Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Drilling and well completion processes are the key to the successful solution for both increasing world’s energy demand and energy transition, whether it is associated with exploration and extraction of oil, gas, geothermal energy, gas hydrates, deep mining, subsea mining, and/or underground storage of CO₂, hydrogen, or even excessive renewable energy. Although the drilling and well completion technology, especially in the space of exploration and production of oil and gas, has been advancing rapidly with adopting new ideas and concepts, it appears to be very limited in other mentioned areas (e.g., underground storage, geothermal energy, and deep mining). In addition, such technological advancements require not only to deploy the cost-effective and safe well construction and completion for the life of the well, but also to ensure sustainable development that meets the economic, health safety and environment (HSE), and societal challenges. In this view, we are pleased to open a new topic, “Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Technology” within the scope of the number of relevant journals, such as Energies, Geosciences, Minerals, and Resources, and topics, such as CO₂ Capture, Storage, Utilization, and Sequestration (CCUS), and Natural Resources Extraction. This Topic will attempt to capture multidisciplinary scholarly works focusing on an in-depth understanding of the scientific principles and mechanisms, including critical economic and technical challenges and ideas; and concepts geared around the broader aspects of Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management.

Topics of interest for publication in this Topic include, but are not limited to:

• Drilling and completion engineering;
• Automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning within the scope of drilling, completion, well engineering deployment, and operations, fibre optics, and sensor technology;
• Drilling, completion hydraulics, flow assurance;
• Drilling and completion fluids including multiphase fluid flow phenomenon, cementing technology;
• Geomechanics, and earth modelling, wellbore stability;
• Material engineering, composite materials, sustainable materials;
• Computation fluid dynamics, advanced numerical techniques, advanced optimization technique for analysis, prediction, interpretation, characterization and optimisation of drilling and completion process;
• Coil tubing drilling and completion;
• HSE and sustainability related drilling, completion, maintenance, and operation;
• Well integrity during operation and plug and abandonment (P&A);
• Process safety while drilling such as well control and human elements consideration;
• Advanced drilling technologies.

Dr. Mofazzal Hossain
Dr. Hisham Khaled Ben Mahmud
Dr. Md Motiur Rahman
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Energies energies	3.0	6.2	2008	17.5 Days	CHF 2600
Geosciences geosciences	2.4	5.3	2011	26.2 Days	CHF 1800
Minerals minerals	2.2	4.1	2011	18 Days	CHF 2400
Resources resources	3.6	7.2	2012	33.4 Days	CHF 1600

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Published Papers (25 papers)

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20 pages, 16034 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Coupling Effect of Stress Field and Gas Field in Surrounding Rock of Stope and Gas Migration Law

by Shizhe Li and Zhaofeng Wang

Energies 2023, 16(18), 6672; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16186672 - 18 Sep 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 912

Abstract

In the process of working face mining, the permeability of the coal seam and the crack evolution characteristics of overlying strata are very important for efficient gas drainage. In this study, the distribution characteristics of the stress field and crack field in the [...] Read more.

In the process of working face mining, the permeability of the coal seam and the crack evolution characteristics of overlying strata are very important for efficient gas drainage. In this study, the distribution characteristics of the stress field and crack field in the working face and their relations are analyzed mainly by 3DEC numerical simulation. Furthermore, combined with the on-site measurement of coal seam stress, gas pressure, and gas seepage in front of the working face and the gas seepage in overlying strata before and after mining, the coupling effect of stress field and gas field and the law of gas migration and distribution in the working face are deeply explored. The results show that the changing trend of gas seepage and gas pressure is controlled by the stress change of the working face, and with the increase of stress, gas pressure and gas seepage also increase. The peak position of gas pressure is the farthest from the coal wall, about 22.5~25 m, followed by the peak of stress and gas seepage. When the permeability of coal and rock mass increases, the gas seepage increases and the gas pressure decreases. The coal seam stress and gas seepage in the working face and gas seepage in the overlying strata fracture zone along the tailgate side are generally greater than those on the headgate side, but the gas pressure is the opposite. Mining cracks and strata separation provide a good channel and space for gas migration and accumulation. Along the strike and tendency of the working face, gas is mainly concentrated in the overlying strata crack space above the separation zone and the roof and overlying strata crack space on the side of the tailgate, respectively. Based on this, the directional borehole gas drainage technology and borehole layout scheme in the fractured zone are put forward, which effectively reduce the gas concentration in the working face by 30~36%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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17 pages, 6020 KiB  

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Eco-Friendly Drilling Fluid: Calcium Chloride-Based Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) as an All-Rounder Additive

by Muhammad Hammad Rasool, Maqsood Ahmad, Numair Ahmed Siddiqui and Aisha Zahid Junejo

Energies 2023, 16(14), 5533; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16145533 - 21 Jul 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1972

Abstract

Designing an effective drilling mud is a critical aspect of the drilling process. A well-designed drilling mud should not only provide efficient mud hydraulics but also fulfill three important functions: enhancing mud rheology, inhibiting hydrate formation in deepwater drilling, and suppressing shale swelling [...] Read more.

Designing an effective drilling mud is a critical aspect of the drilling process. A well-designed drilling mud should not only provide efficient mud hydraulics but also fulfill three important functions: enhancing mud rheology, inhibiting hydrate formation in deepwater drilling, and suppressing shale swelling when drilling through shale formations. Achieving these functions often requires the use of various additives, but these additives are often expensive, non-biodegradable, and have significant environmental impacts. To address these concerns, researchers have explored the potential applications of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents in drilling mud design, which have shown promising results. However, an even more environmentally friendly alternative has emerged in the form of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). This research focuses on an in-house-prepared NADES based on calcium chloride and glycerine, with a ratio of 1:4, prepared at 60 °C, and utilizes it as a drilling mud additive following the API 13 B-1 standards and checks its candidacy as a rheology modifier, hydrates, and shale inhibitor. The findings of the study demonstrate that the NADES-based mud significantly improves the overall yield point to plastic viscosity ratio (YP/PV) of the mud, provides good gel strength, and inhibits hydrate formation by up to 80%. Additionally, it has shown an impressive 62.8% inhibition of shale swelling while allowing for 84.1% improved shale recovery. Moreover, the NADES-based mud exhibits a 28% and 25% reduction in mud filtrate and mud cake thickness, respectively, which is further supported by the results of XRD, zeta potential, and surface tension. Based on these positive outcomes, the calcium chloride–glycerine NADES-based mud is recommended as a versatile drilling mud additive suitable for various industrial applications. Furthermore, it presents a more environmentally friendly option compared to traditional additives, addressing concerns about cost, biodegradability, and environmental impact in the drilling process for an ultimate global impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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18 pages, 1684 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Catalysis of Minerals in Pyrolysis Experiments

by Ming Zhong, Haiping Huang, Pengcheng Xu and Jie Hu

Minerals 2023, 13(4), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13040515 - 6 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1997

