Volume Requirements for Air or Gas Drilling
PHILLIPS PETROLEUM CO.
ABSTRACT
Drilling rate is a parameter that
should be considered in determining
the volume requirements for air and
gas drilling. The use of past methods
which ignore the effects of the solids
content upon the pressure and ve-
locity of the annulus .flow stream can
result in undercalculation of the re-
quired volume by as much as 50 per
cent.
A vertical-flow equation is pre-
sented for determining volume re-
quirements. This equation includes
the effect of the solids that are trans-
ported up the annulus in the flow
stream by incorporating the drilling
rate as one of the parameters. The
effect of down-hole temperature 011
required circulation rates is also al1a-
Ivzed .
. A simple approximate method 0/
determining volume requirements is
presented. This method is more ac-
curate than the methods llsed in the
past.
Hole cleaning difficulties are ana-
lyzed for a recent air drilling job
where past methods indicated that
excess air was being used.
Sample curves of calculated bot-
tom-hole pressures are presented for
air and gas drilling in several hole
sizes.
Original manuscript received in Society of
Petroleum Engineers office on July 16, 1957.
Revised manuscript received Oct. 31, 1957.
Paper presented at Society of Petroleum En-
gineers 32nd Annual Fall Meeting in Dallas.
OC~is~~;~i~~5~'f this and all following tech-
nical papers is invited. Discussion in writing:
(three copies) may be sent to the offices of
the Journal of Petroleum TechnolollY. Any
discussion offered after Dec. 31, 1957. should
be in the form of a new paper.
VOL. 210. 1957
SPE 873-G
R. R. ANGEL
HOUSTON, TEX.
T. P.4679
INTRODUCTION
In certain areas the use of air or
natural gas as a circulating medium
for drilling oil and gas wells is be-
coming a common practice. Large
increases in penetration rate and bit
life are achieved through the use of
these media in preference to mud or
water. Drilling rates as high as 90
ft/hr have been obtained in shales.
The importance of maintaining
adequate circulation rate is generally
recognized; however, much disagree-
ment exists among drilling operators
as to what constitutes "adequate"
circulation rate. In quarry drilling,
where annular velocities can be ac-
curately determined, an annular ve-
locity of 3,000 ft/min of standard
air is required for best results in
rocks having approximately the same
density as those commonly pene-
trated in drilling oil or gas wells'.
Although this standard air velocity
has proven satisfactory for quarry
drilling, some oil and gas well drill-
ing operators believe that an equiva-
lent annular velocity of more than
4,000 ft/min is required; others be-
lieve that as little as 2,000 ft/min
is sufficient. Much of this disagree-
ment results from determining the
required circulation rates with meth-
ods which fail to incorporate the
drilled solids in an equation which is
applicable to vertical flow.
Hughes Tool Co. Bulletins No. 23'
and 23-A' present data for determin-
ing circulation rates based on the
lReferences given at end of paper.
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Weymouth formula. These data do
not include the drilling rate as a
parameter and, therefore, neglect the
effect of the solids being transported
up the annulus. In spite of this ap-
parent defect and the fact that the
Weymouth formula is not applicable
to vertical flow, the Hughes data
have well served the drilling indus-
try in many areas and are important
and timely contributions to the sci-
ence of air and gas drilling.
The Hughes data purposely omit
a correction for increasing down-hole
temperature. At slow drilling rates
this effectively compensates for the
use of a formula which is not valid
for vertical flow; however, volumes
determined by the Hughes method
are not sufficient to support rapid
drilling rates at moderate and great
depths. For example, Phillips Petro-
leum Co.'s Cauthorn "D" No. 1 in
the Vinegarone field for Val Verde
County, Tex., was air drilled from
1,500 to 9,300 ft using a compres-
sor delivering 1,400 cu ft/min. The
8 3,4 -in hole was drilled with 5-in.
drill pipe, and drilling rates as high
as 90 ft/hr were obtained between
7,000 and 9,300 ft. No water or cav-
ing hole was encountered. At 7,728
ft it was necessary to wash-out 60 ft
of cuttings to reach bottom after a
trip to change bits. At 8,130 ft a
twist-off occurred and the drill col-
lars were stuck in drill cuttings.
These difficulties indicate that the
1,400 cu ft/min of air was not suf-
ficient to keep the hole clean. Hughes
data indicates that 1,180 cu ft/min is
sufficient to produce an annular ve-
325
locity at 8,000 ft which is equivalent
in lifting power to a standard air ve-
locity of 3,000 ft/min. In view of
the difficulties encountered, it can be
concluded that either the equivalent
of 3,000 ft/min is not sufficient, or
that this equivalent annular velocity
was not present at 8,000 ft even
though more air was being used than
indicated by the Hughes data.
In order to determine which of
these conclusions is correct, a mathe-
matical analysis of the problem was
performed. The analysis included the
effect of the solids being transported
up the annulus by incorporating
the drilling rate in a vertical-flow
equation. It also took into account
the effect of down-hole temperature.
Application of the resulting equa-
locity will be at least as great as the at various depths according to Eg.
volume determined by methods that 1. These curves incorporate the as-
neglect slip. For this reason, the vol- sumption that the surface tempera-
umes determined by the methods ture in the annulus is 80°F and that
presented in this study should be re- the down-hole temperature increases
garded as the minimum volumes re- 0
1 F for each 100 ft of depth (G =
quired to produce a desired equiva- .01). Circulation rates determined by
lent annular velocity. the Weymouth formula using these
The following equation for de- temperature assumptions are also in-
termining the circulation rates neces- dicated on a vertical scale beside the
sary to produce annular velocities Hughes data which does not include
that are equivalent in lifting power a down-hole temperature correction.
to some velocity of standard density Comparison of the volumes indicated
air, V" is derived in the Appendix. by these methods shows that at slow
(Note that the circulation rate, Q, drilling rates the omission of the
enters into the right-hand member temperature correction in the Hughes
of Eq. 1 in terms of a and h.) data effectively compensates for the
6.61 S (T, + Gh) Q' use of a horizontal-flow formula.
(D'1. - D')' V'e Fig. 1 also illustrates that the
P
Hughes data cannot be accurately

