Research on Annular Frictional Pressure Loss of Hydraulic-Fracturing in Buckling Coiled Tubing

Abstract

Compared with conventional hydraulic fracturing, coiled tubing (CT) annular delivery sand fracturing technology is a new method to enhance the recovery ratio of low permeability reservoir. Friction pressure loss through CT has been a concern in fracturing. The small diameter of CT limits the cross-sectional area open to flow, therefore, to meet large discharge capacity, annular delivery sand technology has been gradually developed in oilfield. Friction pressure is useful for determining the required pump horsepower and fracturing construction design programs. Coiled tubing can buckle when the axial compressive load acting on the tubing is greater than critical buckling load, then the geometry shape of annular will change. Annular friction pressure loss elevates dramatically with increasing of discharge capacity, especially eccentricity and CT buckling. Despite the frequency occurrence of CT buckling in oilfield operations, traditionally annular flow frictional pressure loss considered concentric and eccentric annuli, not discussing the effects of for discharge capacity and sand ratio varying degree of CT buckling. The measured data shows that the factors mentioned above cannot be ignored in the prediction of annular pressure loss. It is necessary to carry out analysis of annulus flow pressure drop loss in coiled tubing annular with the methods of theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. Coiled tubing buckling has great influence on pressure loss of fracturing fluid. Therefore, the correlations have been developed for turbulent flow of Newtonian fluids and Two-phase flow (sand-liquid), and that improve the friction pressure loss estimation in coiled tubing operations involving a considerable level of buckling. Quartz sand evidently increases pressure loss in buckling annular, rising as high as 40%-60% more than fresh water. Meanwhile, annulus flow wetted perimeter increases with decreasing helical buckling pitch of coiled tubing, therefore, the annulus flow frictional pressure loss rapidly increases with decreasing helical buckling pitch. The research achievement provides theoretical guidance for coiled tubing annular delivery sand fracturing operation and design.