Volume Requirements for Air or Gas Drilling

R. R. ANGEL

PHILLIPS PETROLEUM CO.

HOUSTON, TEX.

T. P.4679
ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

Drilling rate is a parameter that

should be considered in determining
the volume requirements for air and
gas drilling. The use of past methods
which ignore the effects of the solids
content upon the pressure and velocity of the annulus .flow stream can
result in undercalculation of the required volume by as much as 50 per
cent.
A vertical-flow equation is presented for determining volume requirements. This equation includes
the effect of the solids that are transported up the annulus in the flow
stream by incorporating the drilling
rate as one of the parameters. The
effect of down-hole temperature 011
required circulation rates is also al1aIvzed .
. A simple approximate method 0/
determining volume requirements is
presented. This method is more accurate than the methods llsed in the
past.
Hole cleaning difficulties are analyzed for a recent air drilling job
where past methods indicated that
excess air was being used.
Sample curves of calculated bottom-hole pressures are presented for
air and gas drilling in several hole
sizes.

In certain areas the use of air or

natural gas as a circulating medium
for drilling oil and gas wells is becoming a common practice. Large
increases in penetration rate and bit
life are achieved through the use of
these media in preference to mud or
water. Drilling rates as high as 90
ft/hr have been obtained in shales.
The importance of maintaining
adequate circulation rate is generally
recognized; however, much disagreement exists among drilling operators
as to what constitutes "adequate"
circulation rate. In quarry drilling,
where annular velocities can be accurately determined, an annular velocity of 3,000 ft/min of standard
air is required for best results in
rocks having approximately the same
density as those commonly penetrated in drilling oil or gas wells'.
Although this standard air velocity
has proven satisfactory for quarry
drilling, some oil and gas well drilling operators believe that an equivalent annular velocity of more than
4,000 ft/min is required; others believe that as little as 2,000 ft/min
is sufficient. Much of this disagreement results from determining the
required circulation rates with methods which fail to incorporate the
drilled solids in an equation which is
applicable to vertical flow.
Hughes Tool Co. Bulletins No. 23'
and 23-A' present data for determining circulation rates based on the

Original manuscript received in Society of

Petroleum Engineers office on July 16, 1957.
Revised manuscript received Oct. 31, 1957.
Paper presented at Society of Petroleum Engineers 32nd Annual Fall Meeting in Dallas.

OC~is~~;~i~~5~'f this and all following technical papers is invited. Discussion in writing:
(three copies) may be sent to the offices of
the Journal of Petroleum TechnolollY. Any
discussion offered after Dec. 31, 1957. should
be in the form of a new paper.
VOL. 210. 1957

SPE 873-G

lReferences given at end of paper.

Weymouth formula. These data do

not include the drilling rate as a
parameter and, therefore, neglect the
effect of the solids being transported
up the annulus. In spite of this apparent defect and the fact that the
Weymouth formula is not applicable
to vertical flow, the Hughes data
have well served the drilling industry in many areas and are important
and timely contributions to the science of air and gas drilling.
The Hughes data purposely omit
a correction for increasing down-hole
temperature. At slow drilling rates
this effectively compensates for the
use of a formula which is not valid
for vertical flow; however, volumes
determined by the Hughes method
are not sufficient to support rapid
drilling rates at moderate and great
depths. For example, Phillips Petroleum Co.'s Cauthorn "D" No. 1 in
the Vinegarone field for Val Verde
County, Tex., was air drilled from
1,500 to 9,300 ft using a compressor delivering 1,400 cu ft/min. The
8 3,4 -in hole was drilled with 5-in.
drill pipe, and drilling rates as high
as 90 ft/hr were obtained between
7,000 and 9,300 ft. No water or caving hole was encountered. At 7,728
ft it was necessary to wash-out 60 ft
of cuttings to reach bottom after a
trip to change bits. At 8,130 ft a
twist-off occurred and the drill collars were stuck in drill cuttings.
These difficulties indicate that the
1,400 cu ft/min of air was not sufficient to keep the hole clean. Hughes
data indicates that 1,180 cu ft/min is
sufficient to produce an annular ve325

