section 5b

rheology and hydraulics of

drilling fluids
section 5b Scomi Oiltools

bit hydraulics 2
equivalent circulating density 3
power law inside the drillpipe for each hydraulic
interval 3
power law inside the annulus for each hydraulic
interval 4
bingham-plastic inside the drillpipe for each
hydraulic interval 6
bingham-plastic inside the annulus for each
hydraulic interval 7
Section

5b rheology and hydraulics of drilling fluids

rheology and hydraulics of drilling fluids

Bit hydraulics
Nozzle area

∑ (Jet ) × 0.000767
n
AN (in 2 ) = 2
i
i =l

Nozzle velocity
POGPM × 0.32
V N ( ft / sec ) =
AN

Bit pressure drop

V N2 × ρ
PD Bit (psi ) =
1120

Bit hydraulic horsepower

PD Bit × POGPM
HHPBit (hp ) =
1714

Bit hydraulic horsepower per unit bit area

HHPBit
HHP / area =
ABit

Percent pressure drop at bit

PD Bit
× 100
Pr ess Pump

Jet impact force

V N × POGPM × ρ mud
Im p Bit (lbf ) =
1932

Where
ρmud = Mud density in lb/gal
Presspump = Pump press in psi
POGPM = Pump output in gal/min
Jeti = Nozzle diameter in 32nds of an inch
ABit = Area of the bit
AN = Total nozzle area in in2
VN = Nozzle velocity in ft/sec
PDBit = Bit pressure drop in psi


Equivalent circulating density
The following formulas can be used to calculate pressure drop (PD) and equivalent circulating density
(ECD).

Where
PDa = pressure drop in the annulus in psi
n = number of intervals
Li = length of intervals in feet
LVI = vertical length of the interval in feet
ρmud = density of mud in lb/gal

The sum of the pressure drops for each annular section (regardless of hole angle) is:

∑
n
PD a = PDi
i =l

The equivalent circulating density (ECD) for any vertical wellbore is:
 
 PD a 
ECD =   + ρ mud
∑
n
 Li × 0.052 
i =l 
In deviated wellbores, the TVD must be taken into account when calculating ECD values. The above
equation then becomes:
 
 PD a 
ECD =  n  + ρ mud
∑
 i = l LV i × 0.052 

Power Law inside the drillpipe for each hydraulic interval

Average velocity inside the drillpipe (Vp)
POGPM × 0.408
V p ( ft / sec ) = 2
ID DP
Where
IDDP = inside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
POGPM = pump output in gal/min
Vp = average mud velocity inside drillpipe in ft/sec

Reynolds number (NRep)

2− n p np
89,100 × ρ mud × V p  0.0416 ID DP 
N Re p =  
Kp  3 +1 n p 
 

Where
IDDP = inside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
Kp = consistency index in drillpipe, eq cP
ρmud = mud density in lb/gal
np = flow index n inside drillpipe
Vp = average mud velocity inside drillpipe in ft/sec


Section

5b rheology and hydraulics of drilling fluids

Friction factor (f)

If the Reynolds number is greater than 2100 the flow is turbulent and the friction factor is:
a
f =
(N RE ) b
Where
log n + 3.93
a=
50

1.75 − log n
b=
7
If the Reynolds number is less than 2100 the flow is laminar and the friction factor is:
16
f =
N RE

Turbulent flow pressure drop

f p × ρ mud × V p2
PD p = ×L
25.8 ID DP
Where
IDDP = inside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
fp = friction factor inside drillpipe
L = length of drillpipe in feet
ρmud = mud density in lb/gal
Vp = average mud velocity inside drillpipe in ft/sec

Laminar flow pressure drop

np
n  3 +1 n p 
K p × V p p  

 0.0416 
PD p = ×L
144,000 ID DP
(1+ n p )
Where
IDDP = inside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
Kp = consistency index inside drillpipe, eq cP
np = flow index n inside drillpipe
ρmud = mud density in lb/gal
Vp = average mud velocity inside drillpipe in ft/sec

Power Law inside the annulus for each hydraulic interval

Average velocity inside the annulus (Va)

POGPM × 0.408
V a ( ft / sec ) = 2 2
ID HOLE − OD DP
Where
IDHOLE = diameter of borehole or inside diameter of casing in in2
ODDP = outside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
POGPM = pump output in gal/min
Va = average mud velocity inside drillpipe in ft/sec


Reynolds number (NRea)

109,100 × ρ mud × V a2 − na  0.0208(ID HOLE − OD DP )

na

N Re a =  
K  2 +1 n 
p a
Where
IDHOLE = diameter of borehole or inside diameter of casing in in2
ODDP = outside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
Ka = consistency index in annulus, eq cP
ρmud = mud density in lb/gal
na = flow index n inside annulus
Va = average mud velocity inside drillpipe in ft/sec

Friction factor (f)

If the Reynolds number is greater than 2100 the flow is turbulent and the friction factor is:
a
f =
(N RE ) b
Where

a= log n + 3.93
50

b = 1.75 − log n
7
If the Reynolds number is less than 2100 the flow is laminar and the friction factor is:
16
f =
N RE

Turbulent flow pressure drop in annulus

f a × ρ mud × V a2
PDa = ×L
21.1(ID HOLE − OD DP )
Where
IDHOLE = diameter of borehole or inside diameter of casing in in2
ODDP = outside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
fa = friction factor inside annulus
L = length of drillpipe in feet
ρmud = mud density in lb/gal
Va = average mud velocity inside annulus in ft/sec

