Drill Bit Hydraulics

Assumptions
1) Change of pressure due to elevation is negligible.
2) Velocity upstream is negligible compared to nozzles.
3) Pressure due to friction is negligible.

ΔPB − 8.075 E − 4 ρv n2 = 0
ΔPB Pressure drop across bit, vn nozzle velocity

Solving for nozzle velocity

ΔPB
vn =
8.074 E − 4 ρ

In the field it has been shown that velocity predicted by this equation is off.
So it has been modified,

ΔPB
vn = C d
8.074 E − 4 ρ

the recommended valve for Cd is .95.

If 3 nozzles are present

 q1 q 2 q3
v= = = the velocity is equal in all the jets.
A1 A2 A3

q = q1 + q 2 + q3 = v n A1 + v n A2 + v n A3

That gives us

vn = q In field units vn = q 3.117 A

At t

q in gpm, At in inches2, vn in ft/sec

solving for the pressure drop

8.311E − 5 ρq 2
ΔPB =
C d2 At2

ρ is #/gal

Flow Exponent α
It can be deduced that

Pf = CQα C is a constant

log Pf = log C + α log Q

So the log log plot of this equation is a straight line with a slope of α.
α can found if two Pf and Q are known, this can be achieved by measuring
the standpipe or surface pressure for 2 pumping rates. Ps=Pf+PB so by using
B

the above equation PB can be calculated and subtracted from Ps to find Pf.

8.311E − 5ρq 2
Pf = Ps − after finding Pf , α can be found by
C d2 At2
 ⎛P ⎞
log⎜ f 2 ⎟
⎝ Pf1 ⎠
α=
log⎛⎜ Q2 ⎞⎟
⎝ Q1 ⎠

Maximum Drill Bit Hydraulic Horsepower Criterion assumes that optimum

hole cleaning is achieved if the hydraulic horsepower across the bit is
maximized with respect to the flow rate Q.

H HB = PB Q

Sub in PB = Ps − CQ α
H HB = Ps − CQ α +1

Take the first derivative of H with respect to Q set the result to 0.

gH HB
= Ps − (α + 1)CQ α = 0
dQ

Ps − (α − 1)Pf = 0
1
Pf = CQα or Pf = PS
α +1

this is the root that makes HHB a maximum.

Hence the optimum bit hydraulics will be achieved if friction pressure loss
in the system is maintained at an optimum value of

1
Pfopt = Ps max
α +1

across the nozzles

α
PBopt = Ps max − Pfopt = Ps max
α +1
 Calculate or measure a Pfqa @ some Qa then knowing Pfopt a Qopt can
be calculated by
⎡1 ⎛P ⎞⎤
Qopt = Qa anti log ⎢ log⎜ fopt ⎟⎥
⎜P ⎟
⎣⎢ α ⎝ fqa ⎠⎦⎥

With Qopt known the PBopt can be rewritten

8.3E − 5ρQopt
PBopt = 2
Atopt C d2

8.3E − 5ρQopt
solve for Atopt Atopt =
C d2 PBopt

π
if all nozzles are the same size Atopt = 2
nd nopt n is the number of nozzles
4

Atopt
solve for dnopt d nopt =
nπ
Example:
DP 41/2” 20#/ft, Collars 7” 120.3#/ft 1000’
Mud θ300 21, θ600 29, ρ 15.5 #/gal
Pump Pmax 5440 psi HHP 1600hp 80%
TD 12,000’ Vamin 85 ft/min
Bit 8 7/8” 14-14-14 Hole size 9 7/8”

Rate data
Q1 300 GPM @ Ps1 2966 psi
Q2 400 GPM @ Ps2 4883 psi

Find α
8.311E 5ρQ 2
PB =
Cd2 At2

8.311E 5 ⋅ 15.5 ⋅ 300 2 8.311E 5 ⋅ 15.5 ⋅ 400 2

PB1 = = 631.6 psi PB 2 = = 1122.8 psi
.952.45099 2 .952.45099 2

Pf 1 = 2966 − 631.6 = 2344.4 psi Pf 2 = 4883 − 1122 .8 = 3760 .2 psi

⎛P ⎞
α=
log⎜ f 2
⎝ P ⎟ log 3760.2
f1⎠
=
(
2344.4 = 1.66
)
log⎛⎜ Q2 ⎞⎟ log 400
300
( )
⎝ Q1 ⎠

Find Qmax and Qmin

(
Qmax = 1714 ⋅ .8 1600
5440
) = 403gpm Based on pump

Qmin = 2.448(9.8752 − 4.52 )85 = 268 gpm Based on velocity

60

Optimum friction pressure

⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
Pfopt = ⎜ ⎟ Pp max = ⎜ ⎟5440 = 2047 psi
⎝ α + 1⎠ ⎝ 1.66 + 1 ⎠
 Optimum pressure drop at the bit

PB = Pp max − Pfopt = 5440 − 2047 = 3933 psi

Optimum flow rate

⎡1 ⎛P ⎞⎤
Qopt = Qa anti log ⎢ log⎜ fopt ⎟⎥ = 300anti log ⎡ 1 log 2047 ⎤ = 227 gpm
⎜P ⎟ ⎢⎣1.66 2334 ⎥⎦
⎣⎢ α ⎝ fqa ⎠⎦⎥

This is lower than the max and higher than min flow rates.