locity at 8,000 ft which is equivalent

in lifting power to a standard air velocity of 3,000 ft/min. In view of
the difficulties encountered, it can be
concluded that either the equivalent
of 3,000 ft/min is not sufficient, or
that this equivalent annular velocity
was not present at 8,000 ft even
though more air was being used than
indicated by the Hughes data.
In order to determine which of
these conclusions is correct, a mathematical analysis of the problem was
performed. The analysis included the
effect of the solids being transported
up the annulus by incorporating
the drilling rate in a vertical-flow
equation. It also took into account
the effect of down-hole temperature.
Application of the resulting equation strongly supported the conclusion that an equivalent annular velocity of 3,000 ft/min was not obtained at 8,000 ft on the Cauthorn
drilling job even though the air volume was about 20 per cent in excess
of the volume indicated by the
Hughes data.
The use of data derived from this
analysis will resolve much of the
disagreement concerning the circulation rates required for satisfactory
air and gas drilling.

locity will be at least as great as the

volume determined by methods that
neglect slip. For this reason, the volumes determined by the methods
presented in this study should be regarded as the minimum volumes required to produce a desired equivalent annular velocity.
The following equation for determining the circulation rates necessary to produce annular velocities
that are equivalent in lifting power
to some velocity of standard density
air, V" is derived in the Appendix.
(Note that the circulation rate, Q,
enters into the right-hand member
of Eq. 1 in terms of a and h.)
6.61 S (T, + Gh) Q'
(D'1. - D')'
V'e
P
_cc

I [P' + h T ']
" ,

at various depths according to Eg.

1. These curves incorporate the assumption that the surface temperature in the annulus is 80F and that
the down-hole temperature increases
1 F for each 100 ft of depth (G =
.01). Circulation rates determined by
the Weymouth formula using these
temperature assumptions are also indicated on a vertical scale beside the
Hughes data which does not include
a down-hole temperature correction.
Comparison of the volumes indicated
by these methods shows that at slow
drilling rates the omission of the
temperature correction in the Hughes
data effectively compensates for the
use of a horizontal-flow formula.
Fig. 1 also illustrates that the
Hughes data cannot be accurately
applied to rapid drilling rates at moderate and great depths. For example,
at 8,000 ft with the 90 ft/hr drilling rate obtained on Cauthorn "D"
No.1, a circulation rate of 1,680
cu ft/min of air is required to maintain an equivalent annular velocity of
3,000 ft/min according to Eq. 1.
The Hughes data indicate a volume
of 1,180 cu ft/min for this depth.
The error in applying Hughes data to
these conditions is more than 40 per
cent.
0

h T'

e,ahlTav -

(](

'II"

(1)

where: a

SQ

28.8 K D,,'

53.3 Q
1.625 X 10-1: Q'
(D" - Dp)'3'" (D;,- D;r

h =

The specific gravity of the drilled

solids was assumed to be 2.70 in
the development of Eq. 1. This value
approximates the specific gravity of
most of the rocks penetrated in rotary drilling.

FIELD APPLICATION

DEVELOPMENT OF FORMULAS
In air and gas drilling, the particles
which are transported in the annular
flow stream are of varying size,
shape, and perhaps density; therefore, each particle has a different
terminal velocity in a given medium.
The particles are disintegrated during removal by the turbulent flow in
the annulus and the grinding action
of the drill string; thus, the distribution of particle sizes varies at different levels in the annulus. These factors prohibit accurate mathematical
expression of the effect of slip on
down-hole pressure in the annulus.
Due to the lack of better methods,
the effect of slip is neglected in the
derivation of a formula for predicting down-hole pressure as a function
of gas gravity, circulation rate, drilling rate, temperature, solids specific
gravity, hole size, pipe size, and
depth. The circulating fluid and the
drilled solids are assumed to form a
homogeneous mixture that has the
flow properties of a perfect gas. Recognizing that slip of the solids does
tend to increase the down-hole pressure and thus reduce the annular velocity of the circulating fluid, it is apparent that the actual volume necessary to produce a desired annular ve326

The most logical method ot using

Eq. 1 to determine volume requirements for drilling is to select some
standard air velocity, V" that works
in practice. As previously mentioned,
a standard air velocity of 3,000

COMPARISON OF METHODS OF
DETERMINING CIRCULATION
RATES
Fig. 1 shows how air requirements
increase with increasing drilling rate

WEYMOUTH METHODS

EOIJATION 1010. I
T. 5400+.01 h

HUGHES
DATA

20

!
I

18

...'"

,/"

0:

16

14

...
(,)

...

12

ci

'"
iz

...
...:a
:;
...

