Numerical prediction of cuttings transport behavior in well drilling using kinetic theory of granular flow

Abstract The cuttings transport during well drilling was numerically simulated based on kinetic theory of granular flow in combination with sliding mesh for drill pipe rotation. The power-law model was implemented to describe the rheological behavior of drilling fluid. Numerical results were compared with available experimental data in the literature to validate the algorithm, and good agreement was found. Three distinguishable regions of cuttings flow pattern and swaying phenomenon of cuttings distribution were observed along the direction of drill pipe rotation. Increasing the fluid velocity results in a reduction in the height of cuttings bed and weakening of the swaying phenomenon. Higher apparent viscosity of drilling fluid contributes to a good performance of cuttings transport at a low annular velocity, but rising in pressure loss. There is critical inclination angle of the well θ ctr for cuttings transport ratio and θ dp for pressure drop through the annulus. The most difficult of cuttings transport occurs in the well inclinations around 35°–65°. There is no additional contribution of drill pipe rotation to cuttings transport after reaching a critical rotation speed. Increasing the cutting size leads to a reduction in the cuttings transport ratio and an increase in pressure drop.