Pressure Drop Calculations

• Example Calculate the pump pressure in

the wellbore shown on the next page, using the
API method.

• The relevant rotational viscometer readings

are as follows:
• R3 = 3 (at 3 RPM)
• R100 = 20 (at 100 RPM)
• R300 = 39 (at 300 RPM)
• R600 = 65 (at 600 RPM)
1
 PPUMP
Pressure Drop
Calculations

Q = 280 gal/min
= 12.5 lb/gal

PPUMP = PDP + PDC

+ PBIT NOZZLES

+ PDC/ANN + PDP/ANN

+ PHYD
2
 OD = 4.5 in
Pressure Drop In Drill Pipe ID = 3.78 in
L = 11,400 ft
Power-Law Constant (n):
R 600 65
n 3.32 log 3.32 log 0.737
R300 39

Fluid Consistency Index (K):

5.11 R600 5.11* 65 dyne sec n
K n
2.017
1,022 0.737 cm 2
1,022
Average Bulk Velocity in Pipe (V):

0.408Q 0.408 * 280 ft

V 8.00
D2 3.782 sec
3
 OD = 4.5 in
Pressure Drop In Drill Pipe ID = 3.78 in
L = 11,400 ft
Effective Viscosity in Pipe ( e):
n 1 n
96 V 3n 1
e 100 K
D 4n

0.737 1 0.737
96 * 8 3 * 0.737 1
e 100 * 2.017 53 cP
3.78 4 * 0.737

Reynolds Number in Pipe (NRe):

928 D V 928 * 3.78 * 8.00 * 12.5

NRe 6,616
e 53

4
 OD = 4.5 in
Pressure Drop In Drill Pipe ID = 3.78 in
L = 11,400 ft
NOTE: NRe > 2,100, so a
f
Friction Factor in Pipe (f): NRe
b

log n 3.93 log 0.737 3.93

a 0.0759
50 50

1.75 log n 1.75 log 0.737

b 0.2690
7 7

a 0.0759
So, f b
0.007126
NRe 6,616 0.2690
5
 OD = 4.5 in
Pressure Drop In Drill Pipe ID = 3.78 in
L = 11,400 ft
Friction Pressure Gradient (dP/dL) :

2
dP f V 0.007126 * 82 * 12.5 psi
0.05837
dL 25.81 D 25.81 * 3.78 ft

Friction Pressure Drop in Drill Pipe :

dP
P L 0.05837 * 11,400
dL

Pdp = 665 psi

6
 OD = 6.5 in
Pressure Drop In Drill Collars ID = 2.5 in
L = 600 ft
Power-Law Constant (n):
R 600 65
n 3.32 log 3.32 log 0.737
R300 39

Fluid Consistency Index (K):

5.11R 600 5.11 * 65 dyne sec n
K n
2.017
1,022 1,022 0.737 cm2

Average Bulk Velocity inside Drill Collars (V):

0.408 Q 0.408 * 280 ft
V 18.28
D2 2.52 sec
7
 OD = 6.5 in
Pressure Drop In Drill Collars ID = 2.5 in
L = 600 ft
Effective Viscosity in Collars( e):
n 1 n
96 V 3n 1
e 100 K
D 4n

0.737 1 0.737
96 * 18.28 3 * 0.737 1
e 100 * 2.017 38.21 cP
2.5 4 * 0.737

Reynolds Number in Collars (NRe):

928 D V 928 * 2.5 * 18.28 * 12.5

NRe 13,870
e 38.21
8
 OD = 6.5 in
Pressure Drop In Drill Collars ID = 2.5 in
L = 600 ft
NOTE: NRe > 2,100, so a
f
Friction Factor in DC (f): NRe
b

log n 3.93 log 0.737 3.93

a 0.0759
50 50

1.75 log n 1.75 log 0.737

b 0.2690
7 7

So, a 0.0759
f b
0.005840
NRe 13,870 0.2690
9
 OD = 6.5 in
Pressure Drop In Drill Collars ID = 2.5 in
L = 600 ft
Friction Pressure Gradient (dP/dL) :

2
dP f V 0.005840 * 18.28 2 * 12.5 psi
0.3780
dL 25.81 D 25.81 * 2.5 ft

Friction Pressure Drop in Drill Collars :

dP
P L 0.3780 * 600
dL

Pdc = 227 psi

10
Pressure Drop across Nozzles

2 DN1 = 11 32nds (in)

156 Q DN2 = 11 32nds (in)
P 2
2
DN1 DN2
2
DN3
2 DN3 = 12 32nds (in)

156 * 12.5 * 280 2

P
2 2 2 2
11 11 12

PNozzles = 1,026 psi

11
Pressure Drop
in DC/HOLE
Annulus

Q = gal/min

= lb/gal
8.5 in

DHOLE = 8.5 in
ODDC = 6.5 in
L = 600 ft

12
 Pressure Drop DHOLE = 8.5 in
ODDC = 6.5 in
in DC/HOLE Annulus L = 600 ft
Power-Law Constant (n):
R100 20
n 0.657 log 0.657 log 0.5413
R3 3

