Регулирование плотности бурильной суспензии при её транспортировке судами класса Platform Supply Vessels

Abstract

Annotation – The issues of maintaining the drilling fluid density during its transportation from shore to the oil drilling platform by the Platform Supply Vessels were considered. The research was carried out on the vessel of 5650 deadweight tons, which made 2 ... 2.5 day voyages from port to drilling platform with possible waiting for direct approach to the platform for 1 ... 1.5 days. The drilling fluid was transported in four tanks of equal-size, arranged in pairs on each side of the vessel. It was found that during this period of time there is a latent stratification of drilling fluid along the depth of cargo tank, causing stratification of its density. The density of the drilling fluid was measured at depths corresponding to 10, 50 and 90 % of the total tank depth. The drilling fluid density stratification is defined as the relative density change in the upper (at 10 % depth) and lower (at 90 % depth) parts of the cargo tank. The hydrometer was used to measure density, allowing measurements in the range of 650 ... 1630 kg/m3 with an accuracy of 1 kg/m3 while controlling the temperature. Density measurements were taken at 6-hour intervals. It has been experimentally proved that during the 48-hour transportation of the drilling fluid with the density of 1295 kg/m3, the density value at the indicated depths is 1163 and 1524 kg/m3 respectively, while the density stratification reaches 31 %. It is offered to prevent the density stratification by creating a forced X-shaped circulation of the drilling fluid between cargo tanks which stand side by side. It is offered to regulate and maintain automatically the drilling fluid density in the range of 2 ... 7 % by using programmable controllers. When the density stratification reaches 7 %, the controller switches on the circulation pumps and circulates the drilling fluid between tanks which stand side by side. This increases the drilling fluid uniformity and helps to reduce the density stratification along the depth of the cargo tank. The process of additional circulation of the drilling fluid is rationally ensured until the density stratification reaches a value of 2 %. Fulfilment of the above-mentioned conditions will ensure that the drilling fluid maintains its operational properties and the energy consumption associated with the additional operation of the circulation pumps is minimised.