Impact of drilling fluid viscosity, velocity and hole inclination on cuttings transport in horizontal and highly deviated wells

Abstract

Deviation from vertical path makes drill cuttings to accumulate on the lower side of the wellbore that induces the formation of cuttings bed. Subsequently, relative problems occur while drilling. Excessive torque and drag, difficulties in running casing in hole and accomplishing good cementing jobs and mechanical pipe sticking are few of the classical examples of such problems. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of influential parameters on hole cleaning seems to be essential. This paper indicates the results of an experimental study that was carried out to evaluate cuttings removal efficiency using three types of drilling fluid. The experimental works were conducted using a 17-feet long opaque flow loop of 2-in. diameter as the test section. For each test, the amount of cuttings transport performance (CTP) was determined from weight measurements. Viscosity was investigated together with other two influential parameters, namely fluid velocity and hole inclination under various flow conditions. It is shown that the increase in drilling fluid viscosity has improved CTP by approximately 8 % at all angles provided the flow regime remained turbulent while velocity was kept constant. However, further increase of viscosity as flow regime was turning into transient or laminar flow, has lessened CTP by a total average of 12 %. It was also revealed that an incremental escalation in hole inclination from 60° to 90° has a positive effect on CTP, i. e., it will be improved up to 40 %. Drilling fluid velocity was found to have significant impact on CTP as it could attain maximum percentage of 98 %. © 2012 The Author(s).