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tion strongly supported the conclu- _cc I [P' + h T '] e,ahlTav - h T' applied to rapid drilling rates at mod-
erate and great depths. For example,
sion that an equivalent annular ve- " , (]( 'II"

locity of 3,000 ft/min was not ob- (1) at 8,000 ft with the 90 ft/hr drill-
tained at 8,000 ft on the Cauthorn ing rate obtained on Cauthorn "D"
where: a = SQ + 28.8 K D,,' No.1, a circulation rate of 1,680
drilling job even though the air vol-
ume was about 20 per cent in excess 53.3 Q cu ft/min of air is required to main-
of the volume indicated by the 1.625 X 10-1: Q' tain an equivalent annular velocity of
h = 3,000 ft/min according to Eq. 1.
Hughes data. (D" - Dp)'3'" (D;,- D;r
The Hughes data indicate a volume
The use of data derived from this The specific gravity of the drilled of 1,180 cu ft/min for this depth.
analysis will resolve much of the solids was assumed to be 2.70 in The error in applying Hughes data to
disagreement concerning the circu- the development of Eq. 1. This value these conditions is more than 40 per
lation rates required for satisfactory approximates the specific gravity of cent.
air and gas drilling. most of the rocks penetrated in ro-
tary drilling. FIELD APPLICATION
DEVELOPMENT OF FORMULAS
COMPARISON OF METHODS OF The most logical method ot using
In air and gas drilling, the particles Eq. 1 to determine volume require-
which are transported in the annular DETERMINING CIRCULATION
RATES ments for drilling is to select some
flow stream are of varying size, standard air velocity, V" that works
shape, and perhaps density; there- Fig. 1 shows how air requirements in practice. As previously mentioned,
fore, each particle has a different increase with increasing drilling rate a standard air velocity of 3,000
terminal velocity in a given medium.
The particles are disintegrated dur- EOIJATION 1010. I WEYMOUTH METHODS
T. 5400+.01 h
ing removal by the turbulent flow in HUGHES
DATA
the annulus and the grinding action
of the drill string; thus, the distribu- 20 P 10,000
./
tion of particle sizes varies at differ- ! ,/" 8000'
18
ent levels in the annulus. These fac- I v V
tors prohibit accurate mathematical ...'"
Q
16
y
6000'
expression of the effect of slip on 0:
'"::>Z V ./ V
down-hole pressure in the annulus. % ./ V V I
14
V V V
Due to the lack of better methods, Z
... ./
V J.....- 10000'
the effect of slip is neglected in the (,)
12 - 8000'- r--
derivation of a formula for predict-
ing down-hole pressure as a function
of gas gravity, circulation rate, drill-
...
ci

