Study on the Influence of Tripping Operation on Annular Transient Surge-Swab Pressure of Herschel–Bulkley Fluid

Abstract

Abstract The accurate prediction of transient surge-swab pressure, during the tripping operation under a narrow pressure window, is an important premise to ensure the safety of tripping operation and drilling. Different rheological modes of drilling fluid will have a great influence on the surge-swab pressure in wellbore, while the Herschel–Bulkley mode can simulate the rheological characteristics of actual drilling fluid in a better way. Therefore, the influence of drilling fluid flow friction under different rheological modes was mainly considered according to the transient flow model. Meanwhile, the influence of pumpage on transient surge-swab pressure during tripping operation was also considered with Herschel–Bulkley fluid-based tripping operation bottomhole transient surge-swab pressure calculation model established and model verification carried out. The following research results were obtained. First, compared with the Herschel–Bulkley mode, the power-law mode and Bingham mode will overestimate the flow friction of drilling fluid. Second, the surge-swab pressure peak values of different mud systems are water-based mud > polymer mud > oil-based mud. Third, the peak value of bottomhole transient surge-swab pressure increases with the increase of drilling fluid yield value, consistency coefficient, and flow behavior index, and the influence law is similar. Fourth, the tripping velocity and pumpage will directly affect the peak value and variation rule of bottomhole transient surge-swab pressure. Herschel–Bulkley fluid-based tripping operation bottomhole transient surge-swab pressure study helps control the surge-swab pressure during tripping operations and it is of great significance for lean, safe, and efficient drilling in narrow pressure window formations.