10

./

V
V

V
./

<

>- I-

i
I

I
!

: ,

---=-

r--

6000'
~

2000'

I I
o

20

40

60

DRILLING RATE,

FIG.

10000'
8000'f=,.1 0000'
6000'
8000'

i
!

2000' ----::

2000'

'- '-I-

J.....-

./

0:

II:

6000'

./

0:
0

8000'

'"::>Z

10,000

./

80

100

120

T=To

T. 540'l,..01~

FT.lHR

I-COMPARISON OF METHODS OF DETERMINING AIR CIRCULATIO:"

RATES REQUIRED FOR AN EQUIVALENT ANNULAR VELOCITY OF
3.000 FT/MIN IN 8%-IN. HOLE WITH :;-IN. DRILL PIPE.

PETROLEUM TRANSACTIONS, AI ME

It/min is required for best results

in drilling quarry holes. Basing circulation requirements on this standard air velocity is preferable to selecting a standard air velocity that
will lift a cutting of some arbitrary
size and shape. The size and shape
of the rock chips that are produced
by the bit depend on such factors
as drilling rate, rotary speed, bit
weight, tooth structure, and rock
characteristics. The actual size and
shape of the rock chips cannot be
predicted for a projected drilling job.
rt is, therefore, recommended that a
standard air velocity of 3,000 ft/min
be used to calculate basic circulation
requirements. Of course, adjustments
may be required to meet problems
peculiar to certain areas.
The solution of Eq. 1 is a tedious
trial and error process. For this reason, solutions for the common hole
and drill-pipe combinations were obtained on Phillips Petroleum Co.'s
Research Dept. Datatron. The use
of this computer saved approximately
two man years of slide rule calculation.
All Datatron solutions are based
on the assumptions that the surface
annular temperature, T" is 540 0 R
(80F) and that the temperature in
the annulus increases 1R for each
100 ft of depth (G = .01). The effect of the down-hole temperature
correction is illustrated in Fig. 2. Although these temperature assumptions do not apply exactly to each
drilling job, they represent a conservative estimate of average field
conditions and are of sufficient accuracy to permit general application
of the Datatron solutions.
To completely present the Datatron solutions will require many
pages of curves. These curves are
being prepared and will be made
available to the drilling industry. In
order to make the most useful portion of the data available at this

TABLE I-DATA FOR CALCULATING APPROXIMATE CIRCULATION RATES REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A

MINIMUM ANNULAR VelOCITY WHICH IS EQUIVALENT IN LIFTING POWER TO A STANDARD AIR
VELOCITY OF 3,000 FT/MIN
GAS, SPECI FIC GRAVITY .60
AIR
VALUE OF N
VALUE OF N
Hole
Pipe
Q,
Q,
Drilling Rate (ft/hr)
Drilling Rate (ft/nr)
Size
OD
(in.)
90
90
scf/min
0
30
60
(in.) scf/min
0
30
60
171/,
,5

121/.
11
9 7/ 8

8 3/4

7'/.
7%
6%
6 1/.
4 3/.
Q

4,209
6%
4,428
5V,
41;'
4,588
2,905
6%
51;'
3,124
4112
3,285
1,700
6%
1
1,918
5 12
2,079
4'12
1,237
6%
1,456
5 112
4112
1,616
1,079
5 112
1,163
5
4112
1,240
5
898
4112
975
1,103
3 112
5
827
903
4V,
1,032
3'12
4112
670
798
3'12
1
676
3 12
535
3 112
430
3 112
494
2'/.
229
2'/.
271
2%
(Required cu ft/min)

82.2
79.8
78.0
71.7
68.7
66.0
62.3
58.0
55.3
60.6
54.8
50.6
53.0
50.3
47.8
49.1
46.1
41.5
49.0
46.0
40.8
44.7
39.2
38.5
37.3
37.0
32.8
31.6
27.8
= Qo

131
177
126
171
166
123
151
112
107
143
137
103
97.8
130
89.5
119
83.6
111
94.5
124
83.8
110
101
76.9
104
80.3
75.5
98.7
71.7
93.3
73.0
94.4
68.5
88.5
61.0
79.0
72.7
93.2
67.8
87.3
60.0
77.3
65.0
82.7
56.7
72.5
55.0
69.8
52.8
66.1
51.5
63.6
46.0
57.3
41.3
49.5
37.2
44.8
+ N X H (Depth

