Modelling and Simulating Eulerian Venturi Effect of SBM to Increase the Rate of Penetration with Roller Cone Drilling Bit

Abstract

Drilling bits are essential downhole hardware that facilitates drilling operations in high-pressure, high-temperature regions and in most carbonate reservoirs in the world. While the drilling process can be optimized, drilling operators and engineers become curious about how drill bits react during rock breaking and penetration. Since it is experimentally expensive to determine, the goal of the study is to maximize the rate of penetration by modeling fluid interactions around the roller cone drilling bit (RCDB), specifying a suitable number of jet nozzles and venturi effects for non-Newtonian fluids (synthetic-based muds), and examining the effects of mud particles and drill cuttings. Ansys Fluent k-epsilon turbulence viscous model, a second order upwind for momentum, turbulent kinetic energy, and dissipation rate, were used to model the specified 1000 kg/m3 non-Newtonian fluid around the roller cone drill bit. The original geometry of the nozzles was adapted from a Chinese manufacturer whose tricone had three jet nozzles. The results of our six redesigned jet nozzles (3 outer, 39.12 mm, and 3 proximal, 20 mm) sought to offer maximum potential for drilling optimization. However, at a pressure of 9.39 × 104 Pa, the wellbore with particle sizes between 0.10 mm and 4.2 mm drill cuttings observed an improved rate of penetration with a rotation speed of 150 r/min.