Proceedings of the Eighteenth (2008) International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference

Vancouver, BC, Canada, July 6-11, 2008

Copyright © 2008 by The International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE)
ISBN 978-1-880653-70-8 (Set); ISBN 1-880653-68-0 (Set)

Temperature Calculation and Prediction of Gas Hydrates Formed Region

in Wellbore in Deepwater Drilling
Baojiang Sun, Yonghai Gao, Zhiyuan Wang, Hao Li
College of Petroleum Engineering , China University of Petroleum
Dongying, Shandong, China

ABSTRACT Tsea = a1 + a2 /(1 + e( h+a0 ) / a3 ) , h>200m (1)

The temperature distribution with depth of South China sea is Where, a1=39.4, a2=37.1, a0=130.1, a3=402.7; Tsea is temperature
obtained by regression analysis. The temperature distribution formulas of the sea water, ℃; h is depth of the sea water, m.
in well bore during circulation or non-circulation terms are established
The temperature field is complicated at the shallow water region
based on the thermodynamics theory. Based on the calculation of
temperature in well bore and the formation model of gas hydrate, the where the depth is shallower than 200m(Luan,2003). The temperature is
prediction of hydrate formation region in well bore and blowout altering at the same area in different season. Assuming the temperature
preventer is done under different conditions. The results indicate that grade of discontinuity layer is fixed at given position, the fitted
the region of hydrate formation under the condition of recurrent state is
regression equation of shallow water depth is obtained:
the smallest, and the region of hydrate formation under the condition of
shut in state is the largest. Spring: T TS ( 200 − h ) + 13.68h 0≤h<200m
sea =
200
KEY WORDS: deepwater drilling, gas hydrates, temperature field,
prediction Summer: Tsea = TS 0≤h<20m
TS ( 200 − h ) + 13.7( h − 20) 20≤h<200m
INTRODUCTION Tsea =
180
During recent years, the petroleum industry has continued to Autumn: Tsea = TS 0≤h<50m
extend deepwater exploration drilling efforts in many areas of the world.
With the increasing number of deep offshore drilling operations, TS (200 − h ) + 13.7(h − 50)
operators and service companies are now faced with new problems Tsea = 50≤h<200m
related to the possible formation of gas hydrates in drilling muds. The
150
high seafloor hydrostatic pressures and low environmental temperatures Winter: Tsea = TS 0≤h<100m
encountered in deepwater drilling increase the likelihood of gas
hydrates formation in well bore, blowout preventers, and subsea TS (200 − h ) + 13.7(h − 100)
wellheads( Barker, 1989; Hale, 1989). Tsea = 0≤h<200m (2)
100
Well control is one of the most important problems in deepwater
drilling(Records,1972; Oystein,2006). The theory of multi-phase flow in Where, TS is the temperature of the sea surface,oC; h is depth of the sea
well bore is an important part of the well control theory(Nunes,2006). water, m.
As the temperature field is complicate and gas hydrates form easily, the
existent multi-phase flow models can not be used satisfactorily in well 2 TEMPERATURE FIELD OF THE WELLBORE
control calculation in deepwater drilling operations. The influence of 2.1 TEMPERATURE FORMULAS UNDER CIRCULA-
the gas hydrates formed or dissolved in a wellbore must be considered. TION CONDITION

1 TEMPERATURE FIELD OF THE SEA WATER To obtain expressions for the temperature of fluid in the annulus
and the drilling pipe, we set up an energy balance over a differential
Based on the data bases of Levitus(Levitus,1994), taking one value
element of length, dz, of the annular fluid as shown in Fig. 1. Noting
per longitude and latitude in the area of 7°~12°N, 111°~118°E, the
that z is positive in the downward direction. The law of conservation of
temperature distributions are obtained in the depth from 200 to 3500m
energy is writing as:
by fitting. Compared with the data of surveyed by Academia
Sinica(Zeng,2003), the error is no more than 1℃. The fitted regression
equation is:

