Numerical study of two phase flow in horizontal drilling for predicting frictional pressure loss

Present paper offers an equation for fanning friction factor in horizontal drilling with water based muds, by this equation we can easily and quickly predict frictional pressure loss in drilling wells, and then by this help we can adjust the hydraulic horsepower of pump. Fluid phase is water and solid phase is considered with a specific gravity of 2.6.Test section is a pipe with annulus cross section with an inner wall rotation. For different rate of penetration, inner wall rotation velocity and fluid velocity, CFD analysis is used for finding frictional pressure loss. Due to the conditions governing the issue, Eulerian model selected as a solution method. Charts for friction factor are presented for low viscosity fluid, water, variable according to total Reynolds number and stationary cuttings bed thickness. The current work evaluates the performance of the numerical technique used by comparing with available experimental results.

کلیدواژه ها:

solid–liquid two-phase flow ، Newtonian fluid ، Frictional pressure loss ، horizontal drilling