'"
iz
10
./

>- I- - I
-
'- '-I-
2000' 6000'
f=,.1 0000'
---=-
2000' ----::
8000'

~
6000'

... ! I
2000'
ing rate, temperature, solids specific ...:a
0:
8
I i !
gravity, hole size, pipe size, and :; I !
depth. The circulating fluid and the ...
0
0:
6
I I i I : ,
drilled solids are assumed to form a II: i i
homogeneous mixture that has the
< 4
I
I : ,
I I
flow properties of a perfect gas. Rec- I !
2
ognizing that slip of the solids does
tend to increase the down-hole pres- 0
I I
sure and thus reduce the annular ve- o 20 40 60 80 100 120 T=To T. 540'l,..01~
DRILLING RATE, FT.lHR
locity of the circulating fluid, it is ap-
FIG. I-COMPARISON OF METHODS OF DETERMINING AIR CIRCULATIO:"
parent that the actual volume neces-
RATES REQUIRED FOR AN EQUIVALENT ANNULAR VELOCITY OF
sary to produce a desired annular ve- 3.000 FT/MIN IN 8%-IN. HOLE WITH :;-IN. DRILL PIPE.

326 PETROLEUM TRANSACTIONS, AI ME

It/min is required for best results TABLE I-DATA FOR CALCULATING APPROXIMATE CIRCULATION RATES REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A
MINIMUM ANNULAR VelOCITY WHICH IS EQUIVALENT IN LIFTING POWER TO A STANDARD AIR
in drilling quarry holes. Basing cir- VELOCITY OF 3,000 FT/MIN
culation requirements on this stand- AIR GAS, SPECI FIC GRAVITY .60
VALUE OF N VALUE OF N
ard air velocity is preferable to se- Hole
Size
Pipe
OD Q, Drilling Rate (ft/nr) Q, Drilling Rate (ft/hr)
lecting a standard air velocity that (in.) (in.) scf/min 0 30 60 90 scf/min 0 30 60 90
will lift a cutting of some arbitrary 171/, 6% 4,209 82.2 131 177 221 5,434 66.3 128 186 240
5V, 4,428 79.8 126 171 213 5,716 61.8 119 174 226
size and shape. The size and shape 41;' 4,588 78.0 123 166 207 5,924 58.0 113 165 215
of the rock chips that are produced ,5 6% 2,905 71.7 112 151 188 3,751 64.2 118 167 214
51;' 3,124 68.7 107 143 178 4,033 58.6 108 154 197
by the bit depend on such factors 4112 3,285 66.0 103 137 171 4,241 54.0 100 144 185
as drilling rate, rotary speed, bit 121/. 6% 1,700 62.3 97.8 130 160 2,194 63.0 112 155 194
1
5 12 1,918 58.0 89.5 119 146 2,477 56.3 97.7 137 172
weight, tooth structure, and rock 4'12 2,079 55.3 83.6 111 136 2,684 50.8 88.2 124 157
characteristics. The actual size and 11 6% 1,237 60.6 94.5 124 151 1,597 64.5 112 152 188
shape of the rock chips cannot be 5 112 1,456 54.8 83.8 110 135 1,880 55.5 95.4 131 163
4112 1,616 50.6 76.9 101 124 2,087 50.0 84.4 116 146
predicted for a projected drilling job. 9 7/ 8 5 112 1,079 53.0 80.3 104 126 1,393 56.4 94.7 128 157
rt is, therefore, recommended that a 5 1,163 50.3 75.5 98.7 120 1,502 52.3 87.7 119 147
4112 1,240 47.8 71.7 93.3 114 1,600 48.8 81.6 111 138
standard air velocity of 3,000 ft/min 5 898 49.1 73.0 94.4 113 1,160 53.0 87.1 116 141
be used to calculate basic circulation 4112 975 46.1 68.5 88.5 107 1,258 49.0 80.3 108 132
3 112 1,103 41.5 61.0 79.0 95.5 1,424 42.0 68.9 93.1 115
requirements. Of course, adjustments 8 3/4 5 827 49.0 72.7 93.2 112 1,068 53.5 87.0 115 140
may be required to meet problems 4V, 903
1,032
46.0
40.8
67.8 87.3 105 1,166
1,332
49.1 80.0 107 130
114
3'12 60.0 77.3 93.7 41.8 68.3 92
peculiar to certain areas. 7'/. 4112 670 44.7 65.0 82.7 98.3 865 50.1 78.8 104 125

