OPTIMIZING RIG

HYDRAULICS
 OPTIMIZING RIG HYDRAULICS
Pump Pressure vs. Flow Rate Frictional Pressure Losses vs. Flow Rate

P P

Pp, max PpQ=Ct=HHP

Ppipe&ann=KQn

Q Q
Qmin Qmax
OPTIMIZING RIG HYDRAULICS

P
Pp = Pjets + Ppipe&ann

Pp, PpQ=Ct=HHP
max

Pjets
Ppipe&ann=KQn
Ppipe&ann,
Q
min
Qmin Qmax
 OPTIMIZING RIG HYDRAULICS
BHHP=PjetsQ
Bit HHP
P

Pp, opt
Pjets, opt BHHPmax
Ppipe&ann, opt
Q
Qopt
 OPTIMIZING RIG HYDRAULICS

 Optimizing Rig Hydraulics involve in firstly, calculating

Pp, opt
Pjets, opt
Ppipe&ann, opt

 Finally, determining bit nozzle sizes which will satisfy above

conditions
OPTIMIZING RIG HYDRAULICS
 There are three popular flow variables on
which bit hydraulics may be optimized.
These are:

1. The bit hydraulic horsepower per square

inch of bottom hole area,
2. The pump operating pressure,
3. and the circulation rate.
 OPTIMIZING RIG HYDRAULICS
 Theory for Optimizing of Jet Hydraulic Horsepower
with a Selected Bit Hydraulic Horsepower per in2 of
Hole Bottom

P
The equation pipe&ann  KQ n
satisfactorily models
the friction pressure loss in a rig’s circulation system

Bit Hydraulic HP is given by the equation

Pjets Q
BHHP 
1714
 OPTIMIZING RIG HYDRAULICS
Pp  Ppipe&ann  Pjets To max imize BHHP

Pjets  Pp  Ppipe&ann d BHHP Pp  K  n  1 Q

n
 0
Ppipe&ann  KQ n dQ 1714
Pp  K (n  1)Q n
Pjets  Pp  KQ n

Pp
Pjets Q  KQ n
BHHP   n  1
1714 1
Ppipe&ann  Pp
n 1
BHHP 
 P p  KQ n
Q 
QPp  KQ n 1
1714 1714
OPTIMIZING RIG HYDRAULICS

Pjets Q
Pp  Ppipe&ann  Pjets BHHP 
1714

Pp 1714 BHHP
Pp   Pjets Pjets 
 n  1 Qn

 n 
Pjets  Pp   1714 BHHP n n 
 n  1  k (n  1)Q  
 n  1
n
Q

Pp  K ( n  1)Q n 1
1714 BHHP  n 1
Q op  
 K n 
 OPTIMIZING RIG HYDRAULICS
DETERMINATION of Pjets & OPTIMUM NOZZLE SIZES

 Equations are in practical drilling units

MW Vj2
Pjets  1  0.035 F n 
1,120
2
 12.51 Q 
Pjets  1  0.035 F n  MW  2 2
 J1  J 2  J 3 
2

Depth
F If Depth  1,000 n: number of open jets
1,000
J: nozzle sizes in 32nd of in
Else, F  1
 Practical Session on

Drilling Fluids Hydraulics

(Maximizing BHHP)
Example

 Optimization with a chosen BHHP per in2 of BHA

Optimize the hydraulics while drilling with a 8.5" drill

bit with 10.0 ppg mud. Jets in the bit are three #14.
Choose a BHHP/sq. in. value of 3.0.

Ascertain the K and n in the equation Pf= KQn. This is

done by running a circulating pressure test at the rig
site. Conduct the test by varying the pump speed and
recording the pump pressure and circulating rate at
each speed. Let the data gathered be the following.
  TEST DATA COMPUTED
 
Q Pp Pj Pf
=== === === ===
569 2550 1465 1085
455 1650 912 738
347 1035 530 505
285 800 356 444
228 500 228 272
171 300 128 172
 OPTIMIZING RIG HYDRAULICS
 Theory for Maximizing Impact Force with a selected IF per
square inch of bottom hole area.
The equation Ppipe&ann  KQ n satisfactorily models
the friction pressure loss in a rig’s circulation system

Bit Hydraulic impact force is given by the equation

Q MW Pjets
IF 
57.66
By derivations
1
 2 57.66 IF 
2 2 n2
Q op   
 K n MW 
Example

 Optimization with a chosen impact force per in2 of BHA

Optimize the hydraulics while drilling with a 8.5" drill bit

with 11.0 ppg mud. Jets in the bit are three #14. Choose
an IF/sq. in. value of 9.0. IF is then
 Theory for optimization with a Selected Pump Pressure

Complete steps one through three as in the previous

example.
Compute the optimal friction pressure loss with the
equation
PP_op = given

Pp _ op
Ppipe _ ann _ op 
n 1
1
 Ppipe _ ann _ op  n
Q op   
 K 

 If Qop > pump limitation, then Qop=Max chosen circulation

rate
 If Qop < min chosen value, then Qop=Min chosen circulation
Example

 Optimization with a Chosen Pump Operating Pressure

Optimize the hydraulics while drilling with a 8.5" drill bit

with 11.0 ppg mud. Jets in the bit are three #14. Choose a
pump operating pressure of 3,000 psi.
Pp _ op 3,000
Ppipe _ ann _ op  Ppipe _ ann _ op   1,204 psi
n 1 1.492  1

