SPE 128035 A Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Dynamic Filtration in Drilling Operations (original) (raw)

This paper describes a numerical filtration model validated by data obtained from an experimental dynamic filtration loop. The model predicts the filtercake buildup and filtrate flow rate in the drilling process using non-Newtonian muds. It is also able to calculate filtercake properties like permeability and thickness. The equations, written in cylindrical coordinate, are based on the motion and mass conservation equation of the fluid described by Darcy's law. In addition, the permeability and porosity are correlated to the filtercake pressure. The point at which the mud fluid shear rate and the filtercake shear strength are equal defines the filtercake thickness. In the dynamic filtration loop there is a tube with a permeable wall where the carbonate suspension of different sized particles is filtrated. The suspension is homogenized in a tank mixer and pumped using a positive displacement pump. The filtration model was validated through experimental data. In this paper, we discuss the effects of cross-flow velocity and filtration pressure on the filtrate rate and filtercake buildup. The simulated data of filtrate rate and filtercake thickness agreed well with the experimental data. Introduction One of the drilling fluid's basic functions is to exert hydrostatic pressure over the permeable formations to avoid the formation fluid invasion to the well while the drilling operation takes place. The fluid pressure is normally kept above the formation pore pressure to prevent from kick events (formation fluid invasion to the well), that, in some cases, can lead to an uncontrolled influx (blowout). This concept, called overbalanced drilling, is traditionally employed in most of the drilling operations worldwide and in Brazil. As the bit penetrates the reservoir rock, the drilling fluid invades the formation due to the positive pressure differential between the well and the reservoir rock. Portions of the liquid phase of the drilling fluid are lost to the adjacent formation while part of the solids presented in drilling fluid, constituted by particles smaller than the formation pore size, penetrate the rock during the fluid loss period, rapidly plugging the region around the well. Larger particles accumulate on the wellbore walls, initiating an external cake formation. The invasion of fluid and solid particles during this process causes damage to formation around the well. Two invasion mechanisms are notable in the well. The first, called static filtration, occurs when the fluid pumping is interrupted and, from that point on, filtration occurs due to the difference between the hydrostatic pressure in the well and the reservoir pressure. The filtration rates are controlled by the continuously increasing thickness of the filter cake. The other invasion mechanism, called dynamic filtration, occurs when the fluid is pumped through the well. In this process, the cake thickness is resultant from the dynamic equilibrium between solid particles deposition rate and the erosion rate due to the shear stresses generated by the fluid flow in the wellbore. Thus, the filtration rate to the formation tends to stabilize around a certain value while the cake thickness turns constant. Fig.1 illustrates the process. Table 1 shows several authors that studied dynamic and static filtration phenomenon. Modeling and experimental work are listed.