Laminar flow pressure drop in annulus

np
 2 + 1 na 
K a × V ana  
 0.0208 
PD a = (1+ na )
×L
144,000(ID HOLE − OD DP )
Where
IDHOLE = diameter of borehole or inside diameter of casing in in2
ODDP = outside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
Ka = consistency index inside annulus, eq cP
na = flow index n inside annulus
ρmud = mud density in lb/gal
Va = average mud velocity inside annulus in ft/sec


Section

5b rheology and hydraulics of drilling fluids

Bingham-plastic inside the drillpipe for

each hydraulic interval
Average velocity inside the drillpipe (Vp)
POGPM × 0.408
V p ( ft / sec ) = 2
ID DP
Where
IDDP = inside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
POGPM = pump output in gal/min
Vp = average mud velocity inside drillpipe in ft/sec

Determine whether the flow is laminar or turbulent.

Calculate the Hedstrom number in the drillpipe (NHep)

2
37,000 × ρ mud × YP × ID DP
N Hep =
PV 2
Where
ρmud = mud density in lb/gal
IDDP = inside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
Vp = average mud velocity inside drillpipe in ft/sec
YP = yield point in lb/100 ft2
PV = plastic viscosity in Cp

Determine critical Reynolds number (NRec) from figure 1 (page 8) using the calculated Hedstrom number

Calculate the Reynolds number in the drillpipe (NRep)

928 × ρ mud × V p × ID DP
N Re p =
PV
Where
ρmud = mud density in lb/gal
IDDP = inside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
Vp = average mud velocity inside drillpipe in ft/sec
YP = yield point in lb/100 ft2
PV = plastic viscosity in cP

If NRep < NRec, the flow is laminar. If NRep > NRec, the flow is turbulent.

Turbulent flow pressure drop

ρ 0.75 × V p1.75 × PV 0.25
PD P = ×L
1800 × ID 1DP
.25

ρ = mud density in lb/gal

Vp = average mud velocity inside drillpipe in ft/sec
PV = plastic viscosity in Cp
IDDP = inside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
L = length of the drillpipe in feet


Laminar flow pressure drop
 PV × V p YP 
PD P =  + × L
 1500 × ID 2 225 × ID DP 
Where  DP 
Vp = average mud velocity inside drillpipe in ft/sec
YP = yield point in lb/100 ft2
IDDP = inside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
L = length of the drillpipe in feet
PV = plastic viscosity in cP

Bingham-plastic inside the annulus for each

hydraulic interval
Average velocity inside the annulus (Va)
POGPM × 0.408
V a ( ft / sec ) = 2 2
ID HOLE − OD DP
Where
IDHOLE = diameter of borehole or inside diameter of casing in in2
ODDP = outside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
POGPM = pump output in gal/min
Va = average mud velocity inside annulus in ft/sec

Determine whether the flow is laminar or turbulent

Calculate the Hedstrom number in the annulus (NHea)

24,700 × ρ mud × YP × (ID HOLE − OD DP )
2
N Hea =
Where PV 2
IDHOLE = diameter of borehole or inside diameter of casing in in2
ODDP = outside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
YP = yield point in lb/100 ft2
PV = plastic viscosity in cP
ρmud = mud density in lb/gal

Determine critical Reynolds number (NREC) from figure1 using the calculated Hedstrom number

Calculate the Reynolds number in the annulus (NRea)

757 × ρ mud × V a × (ID HOLE − OD DP )
N Re a =
Where PV
ρmud = mud density in lb/gal
Va = average mud velocity inside annulus in ft/sec
IDHOLE = diameter of borehole or inside diameter of casing in in2
ODDP = outside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
PV = plastic viscosity in cP

If NRea < NRec, the flow is laminar. If NRea > NRec, the flow is turbulent.


Section

5b rheology and hydraulics of drilling fluids

Turbulent flow pressure drop in annulus

0.75
ρ mud × V a1.75 × PV 0.25
PD a = ×L
1396 × (ID HOLE − OD DP )1.25
Where
ρmud = mud density in lb/gal
Va = average mud velocity inside annulus in ft/sec
PV = plastic viscosity in cP
IDHOLE = diameter of borehole or inside diameter of casing in in2
ODDP = outside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
L = length of the drillpipe in feet

Laminar flow pressure drop in annulus

� PV × V a YP �
PD P = � + �×L
� 1000(ID
� HOLE − OD DP )
2 200(ID HOLE − OD DP )��
Where
PV = plastic viscosity in cP
YP = yield point in lb/100 ft2
Va = average mud velocity inside annulus in ft/sec
IDHOLE = diameter of borehole or inside diameter of casing in in2
ODDP = outside diameter of drillpipe or drill collar in in2
L = length of the drillpipe in feet

Critical Reynolds numbers for

1.0E+05
Bingham Plastic Fluids
Critical Reynolds number, NRec

1.0E+04

1.0E+03

1.0E+02
1.00E+03 1.00E+04 1.00E+05 1.00E+06 1.00E+07
Hedstrom number, NHe

Figure 1: Critical Reynolds numbers for Bingham-plastic fluids. This graph shows Hedstrom numbers vs
Reynolds numbers for Bingham-plastic fluids.