Hydrodynamic modeling of mud loss in a fracture using computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

In drilling engineering, the knowledge and control of mud loss are significant. The difficulty of carrying out transient and steady state experimental measurements is an areawhere CFD shows great potential. In this study. the non- Newtonian drilling fluid flow in the annular space of a drilling well was simulated and the fluid loss dynamics in fractured formations were analyzed using CFD (Computational fluid dynamics). The dynamics of cutting phase was studied by DEM (Discrete elements method) using sofl sphere approach in order to take into account the particle collision phenomenon. To describe the rheological behavior of drilling fluid, Herschel Bulky model was implemented. The k-0) model was used for evaluating the turbulent interactions between the phases. A sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the effects of different parameters including mud weight and viscosity, fracture thickness and drill suing rotation on lost circulation. The results were compared with available data and good agreement was achieved.

Keywords:

non-Newtonian fluid. loss circulation , fracture , CFD. Sensitivity analysis