Optimization of cementing displacement efficiency based on circulation pressure of a shale gas horizontal well in low pressure and leakage formations

Abstract

The well trajectory of horizontal wells are constantly changing due to the variation of well inclination and azimuth with depth, leading to a large difference of displacement efficiency in the annulus compared to a vertical well. In low pressure and leakage formations, optimizing injection parameters to improve displacement efficiency is a hot and difficult research topic for researchers and field engineers, particularly the complex well. A fluid flow model inside the casing and annulus was established during primary cementing under an eccentric casing. Pressure distribution in the eccentric and concentric annuli were compared with the field data. Based on the principle of the maximum circulation pressure being lower than formation leakage pressure, the injection rate and fluid density were optimized to improve displacement efficiency, using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods and investigating the mud retention volume on the wall. The results indicated that the pressure model in a casing eccentricity with an error of 1% to 3.5% is in good agreement with the actual pump pressure. Frictional pressure loss in the eccentric annulus was 13% to 25% lower than in the concentric annulus. Appropriately increasing the fluid density difference (spacer and lead slurry), the mud retention volume in the annulus of the horizontal section decreased significantly, while increasing the injection rate at the wellhead had little influence on displacement efficiency. The sequence of displacement efficiency from high to low was horizontal section > deflecting section > vertical section. The results of this study allow a better understanding of casing eccentricity effect on circulation pressure and equivalent circulation density (ECD) distributions in the annuls. The complex displacement mechanism analysis for the horizontal, deflecting, and vertical sections provides practical guidance in improving displacement efficiency by optimizing the most effective operation parameters.