PgDip/MSc Oil and Gas Engineering/WellEngineering Fundamentals Topic 6:Introduction to Fluid Mechanics.

Topic 6: Introduction to Fluid Mechanics

Review

This section is intended to introduce the students to the basic principles of

fluid mechanics and how they relate to oil industry operations.

Content
Overview

The main objective of any oil industry operation is to be able to produce hydrocarbons
(oil or gas) at a very reasonable rate and at minimum cost.
These hydrocarbons are usually found in the pore spaces of the reservoir rocks at
some depth below the ground. To reach the reservoirs it is important to drill a well to the
target rock and thereafter install a completion and production facilities to bring the
hydrocarbon to the surface for processing.
After the initial exploration, the next stage is to ‘’make the hole’’. The process of
making a hole involves using a drilling rig. Conventionally this involves drilling through
different layers of rock (Stratigraphy) from the surface using a drill bit to which the
drillstring is attached. As the depth increases, extra lengths of drill pipe are attached and
drilling fluid is continuously circulated by means of a pump through the drillstring, the bit
and back up to the surface in order to clean the hole and control subsurface pressure
among other functions.
Drilling fluids behave in a different manner when they are being circulated and
generate different pressures in the wellbore. The behaviour of fluid is related to the
pressure and temperature in the well. A knowledge of fluid flow behaviour and fluid
properties is essential to a successful drilling operation and the safety of the operation
and rig crew, protection of the various types of formations being drilled, especially the
relationship between fluid flow rate (Shear Rate) and the corresponding operating
pressures (Shear Stress).
Students must therefore understand the relationship between the shear stress, shear
rate, fluid flow behaviour and the fluid properties and how they change with respect to
operating conditions of temperature and pressure. These variables and relationships
form the fundamentals of fluid mechanics.
Normally a fluid flows from a point of higher pressure to point of lower pressure. As
discussed in Topic 5, for a fluid to move from point A to point B (Figure 1), the pressure
at A (PA) must be greater than the pressure at B (PB). The pressure difference between
points A and B is known as pressure drop (∆P).
Figure 1. Flow Direction and Pressure Drop

Point A Point B

Equation 1 ∆P = PA − PB
The behaviour of fluids is usually expressed in terms of Shear Stress to Shear Rate
relationship (Figure 2). Shear stress is a function of pressure drop while shear rate is a
function of flow velocity or flow rate for a given geometrical conduit.

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PgDip/MSc Oil and Gas Engineering/WellEngineering Fundamentals Topic 6:Introduction to Fluid Mechanics.

Figure. 2. Shear Stress - Shear Rate Relationship

Fluid A

Fluid B
Shear
Stress Fluid C
[τ]

Shear Rate [γ]

Thus at a given flow rate (shear rate), the pressure drop (shear stress) for each of the
fluids A, B and C would be different (Figure2).

Fluid Flow Loop

Usually, the surface rig pump(s) deliver drilling fluid at a specified pressure and pump
rate (flow rate) through the surface facilities (standpipe, rotary hose, swivel, kelly /
topdive) to the drill pipe through to the different bottom hole assembly (BHA) systems,
down to the bit and up the annular sections of the hole. The cuttings are carried to the
surface and filtered out via the solids control equipment (shakers, desanders and
desilters). Any gas is also removed via the degasser system. The fluid flow loop for a
typical drilling operation is as presented in Figure 3.

What are Fluids?

A fluid is defined as:

Any system that can deform continuously under the effect of applied stress, at any
given temperature and pressure.
There are five main classifications of fluids as noted below :
• liquids – homogeneous liquids and heterogeneous liquids (homogeneous +
colloidal solids). Drilling muds are typically heterogeneous;
• gases;
• aerated fluids – mixture of gas and liquid, typical in underbalanced drilling;
• Newtonian or non-Newtonian – classification imposed by flow properties of fluid
(Topic 7);
• complex mixtures – non-Newtonian and multiphase mixtures.

All of the above can be used as drilling fluids (even gases). Most drilling muds behave in
a non-Newtonian manner.

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PgDip/MSc Oil and Gas Engineering/WellEngineering Fundamentals Topic 6:Introduction to Fluid Mechanics.

Figure 3. Schematic of a Typical Drilling Fluid Flow Loop

Drill String
Surface Equipment

Shakers

Mud Pumps

Mud Pits

HEEL
Jet Sub Location

Whipstock

Cuttings Bed Downhole Motor

TOE

Open Hole

Casing

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PgDip/MSc Oil and Gas Engineering/WellEngineering Fundamentals Topic 6:Introduction to Fluid Mechanics.

Fluid Mechanics

We may define Fluid Mechanics therefore as the study of fluid systems, their behaviour
under different operating conditions and related properties. There are two main
branches of fluid mechanics:
• hydrostatics – this relates to the behaviour of fluids at rest;
• hydrodynamics – this relates to the behaviour of fluids in motion.

Hydrostatics [See Topic 8 for full details]

In hydrostatics there is no fluid movement, therefore viscosity effects are negligible and
there is no pressure drop or shear stress. The static condition occurs when drilling
operations stop and there is no fluid circulation. The pressure in the wellbore under such
a condition is known as hydrostatic pressure (PH).
PH = ρgH

Equation 2 ρ = Fluid density

g = Acceleration due to gravity
H = True vertical height of fluid column

In SI Units, [PH] = N/m2; [ρ] = kg/m3 and [H] = metres.

Hydrodynamics [see Topic 8 for details]

This refers to the physics of fluid behaviour under motion under different operating
conditions. This condition depicts the actual drilling operation with drilling fluid being
circulated through the wellbore.
Key Properties and Operating conditions are outlined in Table 1. [see Topic 7 for details]
Table 1. Properties of Fluids and Operating Conditions
Key Properties Operating Conditions
3 3 o o o o
Density (ρ) [kg/m , ppg, Ib/ft , gm/cc] Temperature (T), [ C, F, K, R]
2
Viscosity (µ), [N/m-s, cp] Pressure (P), [N/m , psi]
Specific Gravity (SG)
Compressibility (c)

All the properties of a fluid may change. The magnitude of any changes depends upon
the exact operating conditions. Engineers must recognise and appreciate the changes
and their effects.

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