44
 1
ha ( z + dz ) − ha ( z ) + wa v 2 ( z + dz ) q = 2πrcoU a (Twb − Ta ) (6)
2 (3)
The overall heat-transfer coefficient, Ua, depends on the resistances
1
− wa v ( z ) − wa gdz cosθ + q F − qta = 0
2
to heat flow through the annular fluid, casing metal, and the cement. In
2
general, resistances to heat flow through the tubing or casing metal may
Equation (3) can be simplified as:
be neglected. Usually, one needs to consider natural convection as a
dha v dv dq dq (4) heat transfer mechanism for the fluid in the annulus. Resistance through
+ wa ⋅ a a − wz g cosθ + F − ta = 0
dz dz dz dz the cement layer could be important, depending on its
where qF present heat flow rate from or to the well bore, J/s; thickness(Hansen,1991).
2πk e 1 rco ln(rwb / rco )
qF = (Tei − Twb )dz (5) U a−1 = +
TD hac k cem
where rco is the outside radius of the case, m.
ha ( z + dz ) is the enthalpy flow rate to the well bore, J/s;
Noting that the heat flow from the formation to the annulus, qF,
ha (z ) is the enthalpy flow rate from the well bore, J/s; qta is heat flow equals q as given by Eq.6, Combining Eqs. 5 and 6, Twb is eliminated
from annulus to pipe fluid, J/s; v is flow rate, m/s; wa is mass flow and the following equation is obtained:
wa c pa
rate in annulus, kg/s; Tei is initial environment temperature, ℃; Twb is qF = (Tei − Ta )dz (7)
the temperature at well bore/formation interface, ℃; TD is A
dimensionless circulation time(Hansen,1991). where wa c pa k e + rcoU a TD (8)
A= [ ]
2π rcoU a k e
Heat transferred from the annular fluid to the fluid in the
drillpipe is given by
wa c pa
qta = (Ta − Tt )dz (9)
B
wa c pa
where, B = , cpa is the heat capacity of the fluid in
2πrtiU t
the annulus, J/kg℃; Tt is the temperautre in pipe, ℃; rti is the intside
radius of the drillpipe, m; and Ut is the heat-transfer coefficient of the
fluid in drillipipe.
dh w(c pa dT − C J c pa dp)
As =
dz dz
Hence, Eq. 4 is rewritten as
dTa dv C J c pa ⋅ dp
c pa ⋅ + v a a − g cos θ −
dz dz dz (10)
c pa c pa
+ (Tei − Ta ) − (Ta − Tt ) = 0
A B
Fig. 1 Physical model of energy balance between well bore and
Rearranging,
environment
dTa 1 1 (11)
TD = 1.1281 t D [1 − 0.3 t D ] 10-10≤tD≤1.5 = (Ta − Tei ) + (Ta − Tt ) − C a
dz A B
⎡ 0.6 ⎤ tD>1.5 dv C J c pa ⋅ dp
TD = [0.4036 + 0.5 ln(t D )]⎢1 + ⎥ v a a − g cos θ −
⎣ tD ⎦ where C = dz dz ; CJ is the Joule-
a
ke c pa
t D = α t / rwb2 ,α =
ce ρ e Thompson coefficient, dimensionless.
Where rwb is radius of the well bore, m; ke is conductivity of earth, With the same method, energy equation in drilling pipe is
W/m℃; ce is the heat capacity of earth, J/kg℃; cf is the heat capacity of obtained,
fluid in annulus, J/kg℃; ρe is the earth density, kg/m3; t is the dTt c pa wa (12)
= (Ta − Tt ) − Ct
circulating time, S. dz c pt wt B
The wellbore/formation interface temperature, Twb is related to the
annular fluid temperature, Ta, by overall heat-transfer coefficient of the
annulus system as follows(Hansen,1994):

45
 dvt C J c pt ⋅ dp ∂Tr
ρ r c pr π (rri2 − rto2 ) =
vt − g cos θ − ∂t (16)
Where C = dz dz . 2πrr kt (Ta − Tt ) ⋅ 2πrt
t
c pt (Tsea − Tr ) −
rinso − rro rro − rri rto − rti
+
Combining Eqs. 11 and 12, Ta is eliminated and the following kins kr
equation is obtained: 3 FORMULATION MODEL OF GAS HYDRATE
2
d Tt dT
AB ′ + B ′′ t − Tt + Tei + C ′ = 0 (13) With the relative theories statistical thermodynamics, combining
dz 2 dz isothermal adsorption theory of ideal gas, a mathematical model is
where B ′ = wt c pt B , developed by Vander Waals & Platteeuw to predict the phase
wa c pa equilibrium condition of hydrate and gas(Vander Waals,1959).
Δμ 0 T ΔH 0 + ΔC P (T − T0 ) P
ΔV
AB ′ , −∫ dT + ∫ dP
B ′′ = A − B ′ − RT0 T0 RT 2
RT (17)
B P0
NC
AB ′
2
C ′ = AC a + BCt + Ct = ln( f w / f w0 ) − ∑ν i ln(1 − ∑ θ ij )
B i =1 j =1

dv C J c pa ⋅ dp
v a a − g cos θ − 4 EXAMPLE APPLICATION
Ca = dz dz
c pa
The computer code was subsequently employed to examine the
Eqs. 11 and 13 are the models of temperature distribution in
effects of various parameters on temperature in wellbore. Table 1
wellbore under sea floor and drillpipe, which can be calculated by
shows the parameters used for the simulations.
numerical method.
Table 1 parameters used in the simulations
Temperature equation in marine riser and drilling pipe above sea
Water delivery
floor is the same as Eqs. 11 and 13, just the parameter is difference. rwb rco
depth capacity
wa c pa 0.66m,0-500m
A= 1500m 1100gpm 0.533m
2πrroU a 0.445,500-3000m
Where U = [ 1 + rins ln( rins / rro ) + 1 ] −1 , rto rro rins Ts
a
hac k ins hsea 0.127m 0.533m 0762m 26℃
dv c C J c pc ⋅ dp
vc − g cos θ − Assuming the material of the insulating layer is isocyanurate
Cc = dz dz .
c pc foam, the result is shown in Fig. 2