Abstract

Recent research in the field of oil and gas geochemistry has focused on the catalytic role of minerals in geological history. Thermal simulation experiments are considered a valuable means of studying the formation and transformation of hydrocarbons. In this paper, we review the [...] Read more.

Recent research in the field of oil and gas geochemistry has focused on the catalytic role of minerals in geological history. Thermal simulation experiments are considered a valuable means of studying the formation and transformation of hydrocarbons. In this paper, we review the catalytic mechanisms, processes, and various arguments for different types of minerals in thermal simulation experiments from the perspective of mineral additives. We focus on two categories: (1) minerals that provide direct catalysis, such as clay minerals, alkali metals, carbonate rocks, and some transition metal elements, and (2) minerals, such as serpentine, that promote aqueous hydrogen and act as the material basis, as well as the radioactive element uranium. We also discuss existing disputes and prospects for the development direction of mineral catalytic thermal simulation experiments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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21 pages, 6078 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Nonlinear Dynamic Model for Characterizing the Downhole Motions of the Sidetracking Tool in a Multilateral Well

by Xiuxing Zhu, Weixia Zhou, Yujian Lei, Peng Jia, Shifeng Xue, Bo Zhou and Yuanbo Xia

Energies 2023, 16(2), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16020588 - 4 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1472

Abstract

It is of practical interest to investigate the mechanical behaviors of a sidetracking tool system and to describe the sidetracking tool’s vibration mechanical response, as this can provide an important basis for evaluating and optimizing the tool structure and effectively controlling the profile [...] Read more.

It is of practical interest to investigate the mechanical behaviors of a sidetracking tool system and to describe the sidetracking tool’s vibration mechanical response, as this can provide an important basis for evaluating and optimizing the tool structure and effectively controlling the profile of the sidetracking window. In this article, three nonlinear dynamic models with ten, six, and two degrees of freedom, respectively, are established using the Lagrange method to characterize the behavior of the sidetracking tool. It should be noted that in these models, the axial, lateral, and torsional vibration of the tool system are fully coupled. The process of the sidetracking tool mills in the casing-pipe wall is divide into three typical stages, i.e., the window mill, pilot mill, and watermelon mill grinding the casing, respectively. The dynamic response of the three stages is studied to more effectively analyze the influence of the sidetracking tool vibration deformation on the window width. The Runge–Kutta method, which is easy to implement, is applied to solve the supposed nonlinear dynamic model, and some useful findings are as follows. The effects of sidetracking tool vibrations at different stages on window widening size are illustrated quantitatively. The vibration trajectory pattern of the sidetracking tool is different from that of the conventional drilling tool due to the influence of the whipstock, which changes from the general whirling motion pattern to the X reciprocating pattern, and the vibration amplitude decreases. Due to the influence of the tool’s lateral amplitude, the window profile is widened. The widened window size of the window mill and the pilot mill are 3.30 mm and 2.74 mm, respectively, and the extended window size of the watermelon mill is 0.07 mm, while the maximum window width formed by the sidetracking tool is 374.34 mm. This work proposes, for the first time, the coupled vibration model of the sidetracking tool system, which is helpful to better understand the nonlinear dynamic effects of the sidetracking tool, laying the foundation for the optimization of the sidetracking parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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11 pages, 3793 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Design and Experimental Research of a Wellhead Overflow Monitoring System for Open-Circuit Drilling of Natural Gas Hydrate

by Chao Zhong, Jing’an Lu and Dongju Kang

Energies 2022, 15(24), 9606; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15249606 - 18 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1708

Abstract

Natural gas hydrate is easy to decompose and leak due to the changes in temperature and pressure during drilling, which causes safety accidents. Early monitoring of wellhead overflow is a practical and effective measure to prevent overflow blowouts and other accidents. Herein, a [...] Read more.

Natural gas hydrate is easy to decompose and leak due to the changes in temperature and pressure during drilling, which causes safety accidents. Early monitoring of wellhead overflow is a practical and effective measure to prevent overflow blowouts and other accidents. Herein, a wellhead methane monitoring system for the open-circuit drilling of marine natural gas was designed. The system consisted of an overwater acoustic reception part and an underwater self-contained methane monitoring part, matching the construction environment of marine natural gas hydrate exploitation. Compared with the existing gas logging technology (measurement while drilling), the monitoring and early warning of wellhead methane content were realized at all stages of drilling, casing running, cementing, completion and fracturing in the process of natural gas hydrate exploitation. System communication and data acquisition tests were completed at different water depths through sea trials, which verified the effectiveness of the system design. The research results provide important theoretical and technical implications for promoting the development of early spill monitoring technology at the wellhead of open-circuit drilling for marine gas hydrates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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21 pages, 1640 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Advances in Cryogenic Fracturing of Coalbed Methane Reservoirs with LN₂

by Sotirios Nik. Longinos, Lei Wang and Randy Hazlett

Energies 2022, 15(24), 9464; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15249464 - 14 Dec 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 1978

Abstract

Coalbed methane (CBM) is a significant unconventional natural gas resource existing in matrix pores and fractures of coal seams and is a cleaner energy resource compared to coal and crude oil. To produce CBM, stimulation operations are required, given that the coal permeability [...] Read more.