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3'12 798 39.2 56.7 72.5 86.9 1,031 41.6 66.3 87.8 107
The solution of Eq. 1 is a tedious 1
7% 3 12 676 38.5 55.0 69.8 83.2 873 41.6 65.3 85.5 104
trial and error process. For this rea- 6% 3 112 535 37.3 52.8 66.1 78.0 690 41.5 63.8 82.3 99.0
son, solutions for the common hole 6 1/. 3 112 430 37.0 51.5 63.6 74.7 555 42.0 63.1 80.0 94.7
2'/. 494 32.8 46.0 57.3 67.7 638 37.0 55.1 71.4 85.4
and drill-pipe combinations were ob-
4 3/. 2'/. 229 31.6 41.3 49.5 56.5 296 37.0 51.3 62.6 72.2
tained on Phillips Petroleum Co.'s 2% 271 27.8 37.2 44.8 51.6 350 32.3 45.6 56.3 65.5
Research Dept. Datatron. The use Q (Required cu ft/min) = Qo + N X H (Depth in thousand ftl
Example: Calculate the circulation rote required to air drill 11 ~in. hole with 5 1/7-in. drill pipe at
of this computer saved approximately rate of 90 It/hr at 11,000 It.
two man years of slide rule calcula- Q = Qo + N X H =1,456 + 135X 11 = 2,941 cu It/min
tion.
All Datatron solutions are based time, an approximate method of de- to 10,000 ft with a maximum error
on the assumptions that the surface termining circulation rates is pre- of less than 7 per cent in all hole
annular temperature, T" is 540 0 R sented in Table 1. This approximate sizes which are 6v,. in. or larger.
(80°F) and that the temperature in method was derived from the Data- This method can be used for air
the annulus increases 1°R for each tron solutions of Eq. 1. down to 10,000 ft in 4%-in. holes
100 ft of depth (G = .01). The ef- The approximate method differs with less than 10 per cent error.
fect of the down-hole temperature from the true solution because it as- Slightly poorer accuracy is obtained
correction is illustrated in Fig. 2. Al- sumes a straight-line variation of cir- for natural gas.
though these temperature assump- culation rate with depth for each The accuracy of the approximate
tions do not apply exactly to each drilling rate. Curves representing the method is commensurate with the ef-
drilling job, they represent a con- true solution are nearly straight lines fect of normal errors in predicting
servative estimate of average field with exception of those which repre- drilling rates; therefore, the use of
conditions and are of sufficient ac- sent high drilling rates in small holes. the approximate method is recom-
curacy to permit general application This is illustrated by Figs. 3 and mended until the exact curves he-
of the Datatron solutions. 4, which present a comparison of the come available.
To completely present the Data- approximate and true solutions of Several examples of the use of the
tron solutions will require many Eq. I for 4% - and 8% -in. holes re- approximate method follow.
pages of curves. These curves are spectiVely. Observe that appreciable
EXAMPLE I
being prepared and will be made errors occur only in small holes at
available to the drilling industry. In rapid drilling rates. Calculate the circulation rate re-
order to make the most useful por- The approximate method can be
tion of the data available at this used to determine air volumes down

