IPM IDPT

Well Engineering Module

Drill Bit Hydraulics

IDPT BH
IPM

Bit Hydraulics
• Lecture Contents;,
• Lecture Objectives,
• Basic concepts of Hydraulic,
• Pressure Losses and ECD,
• Bit nozzle selection,
• Hydraulic optimisation.

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Bit Hydraulics
• Lecture Objectives;
• By the end of this lecture YOU should be able to:
• Understand basic concept of bit hydraulics,
• Describe various pressure losses
• Factors effecting ECD
• Select bit nozzles to optimize bit hydraulics

IDPT BH
IPM

Bit Hydraulics
• Fluid Circulation:

• Circulation across the bit face must be designed to

remove the cuttings efficiently and also cool the bit
face,

• These requirements may be satisfied by

increasing the fluid flowrate,

• The increased fluid flowrate may however cause

excessive erosion of the face and premature bit
failure.

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Bit Hydraulics
• Roller Cone Bit:
• Penetration rate is function of many parameters including:
• WOB,
• RPM,
• Mud properties,
• In order to prevent an influx of formation fluids into the
wellbore, mud hydrostatic pressure should be slightly
higher (safety margin),

• Hydraulic efficiency.

IDPT BH
IPM

Bit Hydraulics

• Hydraulic Efficiency:
• The effects of increased hydraulic horsepower at the bit are
similar to their effect on the roller cone bits,
• Manufacturer often recommend a minimum flowrate in an
attempt to ensure the bit face is kept clean and cutter
temperature is kept minimum,
• This requirement for flowrate may adversely affect
optimization of HHP.

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Bit Hydraulics

• Importance of Hydraulics;
• Cuttings removal in the annulus,
• Hydrostatic pressure to balance pore pressure and prevent the
wellbore from collapsing,
• ECD (Equivalent Circulating Density),
• Surge/swab pressures during tripping,
• Limitation of pump capacity ,
• Optimization of the drilling process (Max HHP or Max Jet
Impact),
• Pressure and Temperature effects.

IDPT BH
IPM

Bit Hydraulics

• Hole Cleaning;
• Annular Velocity,
• Rate of penetration (ROP),
• Viscosity,
• Hole Angle,
• Mud Weight,
• Hole washout.

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Bit Hydraulics

• Circulating System;

Mud pump

Mud pit

Casing & cement

Drill pipe

Annulus Open hole

Drill bit Drill collar

IDPT BH
IPM

Drilling Hydraulics

• Circulating System Pressure Loss;

• Pressure loss through the surface equipment,
• From the pump to the standpipe, kellyhose, Kelly or top
drive, to the top of the drill pipe.
• Pressure loss through the drill string,
• Downhole tool pressure loss:
• PDM/Turbines,
• Shock Subs/Jars,
• MWD/LWD.
• Bit nozzle pressure loss,
• Annular pressure losses.

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Drilling Hydraulics
• Operating Margin of Mud Pressures;

Pressure
Depth

Fracture
pressure
Pore
pressure
ECD

Mud Hydrostatic
pressure
IDPT BH
IPM

Drilling Hydraulics
• Basic Concepts of Hydraulics;
• Average fluid velocity,
• Fluid velocity through the annulus Vf (ft/min);

24 . 51 ∗ Q
v =
f
d 22 − d 12
• Fluid velocity through the drill string Vf (ft/min):

24 . 51 ∗ Q
v f
= 2
d
• Q = pump rate (gpm),
• d2 = wellbore diameter (inch),
• d1 = Outer diameter of the drill string (inch),
• d = Inner diameter of the drill string (inch).

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Drilling Hydraulics

• Reynolds Number (annulus);

2− N '
 Q 
* [8 . 69 * (Dh − Dp )]
N'
R N = 43 . 69 * MW / E q Θ 300 *  2 
 Dh − Dp 
2

Laminar<2000
Transition between 2000-3000
Turbulent>3000

Where:

RN , Annular Reynolds Number (dimensionless)

MW, Mud weight (lbs/gal)
EqΘ300 Equivalent Fann Dial reading at 300 RPM
Dh, Hole Diameter (in)
Dp, Pipe diameter (in)
N’, Power law “N” value = log (Θ600 /Θ300 ) / log (600/300)
IDPT BH
IPM

Drilling Hydraulics
• Critical Flow Calculations;
• Critical flow rate is the rate at which the fluid profile in the
smallest annuli goes from laminar to turbulent.
• It is important to maintain the flow in laminar, drilling through
mechanically unstable formations.

1
 R NC θ 300  2−n
Q c = ( Dh 2
− Dp 2
)
 43 . 64 ρ { 8 . 69 ( Dh − Dp ) n }


Qc, Rate of flow ,gpm

RNC , Critical Reynolds number , usually 2,000
Dh , diameter of hole in inches
Dp , diameter of pipe in inches
n, Power law “n” value = log (Θ600 /Θ300 ) / log (600/300)
Θ300 , 300 RPM reading.