Coalbed methane (CBM) is a significant unconventional natural gas resource existing in matrix pores and fractures of coal seams and is a cleaner energy resource compared to coal and crude oil. To produce CBM, stimulation operations are required, given that the coal permeability is generally too low. Hydraulic fracturing is the most widely used technology for reservoir stimulation; however, there are a few challenging issues associated with it, e.g., huge water consumption. In the past decade, the use of liquid nitrogen (LN₂) as a fracturing fluid has been intensively studied for stimulating CBM reservoirs, achieving considerable progress in understanding fracturing mechanisms and optimizing fracturing techniques. This paper presents a thorough review of experimental design and observations, modeling procedures and results, field applications, and published patents. Existing studies are divided into five different groups for discussion and comparison, including immersion tests, injection tests, jet drilling tests, numerical modeling, and field applications. Based on the comprehensive evaluation of the outcomes, it is obvious that cryogenic fracturing using LN₂ is a promising eco-friendly fracturing technique that can effectively enhance coal rock permeability to increase the production of CBM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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14 pages, 1663 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Fly Ash-Based Geopolymers as Lower Carbon Footprint Alternatives to Portland Cement for Well Cementing Applications

by Cameron Horan, Moneeb Genedy, Maria Juenger and Eric van Oort

Energies 2022, 15(23), 8819; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15238819 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2247

Abstract

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is currently the preferred material for the creation of barriers in wells during their construction and abandonment globally. OPC, however, is a very carbon-intensive material with some inherent technical weaknesses. These include a low casing-to-cement bond strength which may [...] Read more.

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is currently the preferred material for the creation of barriers in wells during their construction and abandonment globally. OPC, however, is a very carbon-intensive material with some inherent technical weaknesses. These include a low casing-to-cement bond strength which may allow for the formation of micro-annuli, which in turn can become a conduit for greenhouse gas transport (primarily of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas) to surface. Alkali-activated materials (AAMs), also known as geopolymers, have a much lower manufacturing carbon footprint than OPC and can be a good alternative to OPC for primary and remedial well cementing applications. This paper reports on a comprehensive study into the use of Class F fly ash-based geopolymers for a large variety of downhole well conditions, ranging from lower-temperature surface and intermediate casing cementing conditions to much higher temperature conditions (up to 204 °C (400 °F)) that can be encountered in high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) wells and geothermal wells. The rheological and mechanical properties of alkali-activated fly ash with six different sodium and potassium-based hydroxide and silicate activators were measured and compared to OPC. The results show that geopolymer formulation properties can be tuned to a variety of downhole cementing conditions. With the application of a suitable alkaline activator, geopolymers exhibit good compressive and tensile strength and an outstanding casing-to-cement bond strength of up to 8.8 MPa (1283 psi), which is more than an order of magnitude higher than OPC. This has important implications for preventing the creation of micro-annuli as a result of casing-to-cement interface debonding, thereby preventing the potential leakage of methane to the atmosphere on future wells that use geopolymers rather than OPC for barrier creation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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18 pages, 1451 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Ultrasonic-Assisted Rock-Breaking Technology and Oil and Gas Drilling Applications: A Review

by Jinyu Feng, Tie Yan, Yang Cao and Shihui Sun

Energies 2022, 15(22), 8394; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15228394 - 10 Nov 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2925

Abstract

High-efficiency rock-breaking is a problem that has long been studied in the oil- and gas-drilling industry. The successful use of ultrasonic technology in related fields has prompted us to study how to introduce ultrasonic technology into rock-breaking in oil and gas drilling. This [...] Read more.

High-efficiency rock-breaking is a problem that has long been studied in the oil- and gas-drilling industry. The successful use of ultrasonic technology in related fields has prompted us to study how to introduce ultrasonic technology into rock-breaking in oil and gas drilling. This paper introduces and discusses the successful cases of ultrasonic breaking technology in related fields, summarizes the three basic forms of ultrasonic action on rocks, namely, resonance, impact and cavitation, expounds the factors and laws that affect ultrasonic-assisted rock-breaking, and summarizes the research results reported in recent years. It is believed that, at present, the application of ultrasonic-assisted rock-breaking technology in the oil- and gas-drilling industry still faces some problems and challenges: first, the downhole high-temperature and high-pressure conditions will affect the effect of ultrasonic-assisted rock-breaking, and the related mechanisms and research are not clear; second, the impact of circulating media on ultrasonic-assisted rock-breaking is not clear; third, the problem of ultrasonic propagation and utilization in the downhole has not been well-solved; fourth, the stability of drilling tools and circulating media caused by high-frequency characteristics has not been well-solved. Therefore, it is suggested to increase research on the mechanism of ultrasonic-assisted rock-breaking with oil- and gas-drilling characteristics and the transmission and utilization of downhole ultrasonic energy in the future, and increase the development of supporting products to support the application of this technology in the oil and gas industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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16 pages, 2316 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Wellbore Stabilization Technology of “Fluid-Solid-Chemical Coupling” in Continental Shale Oil—A Case Study of Shale Oil in Block GL

by Xin Ai and Mian Chen

Energies 2022, 15(19), 6962; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15196962 - 22 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1947

Abstract

During the oil shale drilling in Group Q of Block GL, the shale is prone to hydration, deterioration, sidewall exfoliation and frequent collapse, which affects the efficient exploration and development of shale oil. In order to reveal the mechanism of wellbore instability in [...] Read more.

During the oil shale drilling in Group Q of Block GL, the shale is prone to hydration, deterioration, sidewall exfoliation and frequent collapse, which affects the efficient exploration and development of shale oil. In order to reveal the mechanism of wellbore instability in the shale formation, the tectonic characteristics of shale are studied by combining microscopic and macroscopic methods, which identifies three key factors of physics, chemistry and mechanics about wellbore instability. Based on the analysis of earth stress and rock mechanics parameters, the experiment has established the prediction model of “fluid-solid-chemical coupling” collapse pressure of shale formation in Group Q, and calculated the safe drilling fluid density window for the horizontal wells of shale oil in Block GL by the prediction model. The main factors of wellbore instability in shale formation, deterioration characteristics and high density of oil-based drilling fluid on the well site is combined. The targeted plugging anti-sloughing and strong wetting agent were developed by using laser particle size instruments and pressure transmission experiments. A high thixotropy and strong plugging oil-based drilling fluid system is formed. The research results have been successfully applied in 16 horizontal wells of the shale oil test platform. The excellent rheological property, reliable plugging and bearing capacity and outstanding wellbore stabilization effect provides technical support for high-quality and efficient exploration and development of shale oil in Block GL. The “fluid-solid-chemical coupling” wellbore stabilization technology of continental shale oil formed in this study can provide a reference for the exploration and development of similar types of shale oil and gas reservoirs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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22 pages, 7461 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Digital Twins for Real-Time Scenario Analysis during Well Construction Operations

by Gurtej Singh Saini, AmirHossein Fallah, Pradeepkumar Ashok and Eric van Oort

Energies 2022, 15(18), 6584; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15186584 - 8 Sep 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3198