221
5,434
213
5,716
207
5,924
188
3,751
178
4,033
171
4,241
2,194
160
2,477
146
2,684
136
151
1,597
135
1,880
124
2,087
126
1,393
120
1,502
114
1,600
113
1,160
1,258
107
1,424
95.5
1,068
112
1,166
105
1,332
93.7
98.3
865
1,031
86.9
83.2
873
78.0
690
74.7
555
67.7
638
56.5
296
51.6
350
in thousand ftl

66.3
61.8
58.0
64.2
58.6
54.0
63.0
56.3
50.8
64.5
55.5
50.0
56.4
52.3
48.8
53.0
49.0
42.0
53.5
49.1
41.8
50.1
41.6
41.6
41.5
42.0
37.0
37.0
32.3

128
119
113
118
108
100
112
97.7
88.2
112
95.4
84.4
94.7
87.7
81.6
87.1
80.3
68.9
87.0
80.0
68.3
78.8
66.3
65.3
63.8
63.1
55.1
51.3
45.6

186
174
165
167
154
144
155
137
124
152
131
116
128
119
111
116
108
93.1
115
107
92
104
87.8
85.5
82.3
80.0
71.4
62.6
56.3

240
226
215
214
197
185
194
172
157
188
163
146
157
147
138
141
132
115
140
130
114
125
107
104
99.0
94.7
85.4
72.2
65.5

Example: Calculate the circulation rote required to air drill 11 ~in. hole with 5 1/7-in. drill pipe at

rate of 90 It/hr at 11,000 It.

Q = Qo + N X H =1,456 + 135X 11 = 2,941 cu It/min

time, an approximate method of determining circulation rates is presented in Table 1. This approximate
method was derived from the Datatron solutions of Eq. 1.
The approximate method differs
from the true solution because it assumes a straight-line variation of circulation rate with depth for each
drilling rate. Curves representing the
true solution are nearly straight lines
with exception of those which represent high drilling rates in small holes.
This is illustrated by Figs. 3 and
4, which present a comparison of the
approximate and true solutions of
Eq. I for 4% - and 8% -in. holes respectiVely. Observe that appreciable
errors occur only in small holes at
rapid drilling rates.
The approximate method can be
used to determine air volumes down

to 10,000 ft with a maximum error

of less than 7 per cent in all hole
sizes which are 6v,. in. or larger.
This method can be used for air
down to 10,000 ft in 4%-in. holes
with less than 10 per cent error.
Slightly poorer accuracy is obtained
for natural gas.
The accuracy of the approximate
method is commensurate with the effect of normal errors in predicting
drilling rates; therefore, the use of
the approximate method is recommended until the exact curves hecome available.
Several examples of the use of the
approximate method follow.
EXAMPLE

Calculate the circulation rate re-

-,
i

"

z
~
x

-c

w 7
~

,.

!~

5,
~

~
~

"

.,

'0
45178.IOU12
DEI'TM. TNOCIIA. .I (J' PlIT

FIG. 2-EFFECT OF DOWN-HOLE TEMPERA

TURE ON AIR CIRCULATION RATES RE'
QUIRED FOR AN EQUIVALENT ANNULAR VE'
LOCITY OF 3,000 FT/MIN IN 7S-IN. HOLE
WITH 4lf2-IN. DRILL PIPE.
\'OL 210, 1957

DEPTH,

THOUSA~OS

OF FEET

FIG. 3-COMPARISON OF EXACT AND ApPROXIMATE 'SOLUTIONS OF EQ. 1 FOR AIR

VOLUMES REQUIRED TO PRODUCE AN
EQUIVALENT ANNULAR VELOCITY OF 3,000
FT/MIN IN 4%-IN. HOLE WITH 2Ys-IN.
DRILL PIPE.