0
-,
i
0 ~
"
w 7
·-c··
~
0
z
~
x
•
I
~
~ 5 0
,.
0 ~
~
0

5,
~
!~ •
~
2 ., 4

45178.IOU12
DEI'TM. TNOCIIA. .I (J' PlIT
FIG. 2-EFFECT OF DOWN-HOLE TEMPERA·
TURE ON AIR CIRCULATION RATES RE'
QUIRED FOR AN EQUIVALENT ANNULAR VE'
LOCITY OF 3,000 FT/MIN IN 7¥S-IN. HOLE
WITH 4lf2-IN. DRILL PIPE.
~ .
"
'0
DEPTH, THOUSA~OS OF FEET DEPTH, THOUSANDS OF fEET
FIG. 3-COMPARISON OF EXACT AND Ap- FIG. 4 - COMPARISON OF ApPROXIMATE
PROXIMATE 'SOLUTIONS OF EQ. 1 FOR AIR AND EXACT 'SOLUTIONS OF EQ. 1 FOR AIR
VOLUMES REQUIRED TO PRODUCE AN VOLUMES REQUIRED TO PRODUCE AN
EQUIVALENT ANNULAR VELOCITY OF 3,000 EQUIVALENT ANNULAR VELOCITY OF 3,000
FT/MIN IN 4%-IN. HOLE WITH 2Ys-IN. FThiiN TN 8%-IN. HOLE WITH 5-11".
DRILL PIPE. DRILL PIPE.

\'OL 210, 1957 327

quired to air drill at 10,000 ft in
71's -in. hole with 3 V2 -in. drill pipe
220 - LEGEND
II' HOLE, 5 1/2' PIPE
220
200
---- LEGEND
77/8' HOLE. 4112' PIPE
-I 220
200
200
at the rate of 60 ft/hI. -AIR -AIR i
~ 180 ---GAS (5'.6) :! 180 ---GAS (5-.6) ! 180
From Table 1: 'Jl
__ L_~+ __ ~----+-_
"- 160 !60
Qo = 798 N = 72.5 '-"
"j

Q = Q, + N H = 798 + 72.5 5 140 - ~ 140 ----1---- !40

'n
'>( 10 = 1,523 cu ft /min.
'"
~ 120 :.:l 120 - 120 -

(The exact solution for

&:
100 '"
0.. 100-
w
100 --
w w --'
--' <5 80
this example is 1.490 cu 0
:I:
80
:I:
80 0
:I:
~ ~
ft/min.) 0
0-
60 -- c
~ 60 0
0-
0-
t; 40 t;
EXAMPLE 2 0
en en en
Calculate Example for a gas
with .6 specific gravity. 024681012
From Table 1: DEPTH, THOUSANDS OF FEET

Qo = 1,031 N = 87.8
Q = 1,031 + 87.8 X 10 =
1,909 cu ft/min
(The exact solution for
this example is 1.837 cu
ft/min.)
FIG.5-BoTTOM-HOLE PRESSURE VS DEPTH FOR CIRCULATION RATES WHICH PRODUCE
ANNULAR VELOC1TmS THAT ARE EQUIVALENT IN LIFTIl\I; POWEll TO A STA"OAHO All!
VF.LOClTY OF .1.000 FThn".
tion rates which produce an equiva- a vertical-flow equation that incor-