Abstract

Well construction is a complex multi-step process that requires decision-making at every step. These decisions, currently made by humans, are inadvertently influenced by past experiences and human factor issues, such as the situational awareness of the decision-maker. This human bias often results in [...] Read more.

Well construction is a complex multi-step process that requires decision-making at every step. These decisions, currently made by humans, are inadvertently influenced by past experiences and human factor issues, such as the situational awareness of the decision-maker. This human bias often results in operational inefficiencies or safety and environmental issues. While there are approaches and tools to monitor well construction operations, there are none that evaluate potential action sequences and scenarios and select the best possible sequence of actions. This paper defines a generalized iterative methodology for setting up a digital twin to address this shortcoming. Depending on its application, the objectives and constraints around the twin are formulated. The digital twin is then built using a cyclical process of defining the required outputs, identifying and integrating the necessary process models, and aggregating the required data streams. The twin is set up such that it is predictive in nature, thus enabling scenario analysis. The method is demonstrated here by setting up twinning systems for two different categories of problems. First, an integrated multi-model twin to replicate borehole cleaning operations for stuck-pipe prevention is developed and tested. Second, the creation, implementation, and testing of a twinning system for assisting with operational planning and logistics is demonstrated by considering the time it takes to drill a well to total depth (TD). These twins are also used to simulate multiple future scenarios to quantify the effects of different actions on eventual outcomes. Such systems can help improve operational performance by allowing more informed human, as well as automated, decision-making. Development of a system for well construction operations that integrates multiple sources of information with process and equipment models to quantify the system state and analyzes different scenarios by evaluating action sequences is a novel contribution of this paper. The approach presented here can be applied to the construction of digital twins for any well construction operation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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13 pages, 5173 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An Integrated Approach to Study Cement-to-Formation Bonding

by Arpita P. Bathija and Peter J. Boul

Energies 2022, 15(16), 5949; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15165949 - 17 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1835

Abstract

It is crucial to assess the bond strength of the cement–formation interface while developing novel cements for efficient zonal isolation. An integrated method is presented to investigate the failure mechanism in cement and formation rock under downhole reservoir temperature and pressure conditions using [...] Read more.

It is crucial to assess the bond strength of the cement–formation interface while developing novel cements for efficient zonal isolation. An integrated method is presented to investigate the failure mechanism in cement and formation rock under downhole reservoir temperature and pressure conditions using a triaxial experimental setup. The acoustic emission count, strain, and velocity data aid in inferring the fracture process that led to the failure of a specimen. Although most specimens investigated exhibit the three dominant events of compaction, multi-cracking, and sliding, there are variations in the basic structure of each specimen. Furthermore, the insight obtained about the internal structure of the specimen points to its strength and damage tolerance, both of which are vital requirements for bonding. This method can distinguish between a standard cement and modified cement very effectively and help in pairing the appropriate cement formulation for a formation rock. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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28 pages, 8921 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Well Construction Action Planning and Automation through Finite-Horizon Sequential Decision-Making

by Gurtej Singh Saini, Oney Erge, Pradeepkumar Ashok and Eric van Oort

Energies 2022, 15(16), 5776; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15165776 - 9 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2574

Abstract

Well construction operations require continuous complex decision-making and multi-step action planning. Action selection at every step demands a careful evaluation of the vast action space, while guided by long-term objectives and desired outcomes. Current human-centric decision-making introduces a degree of bias, which can [...] Read more.

Well construction operations require continuous complex decision-making and multi-step action planning. Action selection at every step demands a careful evaluation of the vast action space, while guided by long-term objectives and desired outcomes. Current human-centric decision-making introduces a degree of bias, which can result in reactive rather than proactive decisions. This can lead from minor operational inefficiencies all the way to catastrophic health and safety issues. This paper details the steps in structuring unbiased purpose-built sequential decision-making systems. Setting up such systems entails representing the operation as a Markov decision process (MDP). This requires explicitly defining states and action values, defining goal states, building a digital twin to model the process, and appropriately shaping reward functions to measure feedback. The digital twin, in conjunction with the reward function, is utilized for simulating and quantifying the different action sequences. A finite-horizon sequential decision-making system, with discrete state and action space, was set up to advise on hole cleaning during well construction. The state was quantified by the cuttings bed height and the equivalent circulation density values, and the action set was defined using a combination of controllable drilling parameters (including mud density and rheology, drillstring rotation speed, etc.). A non-sparse normalized reward structure was formulated as a function of the state and action values. Hydraulics, cuttings transport, and rig state detection models were integrated to build the hole cleaning digital twin. This system was then used for performance tracking and scenario simulations (with each scenario defined as a finite-horizon action sequence) on real-world oil wells. The different scenarios were compared by monitoring state–action transitions and the evolution of the reward with actions. This paper presents a novel method for setting up well construction operations as long-term finite-horizon sequential decision-making systems, and defines a way to quantify and compare different scenarios. The proper construction of such systems is a crucial step towards automating intelligent decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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33 pages, 11151 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Intelligent Action Planning for Well Construction Operations Demonstrated for Hole Cleaning Optimization and Automation

by Gurtej Singh Saini, Parham Pournazari, Pradeepkumar Ashok and Eric van Oort

Energies 2022, 15(15), 5749; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15155749 - 8 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2426

Abstract

Reactive and biased human decision-making during well construction operations can result in problems ranging from minor inefficiencies to events that can have far-reaching negative consequences for safety, environmental compliance and cost. A system that can automatically generate an optimal action sequence from any [...] Read more.

