TY - THES

T1 - Digitalization of Displacement of non-Newtonian and Newtonian Fluids in Horizontal Annuli

AU - Shams Eshaghi, Sahand

N1 - embargoed until 10-05-2029

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - The fluid displacement is being assessed and evaluated via digital sensing of involved parameters such as flow rate and pressure in lab-scale apparatus known as a flow loop. Flow loop replicates the geometry of the borehole and the casing/drill pipe in a lab scale (5 meters) manner. The thesis has 1 major objective and 1 minor objective. The major objective is to compare experimental results with a commercial software. The series of tests included 6 different non-Newtonian fluids at 4 selected flow rates and 3 selected standoffs leading to 72 experimental tests. During the test, parameters such as flow rate and pressure were recorded by sensors in real time and the processed results were compared with software simulation. Since a picture is more than a thousand words, the interface between fluids is tracked and digitalized by digital cameras (2 high-speed and 1 GO PRO). The visual tracking of the interface provides a better understanding of interaction between two fluids during displacement process in real time. The displacing fluids are designed and provided by a client and the displaced fluid at this phase of the experiment is water. Because horizontal well has more complexity than vertical and inclined, the horizontal was selected for the first phase, but in the next phases, other inclinations will be included for tests. Amongst the 6 fluids selected for displacement, 3 of them have translucent optical properties and 3 others are opaque (Barite as weight up). The water as displaced fluid was placed in the annulus and displacing fluid was pumped from the bottom of the flow loop to the annulus. The fluids had a density ranging from 8.6 to 12.8 ppg, from low to high viscosity and yield point. As a minor objective, the digitalized interface tracking was compared with available literature to investigate the validity of the observed interface. The content of the thesis is summarized in 6 chapters. The first chapter gives an overview of the issue and the objective. The second chapter describes the available literature review and previous studies. In the third chapter, the flow loop technical setup and configuration and capability are put forward. The methodology and calibration of sensors and digital tools were described in the fourth chapter. Results are discussed in the fifth chapter and the conclusion and alternative solutions are explained in the sixth chapter.

AB - The fluid displacement is being assessed and evaluated via digital sensing of involved parameters such as flow rate and pressure in lab-scale apparatus known as a flow loop. Flow loop replicates the geometry of the borehole and the casing/drill pipe in a lab scale (5 meters) manner. The thesis has 1 major objective and 1 minor objective. The major objective is to compare experimental results with a commercial software. The series of tests included 6 different non-Newtonian fluids at 4 selected flow rates and 3 selected standoffs leading to 72 experimental tests. During the test, parameters such as flow rate and pressure were recorded by sensors in real time and the processed results were compared with software simulation. Since a picture is more than a thousand words, the interface between fluids is tracked and digitalized by digital cameras (2 high-speed and 1 GO PRO). The visual tracking of the interface provides a better understanding of interaction between two fluids during displacement process in real time. The displacing fluids are designed and provided by a client and the displaced fluid at this phase of the experiment is water. Because horizontal well has more complexity than vertical and inclined, the horizontal was selected for the first phase, but in the next phases, other inclinations will be included for tests. Amongst the 6 fluids selected for displacement, 3 of them have translucent optical properties and 3 others are opaque (Barite as weight up). The water as displaced fluid was placed in the annulus and displacing fluid was pumped from the bottom of the flow loop to the annulus. The fluids had a density ranging from 8.6 to 12.8 ppg, from low to high viscosity and yield point. As a minor objective, the digitalized interface tracking was compared with available literature to investigate the validity of the observed interface. The content of the thesis is summarized in 6 chapters. The first chapter gives an overview of the issue and the objective. The second chapter describes the available literature review and previous studies. In the third chapter, the flow loop technical setup and configuration and capability are put forward. The methodology and calibration of sensors and digital tools were described in the fourth chapter. Results are discussed in the fifth chapter and the conclusion and alternative solutions are explained in the sixth chapter.

KW - digitalization

KW - flow loop

KW - displacement

KW - digitalization

KW - flow loop

KW - displacement

M3 - Master's Thesis

ER -