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EXAMPLE 3
Calculate Example 1 for a gas
with .8 specific gravity.
From Example 2: Q = 1,909
From Example 1: Q = 1,523
Difference 386
For .8 gravity the volume is ap-
proximately:
Q = 1,523 + 386/2 = 1,716 cu
ft/min
(The exact solution for
this example IS 1,624 cu ft/
min.)
EXAMPLE 4
Calculate the volume required to
drill 90 ft/hr at 12,000 ft in 7% -in.
hole with 4112 -in. drill pipe using
natural gas with .6 specific gravity.
From Table No.1:
Q, = 865 N = 125
Q = 865 + 125 X 12 = 2,365
cu ft/min
(The exact solution for
this example is 2,105 Cll
ft/min.)
BOTTOM-HOLE PRESSURES
Bottom-hole pressures were com-
puted for all points that were calcu-
lated on the Datatron. Although these
data are incidental to the present
study, they are of general interest in
view of proven relationships between
drilling rate and bottom-hole pres-
sure.
Fig. 5 presents curves of bottom-
hole pressure vs depth for circula-
lent annular velocity of 3,000 ft/min.
Although drilling rate is presented as
a parameter, these curves should not
be construed as representing any of
the relationships between drilling rate
and bottom-hole pressure that are
observed in drilling various rocks.
Note that at great depths the bot-
tom-hole pressures accompanying
circulation rates which produce an
equivalent annular velocity of 3,000
ft/min are much higher in the small
holes than in the large and that drill-
ing rate has a marked effect. The ab-
solute bottom-hole pressures (pounds
per square foot) for any set of con-
ditions can be calculated by substitut-
ing the appropriate data in the right-
hand member of Eq. 1. Of course.
the accuracy of these pressure calcu-
lations is subject to the assumptions
lIsed in the derivations which have
been previously mentioned.
CONCLUSIONS
I. Drilling rate is a parameter
that should be considered in calcu-
lating circulation requirements for
air and gas drilling.
2. Hughes data for determining
volume requirements are sufficiently
accurate for slow drilling rates and
for shallow holes.
3. The approximate method of cal-
culating required air and gas vol-
umes, which is presented in Table 1
of this study, is more accurate than
past methods because it is based on
porates the drilling rate as a parame-
ter and includes a reasonable down-
hole temperature correction.
4. Circulation rates which are de-
termined by this method should be
regarded as minimum requirements.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author wishes to express his
appreciation for the permission of
Phillips Petroleum Co. to present
this paper.
The work of M. R. Tek and his
Fluid Mechanics Group of Phillips
Research and Development Dept. in
obtaining Datatron solutions is grate-
fully acknowledged.
The encouragement and excellent
counsel of H. B. Woods of the
Hughes Tool Co. is greatly appre-
ciated by the author.
REFERENCES
1. Woods, II. B.: Personal contact.
:Z. !\lartin, n. .r.:
"Usc of Air or Gas U'
a Circulating Fluid in Rotary Drilling
.--Voillmetrie Requirements," Hughes
Engr. Bull. No. 23. Nov. 28. 1952 mp-
vised June 15. 1953).
:~. J\iartin, D. .T.: "Additional Calcula-
tions to Determine Volumetric Rf'-
quirements of Air or Gas as a Circu·
lating Fluid in Rotary Drilling:'
Hughes Engr. Bull. No. 23·A (.fun/·
15, 1953).
I-. Engineering Data Book. 6th Ed., Nat
ural Gasoline Supply Men's Assn.
(April, 1951), 41.
S. Nicolson, K. M.: "Air Drilling ill
California", Drill. and Prod. Pra(' ..
APT (1953) 300.