DEPTH, THOUSANDS OF fEET

FIG. 4 - COMPARISON OF ApPROXIMATE

AND EXACT 'SOLUTIONS OF EQ. 1 FOR AIR
VOLUMES REQUIRED TO PRODUCE AN
EQUIVALENT ANNULAR VELOCITY OF 3,000
FThiiN TN 8%-IN. HOLE WITH 5-11".
DRILL PIPE.
327

quired to air drill at 10,000 ft in

71's -in. hole with 3 V2 -in. drill pipe
at the rate of 60 ft/hI.
From Table 1:
Qo = 798 N = 72.5
Q = Q, + N H = 798 + 72.5
'>( 10 = 1,523 cu ft /min.
(The exact solution for
this example is 1.490 cu
ft/min.)
EXAMPLE 2
Calculate Example
for a gas
with .6 specific gravity.
From Table 1:
Qo = 1,031 N = 87.8
Q = 1,031 + 87.8 X 10 =
1,909 cu ft/min
(The exact solution for
this example is 1.837 cu
ft/min.)
EXAMPLE 3
Calculate Example 1 for a gas
with .8 specific gravity.
From Example 2: Q = 1,909
From Example 1: Q = 1,523
Difference
386
For .8 gravity the volume is approximately:
Q = 1,523 + 386/2 = 1,716 cu
ft/min
(The exact solution for
this example IS 1,624 cu ft/
min.)
EXAMPLE 4
Calculate the volume required to
drill 90 ft/hr at 12,000 ft in 7% -in.
hole with 4112 -in. drill pipe using
natural gas with .6 specific gravity.
From Table No.1:
Q, = 865
N = 125
Q = 865 + 125 X 12 = 2,365
cu ft/min
(The exact solution for
this example is 2,105 Cll
ft/min.)
BOTTOM-HOLE PRESSURES
Bottom-hole pressures were computed for all points that were calculated on the Datatron. Although these
data are incidental to the present
study, they are of general interest in
view of proven relationships between
drilling rate and bottom-hole pressure.
Fig. 5 presents curves of bottomhole pressure vs depth for circula-

220 200

180

---GAS (5'.6)

__ L_~+

100

0..

100-

:I:
~

00-

!60

----1----

~ 140
'n

120 -

180

__ ~----+-_

"j

140 -

:.:l

--'

'Jl

'"

200

-AIR
---GAS (5-.6)

:! 180

~ 120

&:

220

77/8' HOLE. 4112' PIPE

200

"- 160
'-"

-I

---- LEGEND

220

LEGEND
II' HOLE, 5 1/2' PIPE
-AIR

'"

120 w

<5

80
60

!40

-- c

en

--'
0

80

:I:

:I:

~
t;

en

100 -80

60
40

0-

t;

en

024681012
DEPTH, THOUSANDS OF FEET

5-BoTTOM-HOLE PRESSURE VS DEPTH FOR CIRCULATION RATES WHICH PRODUCE

ANNULAR VELOC1TmS THAT ARE EQUIVALENT IN LIFTIl\I; POWEll TO A STA"OAHO All!
VF.LOClTY OF .1.000 FThn".

FIG.

tion rates which produce an equivalent annular velocity of 3,000 ft/min.

Although drilling rate is presented as
a parameter, these curves should not
be construed as representing any of
the relationships between drilling rate
and bottom-hole pressure that are
observed in drilling various rocks.
Note that at great depths the bottom-hole pressures accompanying
circulation rates which produce an
equivalent annular velocity of 3,000
ft/min are much higher in the small
holes than in the large and that drilling rate has a marked effect. The absolute bottom-hole pressures (pounds
per square foot) for any set of conditions can be calculated by substituting the appropriate data in the righthand member of Eq. 1. Of course.
the accuracy of these pressure calculations is subject to the assumptions
lIsed in the derivations which have
been previously mentioned.

a vertical-flow equation that incorporates the drilling rate as a parameter and includes a reasonable downhole temperature correction.
4. Circulation rates which are determined by this method should be
regarded as minimum requirements.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author wishes to express his
appreciation for the permission of
Phillips Petroleum Co. to present
this paper.
The work of M. R. Tek and his
Fluid Mechanics Group of Phillips
Research and Development Dept. in
obtaining Datatron solutions is gratefully acknowledged.
The encouragement and excellent
counsel of H. B. Woods of the
Hughes Tool Co. is greatly appreciated by the author.
REFERENCES

CONCLUSIONS
I. Drilling rate is a parameter

that should be considered in calculating circulation requirements for

air and gas drilling.
2. Hughes data for determining
volume requirements are sufficiently
accurate for slow drilling rates and
for shallow holes.
3. The approximate method of calculating required air and gas volumes, which is presented in Table 1
of this study, is more accurate than
past methods because it is based on

APPENDIX

1. Woods, II. B.: Personal contact.

:Z. !\lartin, n.
"Usc of Air or Gas U'
a Circulating Fluid in Rotary Drilling
.--Voillmetrie Requirements," Hughes
Engr. Bull. No. 23. Nov. 28. 1952
vised June 15. 1953).
:~. J\iartin, D. .T.: "Additional Calculations to Determine Volumetric Rf'quirements of Air or Gas as a Circu
lating Fluid in Rotary Drilling:'
Hughes Engr. Bull. No. 23A (.fun/
15, 1953).
I-. Engineering Data Book. 6th Ed., Nat
ural Gasoline Supply Men's Assn.
(April, 1951), 41.
S. Nicolson, K. M.: "Air Drilling ill
California", Drill. and Prod. Pra(' ..
APT (1953) 300.

