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A new solution to enhance cuttings transport in mining drilling by using pulse jet mill technique

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Abstract

In horizontal drilling, the cuttings bed is frequently formed to result in severe problems such as backing pressure, binding of bottom hole assembly (BHA) and even sticking of tool. Practice and research show that the smaller particle size is, the more favorable to carry out from bottom of hole in extended reach well or horizontal well. This paper presented a new solution to enhance cuttings transport in mining drilling through a new type of bit called pulsed mill bit (PMB) by using pulse jet mill technique. It provides a promising solution to enhance the efficiencies of rock breaking and cuttings carrying for pulsed jet, sucking cuttings to decrease the chip hold down effect, and reducing cuttings’ diameter to eliminate cuttings bed. The design was supported by the calculation models of Helmholtz resonator natural frequency, optimal drilling fluid flow rate of resonator, drilling fluid flow velocity in forward jet channel, critical impact velocity of cuttings and minimum length of the accelerating cavity. Meanwhile, factors affecting optimal drilling fluid flow rate, critical impact velocity of cuttings and minimum length of accelerating cavity were investigated. Case study showed a good consistency between the calculation results and the related theories. It is concluded that optimal drilling fluid flow rate increases with the increase of inlet and outlet cavity’s diameter, and decreases with the increase of the diameter of the resonant cavity. Critical impact velocity of cuttings increases with the energy conversion factor (β) and ROP, while decreasing with the final size of the cuttings (dt). This effect is obvious when β<0.2, ROP <3.048 m h−1 and dt<0.3 mm. Minimum length of the accelerating cavity decreases with the increase of the resonator’s natural frequency and separation coefficient (α) of drilling fluid flow rate. This study provides a promising solution to remove cuttings bed in horizontal well.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MOE Key Laboratory of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China

    YongSheng Liu, DeLi Gao, Zheng Wei, ZhenQuan Wang & LeiChuan Tan

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    YongSheng Liu & Balakumar Balachandran

Authors
  1. YongSheng Liu
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  2. DeLi Gao
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  3. Zheng Wei
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  4. Balakumar Balachandran
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  5. ZhenQuan Wang
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  6. LeiChuan Tan
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Correspondence to YongSheng Liu or DeLi Gao.

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Liu, Y., Gao, D., Wei, Z. et al. A new solution to enhance cuttings transport in mining drilling by using pulse jet mill technique. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 62, 875–884 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-017-9260-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-017-9260-y

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