Investigating the Effect of Drilling Parameters and Mud Rheology for the Flow of Yield Power Law Fluid through Annulus

Fluid flow in the annulus has been the center of numerous studies, whether from the oil industry or academia. This study deals with numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics technique to investigate the parameters that affect the pressure gradient in the annulus for the flow of Yield Power Law fluids. The study analyses the effect of cutting concentration through volume fraction, flow rate, inclination, eccentricity and rheological properties of drilling fluid on the pressure losses though the annulus. Previous work in the field of study has provided models which aided the industry to better predict hole cleaning efficiency and pressure losses. The benefits of better pressure loss predictions are well documented with potential millions in saving from drilling optimization with the use of modeling. Some of the more advanced studies have included the kinetic theory of granular flow for example to great effect to model hydrodynamics.