1 1
 Ppipe _ ann _ op  n  1,204  1.492
Q op    Q op     611 gpm
 K   0.84 

 Optimum Jet Numbers 16 and 18 by trial & error

EFFECT OF MUD WEIGHT
ON BIT HYDRAULICS
 Bit hydraulics are lost because of increased friction within
the rig hydraulic system as mud weight is increased. The
bit hydraulic loss is proportional to the ratio of mud weights
to the 0.8 power.
Example

 A pump is capable of a pressure of 2000 psig at a

circulation rate of 400 gpm. Friction loss is 1000 psi and
the mud weight is 12 ppg. Calculate the available bit
hydraulic horsepower if the mud weight is increased to 15
ppg and the circulation rate remains at 400 gpm.

400 gpm
Current Bit HHP =1000*400/1714 =
2,000 Pits 233.4 hp
12 ppg
New friction loss = 1000 * (15/12)0.8 = 1195
psig

Pf = 1000 New pressure for bit = 2000 - 1195

= 805 psi

If the jets on the bit are enlarged, then

New bit HHP = 805*400/1714 = 188
hp
OPTIMUM SOLIDS
CONCENTRATION
 Cost per ft Equation

$ $RT & S V
  $MUD ns
ft ROP L

$
 Cost per ft to drill the sec tion
ft
$
$RT & S  Hourly cos t rates of the rig, tools & services;
hr
ft
ROP  Rate of penetration;
hr
$
$Mud  Cost of Mud per bbl;
bbl
 The relationship between the ROP and s

k
ROP 
ei s

i  Re tained drill solids impedance exp onent

k  Correlation coefficient
  If the final and beginning retained drill solids and mud
volumes are to be equal; mud discarded and added on a
continuous basis

Initial Mud Drilled and Mud Mud Final Mud

Volume Retained Volume Volume Volume
Solids Added Discarde
(no solids)
d (with solids)

+ + - =
Vb Vrds Vns Vws Vf

s = sopt L s = sopt
s = retained
drilled solids

H
H2 H 2L
L Vrds  1  sre 
1029.5 1029.5
 Vb  Vrds  Vns  Vws  Vf

If Vb=Vf
Vrds  Vns  Vws  0

Vns  Vws  Vrds

Conservation of solids

0  s Vws  Vrds Vns  Vws  s Vws

V Vns  Vws 1  s 
Vws  rds
s
Vrds
Vns  1  s 
s
 By substitution

$ $RT & S  H2
  1  s  
  $ MUD 1029.5 1   sre 
ft k e i s  s 

$
ft

s
sopt
Example

 Rig, tools, and supplies cost $500/hr. Other variables are

as listed. Determine the optimum solids concentration.

Mud=$20/bbl
Effsre=40%
Hole Diameter=9 in

TABLE OF ROP vs s
ROP, s
ft/hr
24 0.05
15 0.08
 110
104.649

100

90

80

Cost( s) 70

60

50

40

38.761 30
0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
0.01 s 0.09

Enter a function f(x) you want to differentiate:

RTS i x  H2  ( 1  x)
f ( x)  e  MUD    ( 1  SeffSre) 
k  1029  x

First derivative:

d RTS 1 2 ( 1  SeffSre) 1 2 ( 1  x)
f ( x)   i  exp( i  x)   MUD  H    MUD  H  ( 1  SeffSre) 
dx k 1029 x 1029 x
2
HOLE CLEANING
 VERTICAL HOLE
CLEANING
Sifferman published transport ratios collected with an annular
flow model made with a twelve inches outer steel tube and
various diameter inner tubes. The model was about 100 feet
long. He defined transport ratio with the following equation. His
transport ratio is the seen to be the solid's velocity expressed
as a fraction of the annular velocity.
Vf  Vs
Rt 
Vf
R t  Transport ratio
Vf  Mud annular velocity; fpm
Vs  Solids free settling (slip) velocity; fpm
 SIFFERMAN MUD TYPES

 
TYPE 600 300 200 100 6 3 Gi G10 TOUCH

THICK 69 53 45 36 23 20 13 29 gooey
 
INTERMEDIATE 49 35 30 25 15 13 13 22 slick
 
THIN 24 16 13 10 3 3 2 3 slick
 
WATER 2 1 0 0 not slick
 
 
 1.0

Thick
Transport Ratio 0.075

0.05

Intermediat
e
0.025
Thin
Water

0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08

1
Inverse of Mud Velocity  ft 
 
 min 
 Drill Cuttings Concentration in the Annulus-API’s Method

ROP H 2
s
1471Q R t

s = Volumetric drill cuttings concentration in the annulus

ROP = Steady-state drilling rate, fph
H = Hole size, in
Q = Circulation rate, gpm
Rt = Drill cuttings transport ratio
Example

 Compute ‘s’ if a 8.5" drill bit is drilling at a rate of 50 fph.