APPENDIX and pipe outside diameter

D =" internal diameter of a pipe or equivalent di-
NOMENCLATURE ameter of an annulus. ft
d = diameter, in.
A = cross
sectional area, ft' D h = hole diameter, ft
a a function of gas gravity, hole size, solids
= Dp = pipe outside diameter, ft
specific gravity, drilling rate and circula- e = base of naturallogrithms, 2.71828 ...
tion rate f = friction factor, dimensionless
b = a function of circulation rate. hole diameter G = annular temperature gradient, OF /ft
328 PETROLEUM TR.-\:\'SACTIONS, AIME
 g = gravitational constant, ft/sec' for application to annular flow becomes:
h = depth below the surface to any point under
consideration, ft q ==, 275 --.:. T
P (D h - D.,'/,.667 (D'Il - D')
P
(P', - P', )i
----.-

H = hole depth, thousands of ft " L S 1 0"

K = driIIing rate, ft/hr (4)

k = drilling rate, ft/sec
L = length, ft DERIVATION OF FRICTION FACTOR, I, FROM
Lm = length, miles THE WEYMOUTH FORMULA
My = fluid circulation rate, lb/sec
M., = rate at which solids are driIIed, lb/scc In horizontal gas flow through a pipe the following
N = slope of curve denoting circulation rate vs differential equation holds.
depth, cu ft/min/l,OOO ft dP = - iv'
- P - dL (5)
P = pressure, lb/ft' Abs 2gD
P = pressure, psia Making the following substitutions,
P p, = pressures at specific points in a flow stream,
L
S P q To>, Po
lb/ff Abs
PI. P, = pressures at specific points in a flow stream,
p = 53.3 -r,:: and v = .7854 D' To P ,
psi a Eq. 5 becomes

~
Po = pressure used as a standard for gas measure-
ment, lb/ft' Abs
P' __ .000473 S I To" p~q'~l'
P dP - To'D5 dL
po = pressure used as a standard for gas measure-

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ment, psia Pt .)

p, = pressure in the annulus at the surface, lb/ft'

Abs q = 32.5 ;~ D'5 (IP'~ ~ TP')'
:" ' (6)
Q = circulation rate, scf/min Equating the right-hand members of Eqs. 3 and 6
Qo = circulation rate for zero depth for use III and solving for I,
approximate calculations, scf/min 1= .014 D-'''''' (7)
Q" = flow rate, scf/day
q = circulation rate, scf/sec For annular flow,
R = gas constant, 1,544/molecular weight, ft;oR I = .014 (D" - Dp) -."'13 (8)
I' = solids gas weight ratio, dimensionless
S = specific gravity of gas related to air, dimen- DERIVATION OF VERTICAL-FLOW FORMULAS
sionless WHICH INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF SOLIDS
T = absolute temperature, oR BEING TRANSPORTED UP THE ANNULUS
To = absolute temperature standard for gas meas-
urement, OR Assuming that the drilled solids and circulating fluid
T, = absolute temperature in annulus at the sur- form a homogeneous mixture (no slip) and that the
face, oR mixture has the flow properties of a perfect gas, the
To, = average absolute temperature of a flow stream, following differential equation applies for any depth,
oR h (positive) ft below the surface:
v = velocity, ft/sec
dP - pm 1
_ [ + 2g(D"IV']
_ Dp) dh (9)
V = velocity, ft/min
V, = velocity of standard density air, ft/min By making the following substitutions:
p = density of fluid phase at any point, lb/ft" q X 14.7 X 144 (T, + Gh)
po = density of standard air, lb/ft' v = .7854(D',. - D~) P X 520
pm = composite density of gas-solids mixture at
any point, Ib/fC 5.19 q (T, + Gh)
(D~ - D;) P
APPLICATION OF THE WEYMOUTH FORMULA .014 (D" - D p )-33,' (from Weymouth
TO ANNULAR FLOW formula)
The Weymouth' formula is: P SP .
pm = RT (1 + r) = 53.3 T (l + 1') .
Q" = 433.45 --"-X
T d'·" X (p;" - 'p;) ',
Po L,,, S Ta. If the specific gravity of the drilled solids is 2.70:
(2) M. .7854 D' X 62.4 X 2.7 X k
Converted to consistent units it becomes,
r =-
= ---.!-'."""c;c;;-;;-----
Mfl .0765 S q
q = T
275 pa X D"o", X (P'L S- To.,P')'
~~_' . (3) = 1,728 k D'
h
o S q
The term, D,·60', can be replaced by DOG< A/.7854. Eq. 9 becomes
The hydraulic radius of a circular cross section is:
Cross-sectional area/wetted perimeter, or: d -[ aP -l-llb(L-i-Gh)]
P - (T, + Gil) , P dh
.7854 D'/3.142 D = D/4.
( 10)
The hydraulic radius of an annular cross section is:
,7854 (D: - D;) /3.142 (D" + Dp) = (Dn - Dp)/4. where:
Then for annular flow, D"'" can be expressed by: a = Sq +1,728 k D;' SQ + 28.8 K D I:
(D',,-- D',~ (D" - D p ) ' ' ' ' ' ' , and the Weymouth formula 53.3 q 53.3 Q

