SPE/IADC 57541
Equation for Estimating Mud Minimum Rate for Cuttings Transport in an Inclined-Until-
Horizontal Well
Rudi Rubiandini R. S., SPE -1172519, Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia
Copyright 1999, SPE/IADC Middle East Drilling Technology Conference
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1999 SPE/IADC Middle East Drilling
Technology Conference held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 8–10 November 1999.
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Abstract
There are so many problems associated with cuttings
deposited in the well bore when we using rotary drilling
methods to drill some vertical wells, directional wells or even
horizontal wells. To overcome these cuttings problems we
have to determine a mud minimum rate which has a capability
to clean the drilled well bore. This mud minimum rate is sum
of the slip velocity and the velocity of the fallen cuttings. It is
obvious that velocity of the cuttings are depend on the well
bore geometry and the magnitude of the ROP. Hence this
cuttings velocity will be constant for a specific well bore.This
paper develops Moore’s slip velocity of vertical well in order
to be used in the inclined well until horizontal well with some
corrections of rotary speed and the mud weight by Larsen’s
slip velocity procedure. The corrections of inclination angle,
RPM and the mud weight are obtained from Y axis of
cartessian dimensionless plotting of slip velocity with the
inclination angle at X axis. Dimensionless slip velocity equals
Peden’s experiment slip velocity data and Larsen’s calculation
results for inclined well divided by Moore’s slip velocity for
vertical well. The paper results a new equation to determine
the mud minimum rate which would lift the cuttings in the
inclined through horizontal well bore. In the case of
inclination angle > 45o , the mud minimum rate of Larsen’s
method, Larsen’s experiment data and Peden’s experiment
data have no significant difference with this new equation in
the paper. On the other hand, at inclination angle < 45o , the
new equation results a higher mud minimum rate than all of
the methods above resulted.
Introduction
Today, rotary drilling method has achieved its wide
application in line with the development of the directional,
horizontal, multilateral and even the multibranch wells. In the
rotary drilling, drilling mud has several functions, namely: (1)
lifting the cuttings to the surface, (2) provide a suspension
system for cuttings and weighting materials when circulation
is temporarily stopped, (3) form a mud cake, (4) control the
formation pressure, (5) cool and lubricate the drill bit and
string, (6) dump sand and cutting to the surface, (7) hold up
some of weight of drill pipe and casing, (8) as a logging
medium.
From the standpoint that drilling mud has main function to
lift the cuttings to the surface and the fact that rotary drilling
method has been used to develop directional until horizontal
wells, hence arise new problem with respect to drilling fluid
behavior in lifting the cuttings in the inclined until horizontal
wells. The typical problems that can be resulted if cuttings
were deposited are reduction of drilling rate due to crushing
process of unlifted cuttings and the increase of drag and
torque. See figure 1 for the illustration of cutting lifting
process in inclined hole.
Based on these problems, it is necessary to analyze the
cuttings transport mechanism and the factors that affect
cuttings transport in vertical, directional and horizontal wells,
such as: (1) fluid velocity in the annular as function of annular
area and pumping rate, (2) rate of penetration of drill bit, (3)
RPM of drilling, (4) eccentricity of drill pipe, (5) average
cuttings diameter, and (6) in directional until horizontal
drilling, it is estimated that the inclination also affects cuttings
transport.
There are three main parameters which influence cuttings
transport, namely: (1) Vs (slip velocity), the critical velocity
wherein cuttings start to be deposited; (2) Vcut (cuttings
velocity), is the velocity of fallen cuttings; (3) Vmin
(minimum velocity), is sum of the slip velocity and cuttings
velocity, the minimum velocity where cuttings can be lifted
to the surface.
Mud Minimum Rate, Larsen’s Method
One of the methods for estimating Vmin (minimum velocity)
was introduced by T.I. Larsen, A.A. Pilehvari and J.J. Azar, in
their paper, “Development of a New Cutting Transport Model
2 RUDI RUBIANDINI R. S. SPE 57541