Optimum nozzle area

8.311E − 5 ⋅ ρ ⋅ Qopt
2
8.311E − 5 ⋅ 15.5 ⋅ 227 2
Atopt = = = .15in 2
C d2 PBopt 2
.95 3393

For 3 equal sized jets

d nopt = 2 .15 = .25in

3π
The maximum jet impact force criterion assumes that the bottom-hole
cleaning is achieved by maximizing the jet impact force with respect to the
flow rate.

The impact force at the bottom of the hole can be derived form Newton’s
second law of motion

F j = BQ PB B = .01823C d ρ Q in gpm ρ in #/gal

PB = Ps − Pf = Ps − CQ α

F j = BQ Ps − CQ α

limitations
1) maximum pump horsepower
2) maximum surface pressure

For the shallow portion of the well Pf is small and the flow rate requirement
is large the impact force is limited only by the pump horsepower, therefore,
the allowable surface pressure, expressed as

H p max
Ps =
Q

substituting

H p max
F j = BQ − CQ α = B H p max Q − CQ α − 2
Q

Differentiate and set to 0

dF j
=
[
.5 B H p max − (α + 2)CQ α +1 ]=0
dQ H p max Q − CQ α + 2

For a valid solution the numerator must be equal to zero.

Solve for the optimum friction pressure

1
Pfopt = Psopt
α +2

then solve for the optimum bit pressure

α +1
PBopt = Psopt − Pfopt = Psopt
α +2

In the deeper sections of the well the friction pressure loss increases, while
the flow rate requirement decreases. Therefore the impact force will limited
by the maximum allowed pump pressure, Psmax.

Pj = BQ Ps max − CQ α

Differentiate and set to 0

dF j
=
[
.5 B Ps max − (α + 2)CQ α +1 ]=0
dQ Ps max Q − CQ α + 2

For a valid solution the numerator must be equal to zero.

2
Pfopt = Ps max
α +2
Gives

α
PBopt = Ps max − Pfopt = Ps max
α +2
Example
Same data as Hydraulic example
So α=1.66 Qmax=4.3 gpm Qmin=268 gpm

At 12,000 feet the pump pressure is the limiting factor.

2 2 ⋅ 5440
Pfopt = Ps max = = 2975 psi
α +2 1.66 + 2

PBopt = Ps max − Pfopt = 5440 − 2975 = 2465 psi

⎡1 ⎛ Pfopt ⎞⎤
Qopt = Qa anti log ⎢ log⎜ ⎟⎥ = 300anti log ⎡ 1 log 2975 ⎤ = 347 gpm
⎜P ⎟⎥ ⎢⎣1.66 2334 ⎥⎦
⎢⎣ α ⎝ fqa ⎠⎦

It is bounded by the min and max flow rates, so

8.311E − 5 ⋅ ρ ⋅ Qopt
2
8.311E − 5 ⋅ 15.5 ⋅ 347 2
Atopt = = = .26in 2
C d2 PBopt .95 ⋅ 2465
2

d nopt = 2 .26 = .332in = 10.6 / 32"

3π

3 - 11 jets have an area of .27in2.

Section 4.13 in text, pages 156, 157

 Cuttings Lifting
Rock weights about 21 ppg, so it will fall in any fluid that has a lower
density. The rate that the cutting fall in the drilling fluid is the slip
velocity. To maintain good hole cleaning the velocity of the drilling
fluid has to be greater than the slip velocity of the cuttings. The slip
velocity depends on the difference in densities, viscosity of the fluid
and the size of the cuttings.

⎡ d p (ρ p − ρ f )⎤
.5

v s = 113.4 ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ C D ρ f ⎥⎦

d p the diameter of the cuttings inches

ρp the density of the cuttings 21 ppg
CD Drag coefficient

Particle Reynolds number

15.47 ρv s d p
Rp =
μ
which gives

40
CD =
RP

Substituting in the first equation

4980 d p2 (ρ p − ρ f )
vs =
μ

For values of Rp greater than 1 which means laminar flow around the
particle the drag coefficient can be found using

22
CD =
R .p5
So the slip velocity equation becomes

175d p (ρ p − ρ f )
.667

vs =
ρ .f333 μ .333
Designing the hydraulic system

1) Break the well down into sections, hole size, drilling fluid
changes and depth etc. Design the drilling fluids for each.
2) Calculate the maximum pump rate using the pump
specifications.
3) Calculate the friction loss in the pipe and annulus for each
section using 2 flow rates. From this calculate the flow
exponent α for that section.
4) Using this flow exponent optimize the bit hydraulics.
5) When drilling confirm your plan by finding the α by
measuring the friction pressure at 2 pump rates.
6) Find the annular velocity at the optimal rate and compare it
to the slip velocity, verify that this rate will clean the hole.
7) Calculate the pressures and horsepower required to pump
the optimal rate for the bit and verify the equipment can
handle it.
8) Trail and error may be required to find the optimal rate and
jet sizes.