Reactive and biased human decision-making during well construction operations can result in problems ranging from minor inefficiencies to events that can have far-reaching negative consequences for safety, environmental compliance and cost. A system that can automatically generate an optimal action sequence from any given state to meet an operation’s objectives is therefore highly desirable. Moreover, an intelligent agent capable of self-learning can offset the computation and memory costs associated with evaluating the action space, which is often vast. This paper details the development of such action planning systems by utilizing reinforcement learning techniques. The concept of self-play used by game AI engines (such as AlphaGo and AlphaZero in Google’s DeepMind group) is adapted here for well construction tasks, wherein a drilling agent learns and improves from scenario simulations performed using digital twins. The first step in building such a system necessitates formulating the given well construction task as a Markov Decision Process (MDP). Planning is then accomplished using Monte Carlo tree search (MCTS), a simulation-based search technique. Simulations, based on the MCTS’s tree and rollout policies, are performed in an episodic manner using a digital twin of the underlying task(s). The results of these episodic simulations are then used for policy improvement. Domain-specific heuristics are included for further policy enhancement, considered factors such as trade-offs between safety and performance, the distance to the goal state, and the feasibility of taking specific actions from specific states. We demonstrate our proposed action planning system for hole cleaning, a task which to date has proven difficult to optimize and automate. Comparing the action sequences generated by our system to real field data, it is shown that it would have resulted in significantly improved hole cleaning performance compared to the action taken in the field, as quantified by the final state reached and the long-term reward. Such intelligent sequential decision-making systems, which use heuristics and exploration–exploitation trade-offs for optimum results, are novel applications in well construction and may pave the way for the automation of tasks that until now have been exclusively controlled by humans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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17 pages, 4810 KiB  

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Study of Wellbore Instability and Collapse Mechanism for a Layered Continental Shale Oil Horizontal Well

by Shibin Li, Kai Liang, Changhao Wang, Yao Wang, Yuxuan Jiao, Xiaoxing Zhu and Chunhua Wang

Energies 2022, 15(13), 4538; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15134538 - 21 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2398

Abstract

The shale oil horizontal wells in the Songliao Basin are affected by a lack of mature theories, technologies and experiences in the direction of wellbore stability. Wellbore collapse may occur, and in severe cases, the wellbore may be scrapped, resulting in huge economic [...] Read more.

The shale oil horizontal wells in the Songliao Basin are affected by a lack of mature theories, technologies and experiences in the direction of wellbore stability. Wellbore collapse may occur, and in severe cases, the wellbore may be scrapped, resulting in huge economic losses. Therefore, aiming at addressing the above problems, rock mechanics experiments were carried out. Based on the theories of elasticity and rock mechanics, this paper considers not only the influence of the bedding plane, but also the influence of hydration on the strength weakening of the shale body and the bedding plane. The analysis shows that no matter under which in situ stress mechanism, the wellbore in the vertical well section is the most stable, and when the inclination angle is approximately 45°, the wellbore is most likely to be unstable. Changes in water content do not affect the most stable or unstable regions. Under the same conditions, the equivalent density of collapse pressure increases with the increase in water content. In addition, field examples are also analyzed to verify the accuracy of this model, which can provide a theoretical and technical basis for the safe construction of continental shale oil horizontal wells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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16 pages, 4789 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Prediction Model of the Drag Coefficient of Shale Cuttings in Herschel–Bulkley Fluid

by Xiaofeng Sun, Minghao Sun and Zijian Li

Energies 2022, 15(12), 4496; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15124496 - 20 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2152

Abstract

In the drilling industry, it is of great significance to accurately predict the drag coefficient and settling velocity of drill cuttings falling in the non-Newtonian drilling fluid. However, the irregular shape of drill cuttings and the non-Newtonian rheological properties of drilling fluid (e.g., [...] Read more.

In the drilling industry, it is of great significance to accurately predict the drag coefficient and settling velocity of drill cuttings falling in the non-Newtonian drilling fluid. However, the irregular shape of drill cuttings and the non-Newtonian rheological properties of drilling fluid (e.g., shear-thinning and yield stress behavior) make it challenging to predict the settling velocity. In this study, the velocity of particle settlement was studied by a visual device and high-speed camera system. Experimental data of the free settlement of 224 irregular drilling cuttings and 105 spherical particles in the Herschel–Bulkley fluid were obtained. A mechanical model dependent on the force balance of settlement particles was adopted to conduct a detailed statistical analysis of the experimental results, and a prediction model of the drag coefficient of spherical particles in the Herschel–Bulkley fluid was established. A two-dimensional shape description parameter is introduced to establish a model for predicting the drag coefficient of irregular-shaped cuttings in a Herschel–Bulkley fluid. The model has high prediction accuracy for the settling velocity of irregular shale cuttings in Herschel–Bulkley fluid. The average relative error is 7.14%, verifying the model’s accuracy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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21 pages, 6224 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Parameter Effect Analysis of Non-Darcy Flow and a Method for Choosing a Fluid Flow Equation in Fractured Karstic Carbonate Reservoirs

by Yueying Wang, Jun Yao and Zhaoqin Huang

Energies 2022, 15(10), 3623; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15103623 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2189

Abstract

Fractured karstic carbonate reservoirs have obvious multi-scale characteristics and severe heterogeneity due to the development of abundant karst caves and fractures with different scales. Darcy and non-Darcy flows coexist due to this property. Therefore, selecting the appropriate flow equations for different regions in [...] Read more.