.r.:

mp-

and pipe outside diameter

D =" internal diameter of a pipe or equivalent di-

NOMENCLATURE

A
a

= cross

sectional area, ft'

a function of gas gravity, hole size, solids
specific gravity, drilling rate and circulation rate
b = a function of circulation rate. hole diameter

328

ameter of an annulus. ft
d = diameter, in.
D h = hole diameter, ft
Dp = pipe outside diameter, ft
e = base of naturallogrithms, 2.71828 ...
f = friction factor, dimensionless
G = annular temperature gradient, OF /ft
PETROLEUM TR.-\:\'SACTIONS, AIME

g = gravitational constant, ft/sec'

h = depth below the surface to any point under

consideration, ft
H = hole depth, thousands of ft
K = driIIing rate, ft/hr
k = drilling rate, ft/sec
L = length, ft
Lm = length, miles
My = fluid circulation rate, lb/sec
M., = rate at which solids are driIIed, lb/scc
N = slope of curve denoting circulation rate vs
depth, cu ft/min/l,OOO ft
P = pressure, lb/ft' Abs
P = pressure, psia
P p, = pressures at specific points in a flow stream,
lb/ff Abs
PI. P, = pressures at specific points in a flow stream,
psi a
Po = pressure used as a standard for gas measurement, lb/ft' Abs
po = pressure used as a standard for gas measurement, psia
p, = pressure in the annulus at the surface, lb/ft'
Abs
Q = circulation rate, scf/min
Qo = circulation rate for zero depth for use III
approximate calculations, scf/min
Q" = flow rate, scf/day
q = circulation rate, scf/sec
R = gas constant, 1,544/molecular weight, ft;oR
I' = solids gas weight ratio, dimensionless
S = specific gravity of gas related to air, dimensionless
T = absolute temperature, oR
To = absolute temperature standard for gas measurement, OR
T, = absolute temperature in annulus at the surface, oR
To, = average absolute temperature of a flow stream,
oR
v = velocity, ft/sec
V = velocity, ft/min
V, = velocity of standard density air, ft/min
p = density of fluid phase at any point, lb/ft"
po = density of standard air, lb/ft'
pm = composite density of gas-solids mixture at
any point, Ib/fC

for application to annular flow becomes:

q ==, 275 --.:.

P
P (D h - D.,'/,.667 (D'Il - D')
"

dP

iv'

= -

S P
53.3

-r,:: and

(P'L S- To.,P')'
~~_'

(3)

The term, D,60', can be replaced by DOG< A/.7854.

The hydraulic radius of a circular cross section is:
Cross-sectional area/wetted perimeter, or:
.7854 D'/3.142 D = D/4.
The hydraulic radius of an annular cross section is:
,7854 (D: - D;) /3.142 (D" + Dp) = (Dn - Dp)/4.
Then for annular flow, D"'" can be expressed by:
(D',,-- D',~ (D" - D p ) ' ' ' ' ' ' , and the Weymouth formula
VOL, 210,

1957

q To>, Po
.7854 D' To P ,

Eq. 5 becomes

P'

p~q'~l'

__ .000473 S I To"
P dP To'D5

Pt

dL
.)