where rto is outside radius of drillpipe, m; rti is inside radius of

drillpipe, m; rco is outside radius of casing, m; rro is outside radius of
marine riser, m; rin is inside radius of insulating layer, m; rins is outside
radius of insulating layer, m; kins is conductivity of the insulating layer,
W/m℃; kcem is conductivity of the cementing , W/m℃; hac, hto, hsea are
the convective heat transfer coefficient for annulus, drilling pipe and
fluid and sea water, W/m2℃.

2.2 TEMPERATURE FORMULAS UNDER NON CIRCU-

LATION CONDITION

When the pumps stop, the temperatures in wellbore, marine riser

and drilling pipe are described as the following equations.

Drilling pipe: ρ c ∂T πr 2 = k t (Ta − Tt ) ⋅ 2πrt (14) Fig. 2 Temperature distribution in pipe, annulus and environment at
t pt ti
∂t rto − rti
1100gpm displacement of pump with insulating layer
∂Ta If there is no insulating layer outside the riser, the distribution ot
ρ a c pa π (rci2 − rto2 ) =
Annulus: ∂t (15) temperature in the pipe, annulus and environment is shown in Fig. 3.
2πrc k (T − Tt ) ⋅ 2πrt
(Tw − Ta ) − t a When the delivery capacity is 550gpm, the result is shown in Fig. 4.
rw − rco rao − rci rto − rti
+
k cem k cas
Marine riser:

46
 Fig. 3 Temperature distribution in pipe, annulus and environment at
1100gpm displacement of pump without insulating layer
Calculation results indicate that the influence of the sea water
temperature on riser and drillpipe is diminished the riser, and the
variation of the temperature in riser is little if there is insulating layer
outside. The temperature in riser is lower 5℃ without insulating layer
than with insulating layer at the same delivery capacity.
The temperature in wellbore is influenced with the delivery
capacity obviously if there is no insulating layer. The smaller the
delivery capacity is, the closer to the environment the temperature in
the annulus is. When the delivery capacity is 1100gpm, the lowest
temperature in annulus is 15℃, and when the delivery capacity reduces
by half, the lowest temperature in annulus is only 9.5℃. The reason is
that low delivery capacity has more time for heat transfer between the
annulus and environment rising.
Fig. 4 Temperature distribution in pipe, annulus and environment at
550pgm displacement of pump without insulating layer
When the well is shutting in, the temperatures in wellbore and
riser are calculated and shown in Fig. 5. From the results we can see
that the longer shut in time is, the more closing to the environment
temperature in annulus is. The shutting in time should be short to avoid
temperature drop too low and the formation of hydrates in blowout
preventer.
47
Fig. 5 Temperature distribution in annulus at the conditon of pump off
Based on the calculation of temperature in wellbore and the
formation model of gas hydrate, the prediction of hydrate formation
region in a wellbore and a blowout preventer is done under different
conditions. Figs. 6 to 8 are the regions of hydrate formation under the
condition of downtime, recurrent state and shut in state. The pink line
represent hydrates stability curves and red lines represent temperature
distributoin in a wellbore. The results indicate that the region of hydrate
formation under the condition of recurrent state is smallest for the
lowest temperature in wellbore is the highest. The depth of the hydrate
formation region is from 800m to 2000m well depth. The region of
hydrate formation under the condition of shut in state is the largest
because the temperature is low and an additional shut-in pressure
resulting in pressure abrupt change at the BOP(blowour preventer)
position, and the depth is from 500m to 3200m of well depth.
Fig. 6 Prediction of the hydtate formation region at downtime

Fig. 7 Prediction of the hydtate formation region at recurrent state
Fig. 8 Prediction of the hydtate formation region at shut in state
5 CONCLUSION
(1)The temperature distribution with depth of South China sea is
obtained by regression analysis.
(2)The temperature distribution formulas in wellbore during
circulation or non-circulation terms are established based on the
thermodynamics theory.
(3) Calculation results indicate that the insulating layer should be
undamaged and large delivery capacity should be used for maintaining
the temperature under circulation condition. When the pumps stop, the
temperature in wellbore will be closing to the extraneous temperature
48
with time.
(4) The shutting-in time should be short to avoid hydrates
formation in blowout preventer.
(5) The region of hydrate formation under the condition of
recurrent state is smallest, and the he region of hydrate formation under
the condition of shut in state is largest.
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