Drilling Fluids Technology

Section 12
Rheology and Hydraulics
Overview
Rheological terms
Flow regimes
Fluid types
Rheological models
Hydraulics calculation terms
Fluid hydraulics equations

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Overview
Rheology and hydraulics are specialized sciences that describe the
behavior of fluids in motion. The following subjects are covered:
 Rheological terms
 Flow regimes.
 Comparison of different rheological models
 Conditions for use of models
 Fluid hydraulics
 Calculations for laminar flow
 Calculations for turbulent flow

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Rheological Terms

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Flow Regimes

There are three basic types of flow regimes:

 Laminar
 Turbulent
 Transitional

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Fluid Types

There are two basic types of fluids:

 Newtonian: Constant viscosity at a given temperature
and pressure condition.
Typical: Diesel, Water, Glycerin, Clear brines

 Non-Newtonian: Viscosity depends on measured shear

rates for a given temperature and pressure condition.
Typical: Most drilling fluids, Cement Slurries

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Rheological Models

Rheological models are used to predict fluid flow behavior

across a wide range of shear rates.
For Drilling fluids and Cement Slurries which are Non-
Newtonian and Pseudoplastic, the appropriate rheological
models are:
 Bingham model
 Power law model
 Herschel-Bulkley Model
(Yield-Power Law [YPL] Model

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Hydraulics Calculation Terms

 Reynolds number (NRe)

 Critical Reynolds number (NRec)
 Friction factor (f)
 Hedstrom number (NHe)
 Effective viscosity (µe)
 Pressure drop (P/ L)
 Eccentricity ()

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Fluid Hydraulics Equations
Pump and circulating information
 Pump output per stroke
 Pump output per minute
 Annular velocity
 Volumes
 Circulating times
Bit hydraulics
 Nozzle area
 Nozzle velocity
 Bit pressure drop
 Bit hydraulic horsepower
 Bit hydraulic horsepower per
unit bit area
 Percent pressure drop at bit
 Jet impact force
Section 12
Drilling Fluids Technology
Calculations for laminar and turbulent
flow
 Methods for Herschel-Bulkley
(yield-power law [YPL]) fluids
 Deriving dial readings
 API methods for power law fluids
 SPE methods for power law fluids
 SPE methods for Bingham-plastic
fluids
Equivalent circulating density
Hole cleaning calculations
 Particle slip velocity
 Cuttings transport efficiency
calculations
 Calculations MAXROP program
 Cuttings concentration in the
annulus for
a given penetration rate
 Annular mud density increase
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