for High-Angle Wellbores Including Horizontal Wells”, June Vmin = Vcut + Vslip .................................................................(11)
1997, SPE No. 25872 1). This paper was discussing a minimum
rate (Vmin) for system with the inclination between 55o – 90o
according to laboratory experiment and empirical correlation. This minimum velocity, that calculated using Larsen’s
method, is valid only for 55o – 90o inclination, and there are no
Cutting Velocity (Vcut). Cutting velocity could be expressed correction factors yet for inclination less than 55o . Refer to
as, figure 2 for estimating minimum velocity using Larsen’s
method.
From the Larsen’s paper, it was known that there are three
ROP parameters which affect the determination Vmin for inclined
Vcut = .....................................................(1)
  A pipe hole: (1) inclination, (2) ROP, and (3) mud density. Where
361 −   Cconc ROP has been represented by Vcut, whereas two other

  Ahole  parameters are not.
From the experimental data, it was shown that,
Mud Minimum Rate, Peden’s Method
C conc = 0 .01778 ROP + 0 .505 .............................. ...............(2 ) J.M. Peden, J.T. Ford and M.B. Oyeneyin presented their
investigation to determine mud minimum rate in their paper, “
Hence,
Comprehensive Experimental Investigation of Drilled Cuttings
1 Transport in Inclined Wells Including The Effects of Rotation
V cut = .......... .......... .....( 3)
 D 2
    and Eccentricity Drillpipe”, October 1990, SPE No. 209252).
1 −  Pipe 18 .16 

  Dhole    0. 64 + R p  Peden et.al., made some experiments for various fluid and
  
 also developed an analytical equation which showed cuttings
behavior to be lifted to the surface with the cutting suspension
Slip velocity (Vs) and Correction Factor. Vs is predicted by or cutting rolling.
calculating apparent viscosity, based on the experimental data, There are two parameters defect the determination of
V slip = 0.00516 a + 3. 006, a < 53cp.......... .......... .......... .(4) minimum rate, namely: (1) inclination (2) RPM, which both of
them were not covered yet in Peden’s method.

V slip = 0.02554 a + 3. 28, a > 53 cp.......... .......... .......... ...( 5) Cuttings Lifting Equation as a Function of Inclination
Cuttings velocity is function of ROP, Dp, Dh, in the same
manner as expressed below,
This equation was corrected for inclination, mud density
ROP
and cutting size. Vcut = .......... .......... ......( 12 )
  Dpipe  
2

36 1 −    Cconc
  Dhole  
Cang = 0. 0342θang − 0.000233 θang
2
− 0. 213 .......... .......... ..( 6)
Refer to figure 3 to determine slip velocity (Vs) in vertical
holes (Moore’s method), where essentially including three
main parameters: (1) Apparent viscosity, (2) Particle Reynold
Csize = −1 .04 D50 cut + 1.286 .......... .......... .......... .......... .......( 7) Number, and (3) Friction factor.
Basically, angle correction to calculate Vs for inclined hole
(0o – 90o ) is acquired by subtract Vcut from Vmin which
C mwt = 1 − 0. 0333(γ m − 8. 7)......,γm > 8. 7.............(8) determined with Larsen’s and Peden’s Methods, to obtain Vs
in inclined well. Thereafter, dimensionless plotting is made
between inclined well Vs divided by vertical well Vs as Y axis
C mwt = 1...................................,γm < 8. 7...............(9) and the inclination angle as X axis. See figure 4 through 8 for
the illustration of the dimensionless plotting.
Thereby,

( )
Vslip = Vs . Cang (Csize)(Cmwt )........................................(10) Slip Velocity Data. The slip velocity data are obtained by
iterate Vmin calculation for 55o , 65o , 75o , 85o , 90o inclination
angle for all varied inputs, they are pipe diameter, hole size,
cuttings density and ROP.
Minimum Velocity (Vmin). Minimum velocity is sum of
Slip velocity from Peden’s method is acquired by virtue of
cutting velocity (Vs) and slip velocity (Vslip),
experiment data to obtain the Vmin for inclined hole, whereas
Vcut is obtained using equation 12 with the cutting
concentration in the amount of 2%, afterwards Vcut is
subtracted from Vmin to acquired Vs for inclined hole, see
SPE 57541 Equation For Estimating Mud Minimum Rate For Cuttings Transport in an Inclined-Until-Horizontal Well 3

figure 9 for the calculation procedure.

