Work

Numerical Simulation Investigation of Cuttings Transport Patterns in Horizontal Branch Wells for the Intelligent Drilling Simulation Experimental System

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Branched horizontal wells are widely applied in oil and gas development. However, their complex structures make cuttings transport and deposition problems more pronounced. In this study, a three-dimensional branched wellbore model was established based on an intelligent drilling and completion simulation system. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach, incorporating the Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid model and the kinetic theory of granular flow, was employed to investigate the effects of wellbore diameter, eccentricity, curvature, flow rate, and rheological parameters on cuttings transport behavior. Results from the steady-state simulations indicate that increasing the wellbore diameter and eccentricity intensifies cuttings deposition at the connection section, with the lower-region concentration rising significantly as the eccentricity increases from 0% to 60%. A larger curvature enhances local flow disturbance but reduces the overall cuttings transport efficiency. Increasing the flow rate improves hole cleaning but may promote cuttings accumulation near the bottom of the main wellbore. As the flow behavior index increases from 0.4 to 0.8, the average cuttings concentration rises from 0.0996 to 0.1008, and the pressure drop increases from 1,010,894 Pa to 1,042,880 Pa, indicating improved transport capacity but higher energy consumption. Experimental results are consistent with the numerical simulation trends, confirming the model’s reliability. This study provides both theoretical and experimental support for optimizing complex wellbore structures and drilling fluid parameters.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app152412877

Authors: Bin He, Xingming Wang, Qiaozhu Wang, Zhipeng Xu

Institutions: Chengdu University of Technology, Southwest Petroleum University

Language: English

Topic: Drilling and Well Engineering

Subfield: Ocean Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Xihua University, Key Laboratory of Fluid and Power Machinery, Ministry of Education