Abstract
We present the results of the displacement flows of different Newtonian and Herschel–Bulkley non-Newtonian fluids in a new-developed eccentric Hele–Shaw cell with dynamic similarly to real field wellbore annulus during primary cementing. The possibility of tracking the interface between the fluids using particles with intermediate or neutral buoyancy is studied. The behaviors and movements of particles with different sizes and densities against the primary vertical flow and strong secondary azimuthal flow in the eccentric Hele–Shaw cell are investigated. The effects of fluid rheology and pumping flow rate on the efficiency of displacement and tracing particles are examined. Moreover, the behavior of pressure gradients in the cell is described and analyzed. Successful results of tracing the interface using particles give us this opportunity to carry out a primary cementing with high quality for the cases that the risk of leakage is high, e.g., primary cementing in wells penetrating a CO2 storage reservoir.
Highlights
Cementing in an Eccentric Hele–ShawOne of the essential operations during the drilling of oil and gas wells is the primary cementing of the wellbore annulus and the displacement of the drilling fluid and formation fluids in the annulus
Intermediate buoyant particles have been employed for interface tracking in concentric and eccentric experimental annular geometries, and their effectiveness in different cell inclinations and by using different fluid rheology and displacement flow rates were explored [30,35]
The calculated Reynolds number based on the displacing fluid ranges from 0.98 in tests with two non-Newtonian fluids to 369.3 in the tests with two Newtonian fluids showing fully laminar displacement flows
Summary
One of the essential operations during the drilling of oil and gas wells is the primary cementing of the wellbore annulus and the displacement of the drilling fluid and formation fluids in the annulus. Due to the problematic rheological behaviors of non-Newtonian fluids with and without yield-stress, there are fewer experimental studies about fluid flows in concentric and eccentric annular geometries with similarity to wellbore annulus in primary cementing [4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]. Intermediate buoyant particles have been employed for interface tracking in concentric and eccentric experimental annular geometries, and their effectiveness in different cell inclinations and by using different fluid rheology and displacement flow rates were explored [30,35]. The recorded pressure gradients in the cell are analyzed as well
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