Modeling of Cuttings Modeling of Cuttings Transport In Drilling Transport In Drilling Applications Using Applications Using

Intelligent MaterialsIntelligent MaterialsMOCUTMOCUT

Modeling of Cuttings Modeling of Cuttings Transport In Drilling Transport In Drilling Applications Using Applications Using

Intelligent MaterialsIntelligent MaterialsMOCUTMOCUTThematic AreaThematic Area

Intelligent MaterialsIntelligent MaterialsDrilling TechnologyDrilling Technology

Scenario• Drilling wells including vertical, inclined, curved and horizontal

sections are becoming usual practice. Foams are used in underbalanced drilling as their high cuttings carrying capacity, performance on handling formation fluids, protecting the formations from contamination. Although foams have remarkable carrying capacity of cuttings in the vertical sections, they do not show a similar performance in inclined and horizontal sections, since high viscosity is required in vertical sections but low viscosity is favorable in inclined and horizontal sections. Foaming surfactant chemistry can be improved such that foams can act accordingly depending on the inclination, pressure and temperature. Thus, same fluid can show low and high viscosity preperties in different inclinations. A better understanding will be achieved and additional time requirements for well cleaning as well as many problems caused by improper cuttings transport will be eliminated.

Phase I• Development of a small scale flow loop where

cuttings transport can be conducted.– Foam characterization based on rheology and stability– Foaming surfactant chemistry will be studied

• Influence on foam properties will be determined– Polymer structures available for foam generation

purposes will be used– Cuttings thickness & fluid amount determination by

sound engineering– A cuttings transport model (mathematical) will be

developed

Phase II• Development of a foaming surfactant using

intelligent materials– Intelligent materials identification & development– Characterization of developed foaming surfactant

• Rheology• Stability

– Performance of developed foam in the flow loop– Verification and improvement of cuttings transport

model developed at Phase I– Further improvement of foaming surfactant

Phase III• Development of a full scale flow loop

representing an actual well– High pressure – high temperature applications– Testing of the performance of the developed

surfactant on cuttings transport for different inclinations, pressures and temperatures

– Further improvement and refinement of the foaming surfactant

– Construction of a computer simulator for foam based drilling

Phase IV• Real drilling applications using the

developed foaming agent– Industrial partners’ applications in

real cases – vertical, inclined and horizontal

– Final improvement and refinement of the foaming surfactant

Phase V• Finalization and commercialization

of the product.

Potential applications• Oil and gas exploration and production

wells• Mineral or fresh water wells• Geothermal wells where high pressure

and temperature conditions apply• Geological survey drilling• Mining drilling

Management and organization

• Technical leader: METU• Administration: EGİK A.Ş.• Partner: U of Freiberg• Partner: TPAO Reseach Center• Partner: MAPEK

Management and organization

ManagementEGİK

Technical LeaderMETU

Cuttings Transport ModelMETU

Foam Rheological Characterization?

Foam Stability & CharacterizationU of Freiberg

Intelligent Material Development?

Experimental ModelMETU

Real Drilling ApplicationsTPAO, MAPEK

Participants• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serhat Akın (METU)• Asst. Prof. Dr. Evren Özbayoğlu (METU)• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakkı Gücüyener

(TPAO)• Dr. Heike Strauss (U of Freiberg)• Bülent Şahhüseyinoğlu (MAPEK)• Gökçen Öğütçü (Consultant)• Ebru Arslan Shabbir(Consultant)• Ender Gelen (EGİK)