PETE 411

Well Drilling

Lesson 14
Jet Bit Nozzle Size Selection
1

14. Jet Bit Nozzle Size Selection

Nozzle Size Selection
Hydraulics:

for Optimum Bit

Max. Nozzle Velocity

Max. Bit Hydraulic Horsepower
Max. Jet Impact Force

Graphical Analysis
Surge Pressure due to Pipe Movement
2

Read:
Applied Drilling Engineering, to p.162

HW #7:
On the Web - due 10-09-02

Quiz A
Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 - 9 p.m. Rm. 101
Closed Book
1 Equation sheet allowed, 8 1/2x 11 (both sides)

{ Quiz A_2001 is on the web }

3

Jet Bit Nozzle Size Selection

Proper bottom-hole cleaning
will eliminate excessive regrinding of drilled
solids, and
will result in improved penetration rates

Bottom-hole cleaning efficiency

is achieved through proper selection of bit
nozzle sizes
4

Jet Bit Nozzle Size Selection

- Optimization Through nozzle size selection,
optimization may be based on
maximizing one of the following:
Bit Nozzle Velocity
Bit Hydraulic Horsepower
Jet impact force

There is no general agreement on which of

these three parameters should be maximized.
5

Maximum Nozzle Velocity

Nozzle velocity may be maximized consistent with
the following two constraints:

1. The annular fluid velocity needs to be high

enough to lift the drill cuttings out of the hole.
- This requirement sets the minimum
fluid circulation rate.
2. The surface pump pressure must stay within the
maximum allowable pressure rating of the
pump and the surface equipment.
6

Maximum Nozzle Velocity

From Eq. (4.31)

i.e.

v n Cd

Pb
4
8.074 *10

v n Pb

so the bit pressure drop should be maximized in

order to obtain the maximum nozzle velocity
7

Maximum Nozzle Velocity

This (maximization) will be achieved when
the surface pressure is maximized and the
frictional pressure loss everywhere is
minimized, i.e., when the flow rate is
minimized.
v n is maximized when 1& 2 above are satisfied,
at the minimum circulation rate
and the maximum allowable surface pressure.
8

Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

The hydraulic horsepower at the bit is
maximized when ( p bit q) is maximized.

ppump p d pbit

p bit p pump p d
where p d may be called the parasitic pressure
loss in the system (friction).
9

Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

The parasitic pressure loss in the system,

p d p s p dp p dc p dca p dpa cq

1.75

if the flow is turbulent.

In general,

p d cq

where 0 m 2

10

Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

p bit p pump p d
PHbit

p d cq

pbit q p pump q cq

1714
1714

dPHbit

0 when
dq

m 1

p pump c(m 1)q 0

m

11

Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

p pump c(m 1)q 0
m

i.e., when p pump ( m 1) pd

1
i.e., when p d
p pump
m 1
PHbit is maximum when

pd

p pump
m 1

12

Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

- Examples In turbulent flow, m = 1.75

1
p d
pp
m 1

p d
p pump *100%
1.75 1
36% of p pump
p bit 64% of p pump
13

Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

Examples - contd
In laminar flow, for Newtonian fluids,

m=1

1
p d
p pump *100%
11
50% of p pump
p b 50% of p pump
14

Maximum Bit Hydraulic Horsepower

In general, the hydraulic horsepower is not
optimized at all times
It is usually more convenient to select a
pump liner size that will be suitable for
the
entire well
Note that at no time should the flow rate be
allowed to drop below the minimum
required for proper cuttings removal
15

Maximum Jet Impact Force

The jet impact force is given by Eq. 4.37:

F j 0.01823 cd q pbit
0.01823 c d q (p pump pd )

16

Maximum Jet Impact Force

F j 0.01823 c d q (p pump pd )
But parasitic pressure drop,

pd cq
F j 0.01823 cd

p p q cd q
2

m2

17

Maximum Jet Impact Force

Upon differentiating, setting the first derivative
to zero, and solving the resulting quadratic
equation, it may be seen that the impact
force is maximized when,

2
p d
p p
m2
18

Maximum Jet
Impact Force
- Examples Thus, if m 1.75,

2
p d
p p
m2

p d 53% of p p
and p b 47% of p p

Also, if m 1.00

p d 67% of p p
and p b 33% of p p
19

Nozzle Size Selection

- Graphical Approach -

20

21

22

1. Show opt. hydraulic path

2. Plot pd vs q
3. From Plot, determine
optimum q and pd
p bit p pump p d
4. Calculate
5. Calculate
2
5
8.311 *10 qopt
Total Nozzle Area: ( At ) opt
2
Cd ( pb ) opt
(TFA)

6. Calculate Nozzle Diameter

With 3 nozzles:

4A tot
dN
3

23

Example 4.31
Determine the proper pump operating
conditions and bit nozzle sizes for max.
jet impact force for the next bit run.
Current nozzle sizes: 3 EA 12/32
Mud Density = 9.6 lbm.gal
At 485 gal/min, Ppump = 2,800 psi
At 247 gal/min, Ppump = 900 psi
24

Example 4.31 - given data:

Max pump HP (Mech.) = 1,250 hp
Pump Efficiency

= 0.91

Max pump pressure

= 3,000 psig

Minimum flow rate

to lift cuttings

= 225 gal/min
25

Example 4.31 - 1(a), 485 gpm

Calculate pressure drop through bit nozzles:
8.311 *10 q
5

Eq.( 4.34) : pb
pb

cd At

8.311(10 -5 )(9.6)( 485 )2

12
(0.95) 3

4 32
2

1,894 psi

parasitic pressure loss 2,800 - 1,894 906 psi

26

Example 4.31 - 1(b), 247 gpm

pb

8.311(10 )(9.6)(247)

12
3

4 32

(0.95)

491 psi

parasitic pressure loss 900 - 491 409 psi

(q1, p1) = (485, 906)
(q2, p2) = (247, 409)

Plot these two

points in Fig. 4.36
27

28

Example 4.31 - contd

2. For optimum hydraulics:

(a ) Interval 1,
q max

1,714 PHp E
Pmax

(b) Interval 2,

1,714(1,250)(0.91)

650 gal/min
3,000

2
2

p d
Pmax
(3,000)
m2
1.2 2
1,875 psi

(c) Interval 3,

q min 225 gal/min

29

Example 4.31
3. From graph, optimum point is at
gal
q 650
, p d 1,300 psi pb 1,700 psi
min
8.311 *10 qopt
5

( At ) opt

Cd (pb ) opt

A opt 0.47 in

-5

8.311 *10 * 9.6 * (650)

2
(0.95) * (1,700)

d N opt 14

32

nds

in
30

gal
q 650
, p d 1,300 psi pb 1,700 psi
min
31

Example 4.32
Well Planning
It is desired to estimate the proper pump
operating conditions and bit nozzle sizes for
maximum bit horsepower at 1,000-ft
increments for an interval of the well
between surface casing at 4,000 ft and
intermediate casing at 9,000 ft. The well
plan calls for the following conditions:
32

Example 4.32
Pump: 3,423 psi maximum surface pressure
1,600 hp maximum input
0.85 pump efficiency
Drillstring: 4.5-in., 16.6-lbm/ft drillpipe
(3.826-in. I.D.)
600 ft of 7.5-in.-O.D. x 2.75-in.I.D. drill collars
33

Example 4.32
Surface Equipment: Equivalent to 340
ft. of drillpipe
Hole Size: 9.857 in. washed out to 10.05 in.
10.05-in.-I.D. casing
Minimum Annular Velocity: 120 ft/min
34

Mud Program
Depth
(ft)

Mud
Density
(lbm/gal)

Plastic
Yield
Viscosity
Point
(cp)
(lbf/100 sq ft)

5,000

9.5

15

6,000

9.5

15

7,000

9.5

15

8,000

12.0

25

9,000

13.0

30

12
35

Solution
The path of optimum hydraulics is as
follows:
Interval 1

q max

1,714 PHp E
p max

1,714(1,600)(0.85)

3,423

681 gal/min.
36

Solution
Interval 2
Since measured pump pressure data are not
available and a simplified solution technique
is desired, a theoretical m value of 1.75 is
used. For maximum bit horsepower,

1
1

pd
pmax

m 1
1.75 1

3,423

1,245 psia
37

Solution
Interval 3
For a minimum annular velocity of
120 ft/min opposite the drillpipe,

qmin 2.448 10.05 4.5

2

120

60

395 gal/min
38

Table
The frictional pressure loss in other
sections is computed following a
procedure similar to that outlined above for
the sections of drillpipe. The entire
procedure then can be repeated to
determine the total parasitic losses at
depths of 6,000, 7,000, 8,000 and 9,000 ft.
The results of these computations are
summarized in the following table:
39

Table

Depth p s p dp p dc p dca p dpa p d

5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000

38
38
38
51
57

490
601
713
1,116
1,407

320
320
320
433
482

20
20
20
28
27*

20
25
29
75*
111*

888
1,004
1,120
1,703
2,084

* Laminar flow pattern indicated by

Hedstrom number criteria.
40

Table
The proper pump operating conditions
and nozzle areas, are as follows:
(l)Depth (2)Flow Rate (3)p d (4)p b
(ft )

(gal/min)

5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000

600
570
533
420
395

(psi)

1,245
1,245
1,245
1,245
1,370

(5)A t

(psi) (sq in.)

2,178
2,178
2,178
2,178
2,053

0.380
0.361
0.338
0.299
0.302

41

Table
The first three columns were read directly
from Fig. 4.37. (depth, flow rate and pd)
Col. 4 (pb) was obtained by subtracting p d
shown in Col.3 from the maximum pump
pressure of 3,423 psi.
Col.5 (Atot) was obtained using Eq. 4.85
42

43

Surge Pressure due to Pipe Movement

When a string of pipe is
being lowered into the
wellbore, drilling fluid is
being displaced and forced
out of the wellbore.
The pressure required to
force the displaced fluid out
of the wellbore is called the
surge pressure.
44

Surge Pressure due to Pipe Movement

An excessively high surge pressure can
result in breakdown of a formation.
When pipe is being withdrawn a similar
reduction is pressure is experienced. This
is called a swab pressure, and may be
high enough to suck fluids into the
wellbore, resulting in a kick.

For fixed

v pipe ,

Psurge Pswab
45

Figure 4.40B

- Velocity profile for laminar flow pattern when closed

pipe
is being run into hole
46