VOL, 210, 1957 329

and Surface temperature, T, = 540° Abs
.00585 q' P, = 2,120 lb/ft' Abs .
b = --;-o;c-----:::---;-;""'=~:_o____;:~ By Eq. 12, P = 9,700 lb/ft' or p = 67.4 psia.
(D" - Dr)''''' (D:' - Dr')'
By Eq. 13, P = 9,800 Ib/ft' or p = 68.0 psia.
1.625 X 10-'; Q' Since the assumption that the temperature varies
(D" - Dp)"" (D:, - D;)' . linearly with depth is, in itself, an approximation, Eq.
The general solution to Eq. 10 is: 13 will be used for simplicity in preference to Eq. 12.
It the carrying capacity of the fluid phase at any
P'(T , + Gh)-'UIG = ab (T
(G - a ) '
+ Gh)"'-"/G) + C point in the hole is equivalent to the carrying power of
some velocity of standard air, V" the following rela-
(11 ) tionship must hold':
Solving for the constant of integration,
p" V'e = P V' . (14)
C = p~ T s -~(l/& - ab T.:(1-II /G) By substituting po = .0765 (at 14.7 psia and 60 P), 0

(G - a) SP
Eq. 11 becomes: (l = 53.3(T, + Gh)
P = .1 (p'
_G-aT~)(L +T, ab Gh)'''/G + abeT, + Gh)' and
", G-a v= Q(T, + Gil) X 14.7 X 144
(12) .7854 (D~, - D:) X 520 P
In the integration of Eq. 10, the down-hole tem- Eq. 14 becomes

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perature in the annulus was taken as a linear function of 6.61 S (T, + Gh) Q'
depth and was treated as a variable. It the integration is P = (D- - D')' V'
(15)
II, P I:>
performed treating the down-hole temperature as a
constant, T"v, the following equation results: By combining Eqs. 13 and 15, the final equation be-
comes:
P = ~ [~' + b T~"]e'''''/'['a" - b T~", (13)

The following comparison of Eqs. 12 and 13 by ( 16)

substitution of reasonable numerical values reveals that
both equations give results which are nearly identical. where
SQ + 28.8KD'
Assumed values: a=
Depth, h = 10,000 ft ----=-53=--.3 Q
Drilling rate, K = 60 ft/hr and
8% -in. hole, D" = .73 ft 1.625 X 10-" Q'
b = (D - D)"'"" (D' - D')' .
5-in. drill pipe, Dr = .416 ft II JI h p

Q = 1,500 cu ft/min, air (Note that Q enters into the right-hand member of
Temperature gradient, G = .01° P 1ft Eq. 16 by inclusion of the terms, a and b.) ***

330 I' ETR ()I~E Ii M T RA" SAt:T I ON S, A I M E