1122 .8 = 3760 .2 psi

log f 2
log 3760.2
P
f1

2344.4 = 1.66
=
=
400
log
log Q2
300
Q1

Find Qmax and Qmin

Qmax = 1714 .8 1600

5440

) = 403gpm

Qmin = 2.448(9.8752 4.52 )85

60

Based on pump

= 268 gpm Based on velocity

Optimum friction pressure

1
1
Pfopt =
Pp max =
5440 = 2047 psi
+ 1
1.66 + 1

Optimum pressure drop at the bit

PB = Pp max Pfopt = 5440 2047 = 3933 psi

Optimum flow rate

1
P
Qopt = Qa anti log log fopt
P
fqa

= 300anti log 1 log 2047 = 227 gpm

1.66

2334

This is lower than the max and higher than min flow rates.
Optimum nozzle area
Atopt =

2
8.311E 5 Qopt

C d2 PBopt

For 3 equal sized jets

d nopt = 2 .15

= .25in

8.311E 5 15.5 227 2

= .15in 2
2
.95 3393

The maximum jet impact force criterion assumes that the bottom-hole
cleaning is achieved by maximizing the jet impact force with respect to the
flow rate.
The impact force at the bottom of the hole can be derived form Newtons
second law of motion
B = .01823C d

F j = BQ PB

Q in gpm in #/gal

PB = Ps Pf = Ps CQ
F j = BQ Ps CQ

limitations
1) maximum pump horsepower
2) maximum surface pressure
For the shallow portion of the well Pf is small and the flow rate requirement
is large the impact force is limited only by the pump horsepower, therefore,
the allowable surface pressure, expressed as
Ps =

H p max
Q

substituting
F j = BQ

H p max
Q

CQ = B H p max Q CQ 2

Differentiate and set to 0

dF j
dQ

.5 B H p max ( + 2)CQ +1
H p max Q CQ + 2

]=0

For a valid solution the numerator must be equal to zero.

Solve for the optimum friction pressure

Pfopt =

1
Psopt
+2

then solve for the optimum bit pressure

PBopt = Psopt Pfopt =

+1
Psopt
+2

In the deeper sections of the well the friction pressure loss increases, while
the flow rate requirement decreases. Therefore the impact force will limited
by the maximum allowed pump pressure, Psmax.
Pj = BQ Ps max CQ

Differentiate and set to 0

dF j
dQ

.5 B Ps max ( + 2)CQ +1
Ps max Q CQ + 2

]=0

For a valid solution the numerator must be equal to zero.

Pfopt =

2
Ps max
+2

Gives
PBopt = Ps max Pfopt =

+2

Ps max

Example
Same data as Hydraulic example
So =1.66 Qmax=4.3 gpm Qmin=268 gpm
At 12,000 feet the pump pressure is the limiting factor.
Pfopt =

2
2 5440
Ps max =
= 2975 psi
1.66 + 2
+2

PBopt = Ps max Pfopt = 5440 2975 = 2465 psi

1
Pfopt
Qopt = Qa anti log log
P

fqa

= 300anti log 1 log 2975 = 347 gpm

1.66

2334

It is bounded by the min and max flow rates, so

Atopt =

2
8.311E 5 Qopt

d nopt = 2 .26

C d2 PBopt

8.311E 5 15.5 347 2

= .26in 2
2
.95 2465

= .332in = 10.6 / 32"

3 - 11 jets have an area of .27in2.

Section 4.13 in text, pages 156, 157

Cuttings Lifting
Rock weights about 21 ppg, so it will fall in any fluid that has a lower
density. The rate that the cutting fall in the drilling fluid is the slip
velocity. To maintain good hole cleaning the velocity of the drilling
fluid has to be greater than the slip velocity of the cuttings. The slip
velocity depends on the difference in densities, viscosity of the fluid
and the size of the cuttings.
d p ( p f )
v s = 113.4

C D f

.5

d p the diameter of the cuttings inches

p the density of the cuttings 21 ppg

CD Drag coefficient
Particle Reynolds number
15.47 v s d p

Rp =

which gives
CD =

40
RP

Substituting in the first equation

vs =

4980 d p2 ( p f

For values of Rp greater than 1 which means laminar flow around the
particle the drag coefficient can be found using
CD =

22
R .p5

So the slip velocity equation becomes

vs =

175d p ( p f

.f333 .333

.667

Designing the hydraulic system

1) Break the well down into sections, hole size, drilling fluid
changes and depth etc. Design the drilling fluids for each.
2) Calculate the maximum pump rate using the pump
specifications.
3) Calculate the friction loss in the pipe and annulus for each
section using 2 flow rates. From this calculate the flow
exponent for that section.
4) Using this flow exponent optimize the bit hydraulics.
5) When drilling confirm your plan by finding the by
measuring the friction pressure at 2 pump rates.
6) Find the annular velocity at the optimal rate and compare it
to the slip velocity, verify that this rate will clean the hole.
7) Calculate the pressures and horsepower required to pump
the optimal rate for the bit and verify the equipment can
handle it.
8) Trail and error may be required to find the optimal rate and
jet sizes.