Transportation of Cuttings in Inclined Wells

Authors

  • Maha R. A. Hamoudi Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region- F.R. Iraq http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4127-3470
  • Akram H. Abdulwahhab Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region- F.R. Iraq http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3603-2613
  • Amanj Walid Khalid Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region- F.R. Iraq http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6325-3238
  • Deelan Authman Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region- F.R. Iraq
  • Rebin Ali Mohammed Ameen Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region- F.R. Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25079/ukhjse.v2n2y2018.pp3-13

Keywords:

Annular velocity, Cutting transportation, Directional drilling, Inclined wells, Hole inclination

Abstract

One of the most important functions performed by drilling fluid is the removal of cutting from the bottom of the hole to the surface. This function must be performed efficiently if not, the cuttings produced during drilling process will accumulate in the annulus. This problem in directional drilling is featured by gravitational forces. Problems resulting from inefficient cutting transport include pipe stuck, wear of bit, reduction in penetration rate, high torque and drag with many other problems encountered. In high angle deviated wells, the cutting goes through a complex path to the surface where some of the cuttings gravitate to the low side of the well. Reduction in any problem associated with improper cutting transport require good understanding in cutting transport mechanisms. This research focuses on calculating the minimum annular velocity of drilling fluid and minimum pump flow rate which is required to achieve hole- cleaning and lifting of the cutting to the surface, taking into consideration the main parameters that affect the coring capacity of the drilling fluid, for this purpose, data of a deviated well (X) located in Kurdistan region of Iraq is collected to determine slip velocity, annular velocity, critical flow rate and carrying capacity index taking in consideration the mud used and the angle of the deviation using the drilling formula spread sheet V1.6.

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Author Biographies

  • Maha R. A. Hamoudi, Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region- F.R. Iraq

    Maha Raouf Hamoudi holding a Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering/ Production of Petroleum. Her academic teaching experience extends for more than 25 years as a lecturer and an assistant professor in petroleum Engineering Department/ Engineering College / Baghdad University and other Universities. Her research interests include oil and gas production optimization, enhanced oil recovery, fluid flow in porous media and in pipes, along with stimulation, artificial lift techniques, petroleum economics and some other scientific aspects. She has many published papers and have written a book in Arabic concerning the Horizontal Wells Technology. She has also taught and supervised many undergraduate and postgraduate theses (MSc. &PhD.).

    Her google scholar is:

  • Akram H. Abdulwahhab, Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region- F.R. Iraq

    Holding Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering. He has teaching experience more than 34 years in Baghdad University and field experience for 11 Years. He was heading the Department of Petroleum Engineering in Baghdad University for 11 years continuously (1996-2007). He was appointed as Iraqi cultural attaché in Poland (2007-2012).He was awarded by appreciation letters from several ministries, presidents of universities and deans. He published 5 text books, 35 papers and supervised 21 MSc. and 5 theses and more than 100 undergraduate projects. Presently he is working as a professor in UKH.

  • Amanj Walid Khalid, Department of Natural Resources Engineering and Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region- F.R. Iraq

    He holds a bachelor degree in Petroleum Engineering at UKH. He is capable of using different software such as Eclipse, Cura, and AutoCAD. His research interest revolves around Drilling Engineering and related subjects. . He is currently working as a teaching and lab assistant in Drilling laboratory at UKH.

References

Akram, H. & Maha, R. H. (2017). Drilling optimization of a selected field in Kurdistan region. UKH Journal of science and Engineering, 1, 39-52.

Aswad, Z. A. R. (1996). New approach for selecting the best nonNewtonian rheological model. Polymer Plastics Technology and Engineering Journal, 35(2), 233-241.

Bourgoyne, A. & Millhein, K. (1991). SPE text book series. Applied Drilling Engineering. Vol. 2. Texas: SPE Richarson.

Ciuo, B. & Liu, G. (2011). Applied Drilling Circulation System; Hydraulic, Calculations and Models. Oxford: Gulf Professional Publishing.

Duan, M., Miska, S. & Yu, M. (2010). Transport of Small Cuttings in Extended Reach Drilling. USA: University of Tusla.

Rabia, H. (1998). Oil Well Drilling Engineering Principles and Practice.Gaithersburg, MD, USA: Graham and Trotman.

Published

2018-12-13

Issue

Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

Transportation of Cuttings in Inclined Wells. (2018). UKH Journal of Science and Engineering, 2(2), 3-13. https://doi.org/10.25079/ukhjse.v2n2y2018.pp3-13