Fractured karstic carbonate reservoirs have obvious multi-scale characteristics and severe heterogeneity due to the development of abundant karst caves and fractures with different scales. Darcy and non-Darcy flows coexist due to this property. Therefore, selecting the appropriate flow equations for different regions in the numerical simulation of fluid flows, particularly two-phase and multiphase flows, is a critical topic. This paper compares and analyses the displacement distance differences of waterfront travel using the Darcy, Forchheimer and Barree–Conway equations, as well as analyzes the influence of the Forchheimer constant, fluid viscosity, flow rate and absolute permeability on inertia action based on the Buckley–Leverett theory. The results show that the Forchheimer number/Reynolds number of water/oil two-phase flow is not a constant value and varies with water saturation, making it difficult to determine whether the inertial action should be considered solely based on these values; the influence of inertial action can be measured well by comparing the difference between the displacement distances of the waterflood front, and the quantitative standard is given for the selection of the flow equation of different regions by calculating the allowable error of the displacement distance of the waterflood front. The magnitude of the inertial effect is affected by the physical properties of the fluid and reservoir medium and the fluid velocity. The smaller the difference in the viscosity of the oil/water fluid, the smaller the inertial effect is. This technique was used a preliminary attempt to analyze the fractured karstic carbonate reservoirs at Tarim, and the results confirmed the validity of the method described in this article. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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9 pages, 3138 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Shale Hydration Inhibition Performance of Triethylammonium Acetate

by Yuanzhi Qu, Ren Wang, Shifeng Gao, Hongjun Huang, Zhilei Zhang, Han Ren, Yuehui Yuan, Qibing Wang, Xiangyun Wang and Weichao Du

Minerals 2022, 12(5), 620; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12050620 - 13 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2807

Abstract

Shale inhibitor is an additive for drilling fluids that can be used to inhibit shale hydration expansion and dispersion, and prevent wellbore collapse. Small molecular quaternary ammonium salt can enter the interlayer of clay crystal, and enables an excellent shale inhibition performance. In [...] Read more.

Shale inhibitor is an additive for drilling fluids that can be used to inhibit shale hydration expansion and dispersion, and prevent wellbore collapse. Small molecular quaternary ammonium salt can enter the interlayer of clay crystal, and enables an excellent shale inhibition performance. In this paper, a novel ionic shale inhibitor, triethylammonium acetate (TEYA), was obtained by solvent-free synthesis by using acetic acid and triethylamine as raw materials. The final product was identified as the target product by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The inhibition performance of TEYA was studied by the mud ball immersion test, linear expansion test, rolling recovery test and particle size distribution test. The results demonstrated that the shale inhibitor shows a good shale hydration inhibition performance. The inhibition mechanism was studied by FT-IR and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively; the results showed that triethylammonium acetate TEYA could enter the crystal layer of clay and inhibit it through physical adsorption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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17 pages, 6469 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Reservoir Characteristics of Tight Sandstone and Sweet Spot Prediction of Dibei Gas Field in Eastern Kuqa Depression, Northwest China

by Guangjie Zhao, Xianqing Li, Mancang Liu, Caiyuan Dong, Daye Chen and Jizhen Zhang

Energies 2022, 15(9), 3135; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15093135 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1984

Abstract

Great progress has been made in the exploration of tight sandstone gas resources in Kuqa depression. Great progress has been made in Dibei structural belt, which proves the previously unproven favorable area for tight sandstone gas. The physical properties, controlling factors, and characteristics [...] Read more.

Great progress has been made in the exploration of tight sandstone gas resources in Kuqa depression. Great progress has been made in Dibei structural belt, which proves the previously unproven favorable area for tight sandstone gas. The physical properties, controlling factors, and characteristics of tight sandstone from the Ahe (J₁a) Formation in the Dibei gas reservoir are analyzed. The results show that the tight sandstone of the J₁a Formation is mainly feldspar lithic sandstone, with low porosity (average 9.1%) and low permeability (average 0.09 mD). Compaction (average compaction rate 61.9%) reduces porosity more than cementation (average cementation rate 14.3%). Secondary dissolution pores (average thin section porosity is 3.4%) dominate. The homogenization temperature has two peaks; the first peak is 85–110 °C, and the other peak is 115–140 °C, indicating that oil and gas experienced two filling stages at 12 Ma and 4.5 Ma, respectively. Eodiagenesis, A substage of mesogenetic diagenesis, and B substage of mesogenetic diagenesis happened in the area. Tight sandstone is developed in the B substage of mesogenetic diagenesis. The main controlling factors of diagenesis are: strong dissolution and structural pore increase; oil and gas charging and overpressure. The reservoir forming mode of the Dibei gas reservoir is: crude oil filling in the Late Neogene (12 Ma); reservoir densification in the late deposition of Kangcun Formation (7 Ma), mature natural gas filling in the early deposition of Kuqa Formation (4.5 Ma), and gas reservoir formed after transformation and adjustment in the deposition period of Quaternary (2 Ma). According to this model, it is predicted that the favorable area of the Dibei gas reservoir is in the southeast of the Yinan 2 well. This study provides guidance for the study of tight sandstone gas in other areas of the Kuqa Depression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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29 pages, 12402 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Reservoir Pore Characteristics Based on Depositional Microfacies Control in the Neogene Guantao Formation, Bohai Bay Basin, China

by Zhao Wang, Hongming Tang, Jun Yang and Lu Huang

Energies 2022, 15(8), 2870; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15082870 - 14 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1910

Abstract

The Neogene Guantao Formation Reservoir in the PLOilfield is a unconsolidated sandstone with high porosity and high permeability. The reservoir diagenesis is weak and dominated by compaction diagenesis. At present, insufficient research into the relationship between the pore characteristics and sedimentary microfacies of [...] Read more.

The Neogene Guantao Formation Reservoir in the PLOilfield is a unconsolidated sandstone with high porosity and high permeability. The reservoir diagenesis is weak and dominated by compaction diagenesis. At present, insufficient research into the relationship between the pore characteristics and sedimentary microfacies of shallow delta sandstone reservoirs restricts the prediction of favorable reservoir distribution. This article takes the unconsolidated sandstone reservoir of the Guantao Formation as the research object and analyzes the potential coupling relationship between pore characteristics and sedimentary microfacies. In this study, seven typical sedimentary microfacies were identified and the microscopic characteristics of different sedimentary microfacies reservoirs are described. The results show that the pore structure of various sedimentary microfacies is comprehensively influenced by the sedimentary rock texture, siliceous minerals, and clay mineral distribution. Characterized by more abundant hard quartz and feldspar minerals, positive skewness, and lower pore sorting coefficients, the arenaceous microfacies possess larger pore throat radius and lower pore fractal dimensions than argillaceous microfacies. Finally, due to the difficulty of coring in offshore oilfields and the lack of data on mercury injection experiments, empirical formulas for the porosity, permeability, and pore throat radius of conventional core tests were established, and the pore radius that corresponded to 35% mercury saturation (r₃₅) was used as the characteristic pore structure parameter. The grey correlation method was used to analyze the influence of sedimentary structure factors and mineral content differences on r₃₅ and to determine the main controlling factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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20 pages, 5545 KiB  