The mud circulation rate is 108 gpm and the mud
consistency is intermediate. The ODDP is 4".

24.5Q  24.5 108

AV    47 fpm
H  OD
2 2
8.5  4
2 2

1 1
  .0213
AV 47

From Sifferman' s transport ratio chart

for intermediate mud, the transport ratio is R t  .081
 Drill Cuttings Concentration in the Annulus- Newitt’s
Equation

2
1V  1  Vann  Vann Vol c
s    ann  1    1 
2  Vs  4  Vs  Vs  Q 
 
 7.48 

Q
Vann  24.5
H 2  OD 2

ROP   H2   V 
Vol c    Vann _ Corrected  Vann 1  s s 
60  4 144   Vann 

Vs  Vann 1  R t 
Example

 Compute ‘s’ with Newitt’s equation, if a 8.5" drill bit is

drilling at a rate of 50 fph. The mud circulation rate is 108
gpm and the mud consistency is intermediate. The ODDP is
4".

24.5Q  24.5 108

AV    47 fpm
H  OD
2 2
8.5  4
2 2

1 1
  .0213
AV 47

From Sifferman' s transport ratio chart

for intermediate mud, the transport ratio is R t  .081
 Drill Cuttings Concentration in the Annulus- B.J. Mitchell’s
Equation

accounts for the cessation of circulation during connections

and the circulation which occurs prior to a connection but
after drilling has ceased. This latter circulation is called
pre-connection circulation time.

1  OD 2DP   VDP ann  Vsc   60 L j V 

 1  1 - 2 
    sc
Tc 
   
s  H   Lj   ROP VDC ann  Vsc 

Vsc  average drill cuttings slip velocity; fpm

L j  length of one drillpipe (31' ); ft
Tc  time for one connection time; minute
 HOPKIN'S PARTICLE SLIP
VELOCITY CHART
 Hopkin ran over 2,000 dynamic particle lifting tests with a 8
foot long 4.5" diameter vertical tube with 13 types of mud and
52 particle shapes and sizes. The particles were circulated
from the bottom of the tube to the top with the fluid in laminar,
transitional, and turbulent flow. Mud Marsh funnel viscosities
ranged from 26 to 1,000 seconds/qt. A minimum of three data
points were collected for each test.
 HOPKIN'S SLIP VELOCITY
P 160
A V
R E 140
T L 0.95
O 120 spheres
I
C C
100
L I
E T 80
Y
60
S
L f 40 average of
I p all particles
20
P m
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
API YIELD POINT lb/100 sq.ft

Vsc  Vs  2.117 - 0.1648 MW  0.003681 MW 2 

Example

 Compute Vann with Mitchell’s equation if a 17.5” drill bit is

drilling at a rate of 100 fph. The mud circulation rate is
1,148 gpm and the API yield point of the mud is 30 lb/100
sqft. The ODDP is 5 in and the MW is 9.3 ppg. Connection
time is 3 min. The BHA is 9.5” in diameter. Spheres of a
diameter of 0.95” are to be lifted.
TRANSPORT AND STABILITY CHART
FOR INCLINED HOLE CLEANING
 B. Tarr proposed that a solids transport and bed stability chart can
be constructed by combining slurry pipeline and vertical hole
particle transport technologies. His equation for full transport is

Vft   V1 Cos     V2 Sin  

Vft Full transport annular velocity; fpm

 Hole inclination angle; degree
V1 Particle slip velocity in a vertical hole or from Hopkin’s chart (drilling data); fpm
V2 Critical transport velocity for large solids in a horizontal annulus (slurry pipe line data); fpm
 The long standing critical velocity equation (often referred
at Newton's transport law) for the transport of large solids
by a Newtonian liquid within a horizontal annulus is

1/ 6
 SW  MW  3  H  D 3 
V2  C1  g   
 MW   12  

C1 = 44 The value of 44 fits University of Tulsa data best; however, UT

C = 60 Full transport
SW = Specific weight of the solids (22 ppg); ppg
MW= mud weight; ppg
g = acceleration of gravity (32.2 ft/sec); ft/sec
H = hole diameter; inch
D = OD of inner tube; inch
Example

• Compute the annular velocity necessary to have full transport

in a hole which has an inclination of 60 degrees and a 9.3 ppg
which has an API yield point of 30 lb/100sq.ft. The diameter of
the drill bit is 8.5 inches and the drillpipe is 4.5 inches.

From Hopkin's chart and equation the slip velocity of a 0.95

sphere,
 
V1= 41.5 fpm, and the horizontal transport equation gives

1/ 6
 22  9.3  3 8.5  4.5 
3

V=2 131
44fpm
 32.2   
 9.3   12  
The full transport annular velocity and circulation rate for this
60 degree inclined hole is

Vft  41.5 Cos  60   131 Sin  60  152fpm

Q
H 2
 OD 2  * V
 323 gpm
24.5
 Full Transport Annular Velocities

160 Region of Full Transport

140

A
120
V
Region of Bed Formation
100
f
p 80
m Region of Region of
Unstable Beds Stable Beds
60

40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Hole Inclination (degree)