Case Study and Validation
New Cuttings Lifting Equation. Five cases study was made to investigate the validation of the
The cartessian dimensionless plotting between Vs and new equation. These cases study are: (1) The comparison of
inclination for whole cases are used to determine the angle Vmin between Larsen’s method and new equation to Vmin
correction factor according to figure 10. By linear regression data of Peden’s paper, (2) The comparison of Vmin between
of the dimensionless plotting, angle correction is obtained as Larsen’s method and new equation to Vmin data of Larsen’s
expressed below: paper, (3) The comparison of Vmin between Larsen’s data,
Larsen’s calculation and new equation to see the effect of
θ ≤ 45 0 , RPM, (4) The comparison of Vmin between Larsen’s data,
Larsen’s calculation and new equation to see the effect of fluid
 2θ  rheology, and (5) The comparison of Vmin between Larsen’s
Ci =  1 +  .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... (13 )
 45  data, Larsen’s calculation and new equation to see the effect of
ROP. The results of these cases study are refer to figure 12
θ ≥ 45 0 ,
through 13.
To find out the distinction or the similarity between new
Ci = 2 .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ......(14 ) method to another, the formulation below are used:

Based on the dimensionless plotting between Vs and

inclination (Larsen’s method) for varied mud density, it is V min (new ) − V min (other )
ERROR = × 100 %......... ( 20 )
found that density correction factor: V min (new)
3 + ρm
Cmw = .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ...( 15 )
15 wherein closer the error value to 0, smaller the difference of
Meanwhile, the RPM correction factor is determined from two methods.
dimensionless plotting between Vs and inclination (Peden’s For the inclination 0o – 45o , Vmin of new equation tend to
method) for varied RPM by linear regression. This correction drastically increase as Vmin of Peden’s experimental data,
factor is: meanwhile Vmin of Larsen’s method is less accurate, but for
inclination 55o - 90o Vmin of all three methods show the same
 600 − Rpm 
CRpm =  .......... .......... .......... .......... ............(16 ) trend.
 600 

Minimum velocity (Vmin) for vertical, directional or

horizontal well could be written as, Conclusions
V min = V cut + (1 + C i * C mw * C Rpm )V sv .......... .......... (17 ) 1. The new equation could be used for inclination 0o – 90o ,
moreover this new equation results Vmin for vertical hole
Hence, the new equation can be expressed as: same as vertical Vmin of Moore. Vmin from new equation for
inclination 0o – 45o has the incremental tendency in the same
θ ≤ 45 o , manner as Vmin data from Larsen’s and Peden’s experiments.
2. Vmin from new equation has the constant values for
inclination 45o – 90o as shown by Vmin data from Peden’s and
 θ × (600 − Rpm) × (3 + ρm) Larsen’s experiment, and Vmin from Larsen’s calculation for
Vmin = Vcut + 1 + Vsv ..........
(18) inclination 55o – 90o .
 202500 
3. Vmin data from Larsen’s and Peden’s experiment, and
Vmin from Larsen’s calculation have the smaller value than
θ ≥ 45 o , the Vmin of new equation for inclination less than 45o ,
whereas for inclination 0o , Vmin data of Larsen’s and Peden’s
 (600 − Rpm)× (3 + ρm ) experiment have the extremely smaller value than vertical
V min = V cut + 1 + V sv ........(19)
 4500 Vmin of Moore.