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Optimization of Cement–Rubber Composites for Eco-Sustainable Well Completion: Rheological, Mechanical, Petrophysical, and Creep Properties

by Abdennour C. Seibi, Fatick Nath, Adedapo B. Adeoye and Kaustubh G. Sawant

Energies 2022, 15(8), 2753; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15082753 - 8 Apr 2022

Viewed by 2019

Abstract

To ensure well integrity, wellbore must be strongly cased using durable cement slurries with essential additives during downhole completion. The rubber materials that come from industrial waste are becoming extremely encouraged in the use as an additive in preparing cement slurries due to [...] Read more.

To ensure well integrity, wellbore must be strongly cased using durable cement slurries with essential additives during downhole completion. The rubber materials that come from industrial waste are becoming extremely encouraged in the use as an additive in preparing cement slurries due to their growing environmental footprint. However, the proper design of cement slurry strongly depends on its rheological, mechanical, petrophysical, and creep properties, which can be altered by changing additives. This study aimed to examine the cement properties under alteration in different chemical admixtures to create efficient binding properties, and to estimate the optimum cement–rubber slurry composition for eco-sustainable completion. Three cement samples with different mesh sizes of the crumb rubber particles were prepared. This study examined the variation in rheological behaviors, elastic and failure characteristics, permeability, and creep behavior of the cement–rubber composites for petroleum well construction. The experimental study showed that the addition of 15% or more crumb rubber to the cement resulted in very thick slurries. Moreover, it was shown that the addition of crumb rubber with various particle sizes to the cement reduced the strength by more than 50%, especially for a higher amount of rubber added. It was also revealed that the addition of a superplasticizer resulted in an 11% increase in compressive strength. The results showed that cement–crumb-rubber composites with 12% by weight of cement (BWOC) represented the optimum composite, and considerably improved the properties of the cement slurry. Water-permeability tests indicated the addition of 12% BWOC with 200-mesh crumb rubber decreased the permeability by nearly 64% compared to the base cement. Creep tests at five different stress levels illustrated that the neat cement was brittle and did not experience strain recovery at all stress levels. Cement slurries with the largest rubber-particle size were elastic and demonstrated the highest amount of strain recovery. Finally, a relationship was established between the permeability, average strain, and mesh size of the rubber particles, which offered the strain recovery, satisfied the zonal isolation, and consequently reduced the microannulus problem to ensure the cement’s integrity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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19 pages, 2488 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Fast Quantitative Modelling Method for Infrared Spectrum Gas Logging Based on Adaptive Step Sliding Partial Least Squares

by Zhongbing Li, Wei Pang, Haibo Liang, Guihui Chen, Hongming Duan and Chuandong Jiang

Energies 2022, 15(4), 1325; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15041325 - 12 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2268

Abstract

Infrared spectroscopy (IR) quantitative analysis technology has shown excellent development potential in the field of oil and gas logging. However, due to the high overlap of the IR absorption peaks of alkane molecules and the offset of the absorption peaks in complex environments, [...] Read more.

Infrared spectroscopy (IR) quantitative analysis technology has shown excellent development potential in the field of oil and gas logging. However, due to the high overlap of the IR absorption peaks of alkane molecules and the offset of the absorption peaks in complex environments, the quantitative analysis of IR spectroscopy applied in the field puts forward higher requirements for modelling speed and accuracy. In this paper, a new type of fast IR spectroscopy quantitative analysis method based on adaptive step-sliding partial least squares (ASS-PLS) is designed. A sliding step control function is designed to change the position of the local PLS analysis model in the full spectrum band adaptively based on the relative change of the current root mean square error and the global minimum root-mean-square error for rapid modelling. The study in this paper reveals the influence of the position and width of the local modelling window on the performance, and how to quickly determine the optimal modelling window in an uncertain sample environment. The performance of the proposed algorithm has been compared with three typical quantitative analysis methods by experiments on an IR spectrum dataset of 400 alkane samples. The results show that this method has a fast quantitative modelling speed with high analysis accuracy and stability. It has important practical value for promoting IR spectroscopy gas-logging technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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21 pages, 5899 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Quantitative Evaluation Method of Anti-Sloughing Drilling Fluid Inhibition for Deep Mudstone

by Kehao Bo, Yan Jin, Yunhu Lu, Hongtao Liu and Jinzhi Zhu

Energies 2022, 15(3), 1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15031226 - 8 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2073

Abstract

Wellbore instability resulting from deep mudstone hydration severely restricts the development of oil and gas resources from deep reservoir in western China. Accurate evaluation of drilling fluid inhibition properties plays an important role in selecting drilling fluid that can control deep mudstone hydration [...] Read more.

Wellbore instability resulting from deep mudstone hydration severely restricts the development of oil and gas resources from deep reservoir in western China. Accurate evaluation of drilling fluid inhibition properties plays an important role in selecting drilling fluid that can control deep mudstone hydration and then sustain wellbore stability. The previous evaluations are conducted by qualitative analysis and cannot consider the influence of complex hydration conditions of deep mudstone (high temperature, high pressure and flushing action). The study proposes a quantitative method to evaluate drilling fluid’s inhibition property for deep mudstone under natural drilling conditions. In this method, the cohesive strength of mudstone after hydration is adopted as the inhibition index of the tested drilling fluid. An experimental platform containing a newly designed HPHT (High pressure and high temperature) hydration experiment apparatus and mechanics characterization of mudstone after hydration based on scratch test is proposed to obtain the current inhibition index of tested drilling fluid under deep well drilling environments. Based on the mechanical–chemical wellbore stability model considering strength weakening characteristics of deep mudstone after hydration, a cross-correlation between drilling fluid density (collapse pressure) and required inhibition index (cohesive strength) for deep mudstone is provided as the quantitative evaluation criterion. Once the density of tested mud is known, one can confirm whether the inhibition property of tested mud is sufficient. In this study, the JDK mudstone of a K block in western China is selected as the application object of the proposed evaluation method. Firstly, the evaluation chart, which can demonstrate the required inhibition indexes of the tested fluids quantitatively with various densities for JDK mudstone, is constructed. Furthermore, the experimental evaluations of inhibition indexes of drilling fluids taken from two wells in K block are conducted under ambient and deep-well drilling conditions, respectively. In order to show the validity and advantage of the proposed method, a comparison between the laboratory evaluation results and field data is made. Results show that the laboratory evaluation results under deep-well drilling conditions are consistent with the field data. However, the evaluation under ambient conditions overestimates the inhibition property of the tested fluid and brings a risk of wellbore instability. The developed quantitative method can be a new way to evaluate and optimize the inhibition property of drilling fluid for deep mudstone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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15 pages, 5584 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Application Performance of the Helmholtz High-Efficiency Wave-Elimination Chamber in Gas Wave Tubes

