Análise experimental da tensão de cisalhamento mínima para suspensão de partículas em um leito horizontal

Abstract

The efficient hole cleaning is still a challenge in the wellbore drilling for production of oil and gas. The critical point is the horizontal drilling that inherently tends to produce a bed of sediment particles at the bottom of the well. The erosion of this cuttings bed depends mainly on the shear stress promoted by the flow of drilling fluid. The shear stress required to drag cuttings bed is investigate according to the fluid and particles properties, using an experimental assembly, composed of a loop for circulation of fluids, of a particle box, of a pump system, camera and measuring equipment. The area of observation consists of a box below the line of flow, for calibrated sand particles, in an acrylic duct. The test starts with the pumps in low frequency and are made the increments. At each level of frequency are captured images of particles carried and it is records the established flow rate. The erosion criteria is defined when the drag particle no longer be random and sporadic, and begins to be permanent. The shear stress is determined by the PKN correlation (by Prandtl, von Kármán, and Nikuradse) from the minimum flow rate necessary to start the erosion process. Results were obtained for the flow of water; and of water and glycerin solution