;~ D'5 (IP'~ ~ TP')'

:" '

32.5

(6)

Equating the right-hand members of Eqs. 3 and 6

and solving for I,
1= .014 D-''''''
(7)
For annular flow,
I = .014 (D" - Dp) -."'13
(8)
DERIVATION OF VERTICAL-FLOW FORMULAS
WHICH INCLUDE THE EFFECT OF SOLIDS
BEING TRANSPORTED UP THE ANNULUS
Assuming that the drilled solids and circulating fluid
form a homogeneous mixture (no slip) and that the
mixture has the flow properties of a perfect gas, the
following differential equation applies for any depth,
h (positive) ft below the surface:

_ [ + 2g(D"IV']
_ Dp) dh

(9)

dP - pm 1

By making the following substitutions:

q X 14.7 X 144 (T, + Gh)
v = .7854(D',. - D~) P X 520
5.19 q (T,
.014

+ Gh)

D;) P

(D" - D p )-33,'

(from Weymouth

formula)

+ r) =

SP
53.3 T (l

+ 1')

M.
.7854 D' X 62.4 X 2.7 X k
= ---.!-'."""c;c;;-;;----Mfl
.0765 S q
1,728 k D'
=
h
S q
Eq. 9 becomes

If the specific gravity of the drilled solids is 2.70:

Converted to consistent units it becomes,

o

(5)

- P - dL

P
pm = RT (1

(2)

I, FROM

2gD
Making the following substitutions,

The Weymouth' formula is:

275 pa X D"o", X

0"

In horizontal gas flow through a pipe the following

differential equation holds.

APPLICATION OF THE WEYMOUTH FORMULA

TO ANNULAR FLOW

L S 1

DERIVATION OF FRICTION FACTOR,

THE WEYMOUTH FORMULA

(D~ -

----.-

(4)

Q" = 433.45 --"-X

d'" X (p;"
- 'p;) ',
T
Po
L,,, S Ta.

(P', - P', )i

=-

-[
aP
-l-llb(L-i-Gh)]
P (T, + Gil) ,
P
dh
( 10)

where:
a = Sq

1,728 k D;'
53.3 q

SQ

+ 28.8 K

D I:

53.3 Q
329

and
b =

.00585 q'
Dr)''''' (D:' - Dr')'

--;-o;c-----:::---;-;""'=~:_o____;:~

(D" -

1.625 X 10-'; Q'

(D" - Dp)"" (D:, - D;)' .
The general solution to Eq. 10 is:
P'(T ,

Gh)-'UIG

ab
(T
(G - a ) '

Gh)"'-"/G)

(11 )

Solving for the constant of integration,

C

= p~ T s -~(l/&

T.:(1-II /G)

ab

Surface temperature, T, = 540 Abs

P, = 2,120 lb/ft' Abs .
By Eq. 12, P = 9,700 lb/ft' or p = 67.4 psia.
By Eq. 13, P = 9,800 Ib/ft' or p = 68.0 psia.
Since the assumption that the temperature varies
linearly with depth is, in itself, an approximation, Eq.
13 will be used for simplicity in preference to Eq. 12.
It the carrying capacity of the fluid phase at any
point in the hole is equivalent to the carrying power of
some velocity of standard air, V" the following relationship must hold':
(14)
p" V'e = P V' .
By substituting po = .0765 (at 14.7 psia and 60 P),
0

(G - a)

SP

Eq. 11 becomes:
P =

.1 (p'

_G-aT~)(L +T,
",
ab

(l

Gh)'''/G

+ abeT, + Gh)'

= 53.3(T,

v=

G-a

P =

~ [~' + b T~"]e'''''/'['a"

- b

T~",

Q(T,

+ Gil)

X 14.7 X 144

Eq. 14 becomes
6.61 S (T,
P =

+ Gh)

Q'

(15)

(D- - D')' V'

P

II,

I:>

By combining Eqs. 13 and 15, the final equation becomes:

(13)

The following comparison of Eqs. 12 and 13 by

substitution of reasonable numerical values reveals that
both equations give results which are nearly identical.
Assumed values:
Depth, h = 10,000 ft
Drilling rate, K = 60 ft/hr
8% -in. hole, D" = .73 ft
5-in. drill pipe, Dr = .416 ft
Q = 1,500 cu ft/min, air
Temperature gradient, G = .01 P 1ft

330

Gh)

.7854 (D~, - D:) X 520 P

(12)

In the integration of Eq. 10, the down-hole temperature in the annulus was taken as a linear function of
depth and was treated as a variable. It the integration is
performed treating the down-hole temperature as a
constant, T"v, the following equation results:

and

( 16)

where
a=

SQ

+ 28.8KD'

----=-53=--.3 Q

and
1.625 X 10-" Q'
b = (D - D)"'"" (D' - D')' .
II

JI

(Note that Q enters into the right-hand member of

Eq. 16 by inclusion of the terms, a and b.)

***

I' ETR

()I~E

Ii M T RA" SAt:T I ON S, A I M E