SPE Drilling & Completion · 1996 · 33 citations · 6 references
EngineeringDrilling FluidsFluid MechanicsMechanical EngineeringDrillingOil-based Drilling FluidsGeotechnical EngineeringPetroleum MachineryFluid PropertiesCorrosionRheologyComparative Experimental StudyMud DensityHole-cleaning CapabilitiesDrilling EngineeringBorehole QualityFluid TypesDirect DrillingDrilling MechanicsMultiphase FlowFormation DamageCivil EngineeringFormation EvaluationInclined AnnulusEnhanced Oil ProductionPetroleum Engineering
Summary Many laboratory studies evaluating the cuttings transport capabilities of water- and oil-based drilling fluids have been published, but few attempts have been made to investigate both fluid types under identical, controlled conditions. Those that considered both fluid types measured cuttings accumulation in the annulus and not fluid velocity. In this comparative study, the efficiency of water- and oilbased muds in cleaning the inclined annulus at varying fluid velocities was investigated. The results showed that, under equivalent rheological and flow-velocity profiles, water- and oil-based drilling fluids clean similarly. While fluid velocity is key to hole cleaning, other parameters, such as mud density and flow index ‘n' factors, can affect cuttings transport efficiency in certain hole angle ranges.
6