Nomenclature
Vcut = cutting velocity,ft/s
ROP = rate of penetration, ft/h
Ahole = section area of hole, ft 2
The whole procedure to determine this Vmin is refer to Apipe= section area of pipe, ft 2
figure 11. Cconc = cuttings concentration, %
Dpipe = pipe diameter,in
4 RUDI RUBIANDINI R. S. SPE 57541

Dhole = hole diameter, in

Vslip = slip velocity, ft/s
µa = apparent viscosity, cp
Cang = hole inclination angle, deg
θang = hole inclination angle, deg
Csize = cutting size correction factor
D50cut = cutting diameter, in
Cmwt = mud density correction factor
γm = mud density, ppg
Vmin = minimum velocity, ft/s
Crpm = rpm correction

References
1. T. I. Larsen, A. A. Pilehvari, and J. J. Azar : “Development of a
New Cutting Transport Model for High-Angle Wellbores
Including Horizontal Wells”, SPE paper 25872, June 1997.
2. J. M. Peden, J. T. Ford, and M. B. Oyeneyin, Heriot – Watt U :
“Comprehensive Experimental Investigation of Drilled Cuttings
Transport in Inclined Wells Including The Effect of Rotation
and Eccentricity Drillpipe”, SPE paper 20925, October 1990.
3. Adam T. Bourgoyne Jr, Keith K. Millhelm, Martin E. Chenevert
F. S. Young Jr : “Applied Drilling Engineering”, SPE Textbook
series vol. 2.
4 R.S. Rubiandini, Rudi: “Diktat Kuliah Teknik dan Alat
Pemboran”, Institut Teknologi Bandung, 1994.
5. Moore, Preston L.: “Drilling Practice Manual”, The Petroleum
Publishing Co., Tulsa, 1974.
SPE 57541 Equation For Estimating Mud Minimum Rate For Cuttings Transport in an Inclined-Until-Horizontal Well 5

Fig.1-Cutting transport illustration in an inclined hole

6 RUDI RUBIANDINI R. S. SPE 57541

Fig.2-Minimum velocity (Vmin) calculation procedure using Larsen’s method

SPE 57541 Equation For Estimating Mud Minimum Rate For Cuttings Transport in an Inclined-Until-Horizontal Well 7

Fig.3- Vertical slip velocity calculation procedure using Moore’s method

8 RUDI RUBIANDINI R. S. SPE 57541

Fig.4-Dim (Vs) versus Inclination of Larsen’s and Peden’s data to obtain the inclination correction
SPE 57541 Equation For Estimating Mud Minimum Rate For Cuttings Transport in an Inclined-Until-Horizontal Well 9

Fig.5-Dim (Vs) versus inclination to obtain mud density correction at 8.54 ppg
10 RUDI RUBIANDINI R. S. SPE 57541

Fig.6-Dimensionless Vs versus inclination for Mud Density correction at 12 ppg

SPE 57541 Equation For Estimating Mud Minimum Rate For Cuttings Transport in an Inclined-Until-Horizontal Well 11

Fig.7-Dimensionless Vs versus Inclination for mud density correction at 14 ppg

12 RUDI RUBIANDINI R. S. SPE 57541

Fig.8-Dimensionless Vs versus Inclination for RPM correction

SPE 57541 Equation For Estimating Mud Minimum Rate For Cuttings Transport in an Inclined-Until-Horizontal Well 13

START

µa,θ,Dcut,ρf, ρs, Vmin,ROP

Dh, Dp, Cconc

ROP
Vcut =
  Dpipe  
2
1 −    72
  Dhole  

Vsi = Vmin - Vcut

END

Fig.9-Slip velocity calculation procedure for

inclined well using Peden’s method

START

Vsi (Larsen) ⇒ Inclined hole

Vsi (Peden) ⇒ Inclined hole
Vsv(moore) ⇒ Vertical hole
θ (Inclination angle )

Vsi ⇒ Inclined _ hole

Dim (Vs ) =
Vsv( moore) ⇒ Vertical _ hole

Plot θ (sb X) vs Dim(Vs) (sb Y)

END

Fig.10-Plotting procedure of dimensionless slip velocity versus

hole inclination
14 RUDI RUBIANDINI R. S. SPE 57541

Fig.11-Minimum velocity (Vmin) calculation Procedure using new equation

SPE 57541 Equation For Estimating Mud Minimum Rate For Cuttings Transport in an Inclined-Until-Horizontal Well 15

Fig.12-The comparison of minimum velocity inclination plotting for new equation, Peden’s data and Larsen’s data

Fig.13 -The comparison of minimum velocity versus inclination plotting for new equation, Larsen’s method and Larsen’s data