by Wutekuer Nuermaimaiti, Xuewu Liu, Pengze Yan, Jiupeng Zou and Dapeng Hu

Energies 2022, 15(3), 882; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15030882 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2302

Abstract

A gas wave refrigerator is a device that uses gas pressure to expand and refrigerate; the moving shock wave in the gas wave tube is the key to cooling. If the shock wave is reflected to the open mouth of the gas wave [...] Read more.

A gas wave refrigerator is a device that uses gas pressure to expand and refrigerate; the moving shock wave in the gas wave tube is the key to cooling. If the shock wave is reflected to the open mouth of the gas wave tube, it will heat the expanded refrigeration gas at the open end, severely reducing the refrigeration efficiency. In order to reduce this effect, a Helmholtz middle wave chamber-type gas wave tube is presented here. This study describes the performance of this structure in the gas wave refrigeration process. The refrigeration performance of the structure’s gas wave tube use was evaluated experimentally and numerically using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The function of the middle wave elimination chamber was studied and explained: the chamber turns the reflected shock wave back to the end section of the tube and converts part of the incoming shock wave to an expansion wave, which may counteract the reflected shock wave by escaping from wave elimination chamber. The experimental results showed that the structure increased refrigeration efficiency by about 2.9% (50 Hz), 2% (40 Hz), and 2.2% (25 Hz) at the corresponding ejection frequencies, and reduced the reflected shock wave intensity by 11%, which proves the high-efficiency energy dissipation performance and the significant increase in refrigeration efficiency of the Helmholtz-type gas wave tube. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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18 pages, 6722 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation of Effective Hole Cleaning by Using an Innovative Elliptical Drillpipe in Horizontal Wellbore

by Guoshuai Ju, Tie Yan and Xiaofeng Sun

Energies 2022, 15(2), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15020399 - 6 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2157

Abstract

In the drilling of horizontal wells, the drill cuttings tend to settle down on the low side of the annulus due to gravity and form a stationary bed, which results in hole cleaning problems. In this paper, a novel type of drillpipe with [...] Read more.

In the drilling of horizontal wells, the drill cuttings tend to settle down on the low side of the annulus due to gravity and form a stationary bed, which results in hole cleaning problems. In this paper, a novel type of drillpipe with an elliptical shape was proposed to alleviate inadequate hole cleaning during the drilling of horizontal wells. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) Eulerian-Eulerian approach with the Realizable k-ɛ turbulence model was developed to predict the solid–liquid two-phase flow in the annular space. Numerical examples were given to investigate the influence of different parameters on cuttings’ transport behavior, and the elliptical drillpipe was compared with the circular drillpipe. The annular cuttings concentration, annular pressure drop, and hole cleaning efficiency were evaluated. The numerical results clarify the potential of the elliptical drillpipe to enhance the hole cleaning efficiency without significantly increasing the annular pressure drop. Due to the swirl flow and secondary flow caused by the rotation of the curvature wall, the swaying phenomenon of drill cuttings’ distribution along the rotation direction of drillpipe was observed and enhanced the cuttings transport ability. Using the elliptical drillpipe as a joint-type tool can improve hole cleaning performance. Under the optimum conditions applied in this study, the hole cleaning efficiency increased by nearly 18%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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19 pages, 3133 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A 30-Year Probability Map for Oil Spill Trajectories in the Barents Sea to Assess Potential Environmental and Socio-Economic Threats

by Victor Pavlov, Victor Cesar Martins de Aguiar, Lars Robert Hole and Eva Pongrácz

Resources 2022, 11(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources11010001 - 24 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4925

Abstract

Increasing exploration and exploitation activity in the Arctic Ocean has intensified maritime traffic in the Barents Sea. Due to the sparse population and insufficient oil spill response infrastructure on the extensive Barents Sea shoreline, it is necessary to address the possibility of offshore [...] Read more.

Increasing exploration and exploitation activity in the Arctic Ocean has intensified maritime traffic in the Barents Sea. Due to the sparse population and insufficient oil spill response infrastructure on the extensive Barents Sea shoreline, it is necessary to address the possibility of offshore accidents and study hazards to the local environment and its resources. Simulations of surface oil spills were conducted in south-east of the Barents Sea to identify oil pollution trajectories. The objective of this research was to focus on one geographical location, which lies along popular maritime routes and also borders with sensitive ecological marine and terrestrial areas. As a sample of traditional heavy bunker oil, IFO-180LS (2014) was selected for the study of oil spills and used for the 30-year simulations. The second oil case was medium oil type: Volve (2006)—to give a broader picture for oil spill accident scenarios. Simulations for four annual seasons were run with the open source OpenDrift modelling tool using oceanographic and atmospheric data from the period of 1988–2018. The modelling produced a 30-year probability map, which was overlapped with environmental data of the area to discuss likely impacts to local marine ecosystems, applicable oil spill response tools and favourable shipping seasons. Based on available data regarding the environmental and socio-economic baselines of the studied region, we recommend to address potential threats to marine resources and local communities in more detail in a separate study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Drilling, Completion and Well Engineering for the Natural Energy Resources Extraction, Storage and Sustainable Management)

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