Fluid Consistency Index (K):

5.11R100 5.11 * 20 dyne sec n
K n
6.336
170 .2 170 .20.5413 cm2

Average Bulk Velocity in DC/HOLE Annulus (V):

0.408 Q 0.408 * 280 ft
V 2 2 2 2
3.808
D2 D1 8.5 6 .5 sec
13
 Pressure Drop DHOLE = 8.5 in
ODDC = 6.5 in
in DC/HOLE Annulus L = 600 ft

Effective Viscosity in Annulus ( e):

n 1 n
144 V 2n 1
e 100 K
D2 D1 3n

0.5413 1 0.5413
144 * 3.808 2 * 0.5413 1
e 100 * 6.336 55.20 cP
8.5 6.5 3 * 0.5413

Reynolds Number in Annulus (NRe):

928 D2 D1 V 928 8.5 6.5 * 3.808 * 12.5
NRe 1,600
e 55.20
14
 Pressure Drop DHOLE = 8.5 in
ODDC = 6.5 in
in DC/HOLE Annulus L = 600 ft
NOTE: NRe < 2,100
Friction Factor in Annulus (f):
24 24
f 0.01500
NRe 1,600

2
dP f V 0.01500 * 3.808 2 * 12.5 psi
0.05266
dL 25.81 D2 D1 25.81 8.5 6.5 ft

dP
P L 0.05266 * 600
dL

So, Pdc/hole = 31.6 psi

15
 Pressure Drop
in DP/HOLE Annulus

q = gal/min

= lb/gal

DHOLE = 8.5 in
ODDP = 4.5 in
L = 11,400 ft

16
 Pressure Drop DHOLE = 8.5 in
ODDP = 4.5 in
in DP/HOLE Annulus L = 11,400 ft
Power-Law Constant (n):
R100 20
n 0.657 log 0.657 log 0.5413
R3 3

Fluid Consistency Index (K):

5.11R100 5.11 * 20 dyne sec n

K n
6.336
170 .2 170 .20.5413 cm2
Average Bulk Velocity in Annulus (Va):

0.408 Q 0.408 * 280 ft

V 2 2
2.197
D2 D1 8.5 2 4.5 2 sec
17
 Pressure Drop
in DP/HOLE Annulus
Effective Viscosity in Annulus ( e):
n 1 n
144 V 2n 1
e 100 K
D2 D1 3n

0.5413 1 0.5413
144 * 2.197 2 * 0.5413 1
e 100 * 6.336 97.64 cP
8.5 4.5 3 * 0.5413

Reynolds Number in Annulus (NRe):

928 D2 D1 V 928 8.5 4.5 * 2.197 * 12.5

NRe 1,044
e 97.64
18
 Pressure Drop
in DP/HOLE Annulus
NOTE: NRe < 2,100
Friction Factor in Annulus (f):
24 24
f 0.02299
NRe 1,044

2
dP fV 0.02299 * 2.197 2 * 12.5 psi
0.01343
dL 25.81 D2 D1 25.81 8.5 4.5 ft

dP
P L 0.01343 * 11,400
dL

So, Pdp/hole = 153.2

psi psi
19
 Pressure Drop Calcs.
- SUMMARY -

PPUMP = PDP + PDC + PBIT NOZZLES

+ PDC/ANN + PDP/ANN + PHYD

PPUMP = 665 + 227 + 1,026

+ 32 + 153 + 0

PPUMP = 1,918 + 185 = 2,103 psi

20
 2,103 psi
PPUMP = PDS + PANN + PHYD

P
PDS = PDP + PDC + PBIT NOZZLES =
0
= 665 + 227 + 1,026 = 1,918 psi

PANN = PDC/ANN + PDP/ANN

= 32 + 153 = 185

PHYD = 0

PPUMP = 1,918 + 185

= 2,103 psi
21
 "Friction" Pressures

2,500
DRILLPIPE
"Friction" Pressure, psi

2,000

1,500 DRILL COLLARS

1,000
BIT NOZZLES

500 ANNULUS

0
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000
Cumulative Distance from Standpipe, ft
22
 Hydrostatic Pressures in the Wellbore

9,000
BHP
Hydrostatic Pressure, psi

8,000
7,000
6,000
DRILLSTRING ANNULUS
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000
Cumulative Distance from Standpipe, ft
23
 Pressures in the Wellbore

10,000
9,000
8,000
CIRCULATING
Pressures, psi

7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
STATIC
1,000
0
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000
Cumulative Distance from Standpipe, ft
24
 Wellbore Pressure Profile

2,000
DRILLSTRING
4,000
Depth, ft

6,000
ANNULUS
8,000

10,000

(Static)
12,000
BIT
14,000
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000
Pressure, psi 25
 Pipe Flow - Laminar
In the above example the flow down the
drillpipe was turbulent.
Under conditions of very high viscosity,
the flow may very well be laminar.
NOTE: if NRe < 2,100, then
Friction Factor in Pipe (f):
2
16 dP f V
Then f and
NRe dL 25.81 D

26
27
n = 1.0

_
2
dp f v
dL 25.8 d 28