COMPONENTS OF THE PROCESS OF BROKEN ROCK REMOVAL FROM THE WELL

Abstract

Purpose. A classical problem of fluid mechanics involving the study of liquid flow in the eccentric channel has, in particular, the practical application in the process of flushing of controlled directional wells with horizontal ending. Transport of destroyed rock particles from the wells of the specified profile by the flow of flushing fluid is a challenging theoretical and practical task. The study of mud transport in field and laboratory studies has showed the multidirectional impacts of such characteristics of the flushing fluid as its viscosity and density in the turbulent flow regime. The purpose of the article is to study the specified multidirectionality on example of researches of different authors devoted to drilling mud carrying capacity. The Methods used include a comparative analysis of the influence of rheological parameters and density of polymer-containing flushing fluid on the minimum flow rate of the flushing fluid at which the precipitate is not formed. Results. Comparison is given to the influence of density of the studied flushing fluids and their viscosity on the optimization parameter which is taken as the minimum flow rate of the flushing fluid that fully extracts solid particles from the eccentric annular space of the experimental installation. The densities of solutions are calculated by the data on solution viscosity. Consideration is given to the aqueous solutions of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and its derivatives as well as aqueous solutions of glycerine. Conclusions. It has been found out that the use of aqueous glycerin solutions as flushing fluids increase the carrying capacity of the latter due to higher density as compared with the solutions of CMC. The experiments that determine the carrying capacity of drilling fluids should be set taking into account both rheological parameters of the liquid and its density. The reduced viscosity of solutions can be used for this purpose by transforming its values into density.