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Drilling Hydraulics
• Annular Pressure Losses-Laminar;
• If the flow rate is below the critical Reynolds number in the
annuli the pressure loss calculation in psi/1000 ft. is:

n
 Q 
APL = 3 . 75 θ 300 /( Dh − Dp ) 2 n + 1  
 8 . 69 ( Dh + Dp ) 

Q,,, Rate of flow ,gpm

APL, annular pressure loss in psi/1000 ft.
Dh , diameter of hole in inches
Dp , diameter of pipe in inches
n, Power law “n” value = log (Θ600 /Θ300 ) / log (600/300)
Θ300 , 300 RPM reading

IDPT BH
IPM

Drilling Hydraulics
• Annular Pressure Losses-Turbulent;
• If the flow rate is above the critical Reynolds number in the
annuli the pressure loss calculation in psi/1000 ft. is:

163 . 67 ρ ⋅ Q 2
APL =
R NC ( Dh − Dp ) 3 ( Dh − Dp ) 2

Q,, Rate of flow ,gpm

APL, annular pressure loss in psi/1000 ft.
Dh , diameter of hole in inches
Dp , diameter of pipe in inches
RNC , Critical Reynolds number , usually 2,000
ρ mud density in ppg

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Drilling Hydraulics
• Equivalent circulating density (ECD);

• ECD is the sum of the annular pressure losses / (depth x

factor), in oilfield terms as:

Σ∆ P a
ECD = + ρ o
TVD ∗ . 052
ECD, in psi
∆pa, annular pressure loss
TVD, true vertical depth in feet
ρο original mud weight in ppg

IDPT BH
IPM

Drilling Hydraulics
• Equivalent circulating density (ECD)
• Factors affecting the ECD:
• Mud density.
• Annular pressure loss Pa.
• Hole geometry,effective viscosity, temperature,pressure,
flow rate,
• Rate of penetration and cuttings size,
• Hole cleaning efficiency.

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Drilling Hydraulics
• Pressure loss inside a pipe;
• Assuming turbulent flow inside the drillstring or Reynolds
number > 2100.

f p V p
2
ρ
P p = × L
25 . 81 ∗ D

Pp , pipe pressure loss in lb/in2

fp , pipe friction factor
ρ Mud density in ppg
Vp, average bulk velocity in pipe in ft/sec
D, internal diameter of pipe in inches
L, length of pipe in feet

IDPT BH
IPM

Drilling Hydraulics
• Friction loss in Bit Nozzles;

156 Q 2
ρ
∆ Pb =
Σ D n2[ ] 2

∆Pb , bit pressure loss in psi

Q , pump output rate in gpm
Dn , diameter of nozzles in 1/32 of an inch
ρ , mud density in ppg

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Drilling Hydraulics
• Hydraulic Horsepower;
• HHP at bit = (∆Pb Q ) / 1714
• Where;
• HHP , hydraulic horse power,
• .∆Pb , bit pressure loss in psi,
• Q , pump output rate in gpm.
• HHP at pump = (∆Pt Q) / 1714
• Where;
• HHP , hydraulic horse power,
• ∆Pt , total pressure loss in psi ( SPP),
• Q , pump output rate in gpm.

IDPT BH
IPM

Drilling Hydraulics
• Jet or Nozzle Velocity;
• It is closely related to the cleaning action taking place at the bit,
• It can lead to hole erosion at high velocities in fragile formation,
• It is expressed as:

418 .3 Q
Vn =
Σ D n2

• Where:
• Vn , nozzle velocity in ft/sec
• Q, pump output rate in gpm
• .Σ Dn 2, sum of the square nozzle diameters in 1/32 of an inch

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Drilling Hydraulics
• Jet Impact Force;
• The force exerted by the exiting fluid below the bit,
• It is expressed as:

QV n ρ
Fi =
1930

Where:
Fi , Jet impact force in pounds,
Q, pump output rate in gpm,
Vn , nozzle velocity in ft/sec
ρ , mud density in ppg

IDPT BH
IPM

Drilling Hydraulics
• Other Hydraulics Applications;
• To calculate or estimate the settling velocities of drilled
cuttings with or without pumps on,
• To calculate surge and swab pressures,
• To calculate safe pipe/casing running speeds,
• To calculate maximum rate of penetration given the fracture
gradient.

IDPT BH
IPM

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 Optimization of Bit Hydraulics
• Maximum Hydraulic Horsepower
Should be adopted for use in soft to medium formations.
• Maximum Jet Impact Force
Should be adopted for use in medium to hard formations.
• Maximum Jet Velocity
Is based on maximum allowable surface pressure at a selected
flow rate.

Calculation flow:

1. After determining fluid rheology model work out carrying capacity of fluid.
2. Calc the Delta P for the hole using either Max HHP or JIF
3. Decide on Nozzle combination.
4. Calculate Pump horsepower requirements.

IDPT BH
IPM

Drilling & Bit Hydraulics

• Now YOU should be able to:
• Understand basic concept of bit hydraulics
• Describe various pressure losses
• Describe the factors affecting ECD
• Understand the process to optimize bit hydraulics

IDPT BH
IPM

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