Abstract

RAMIREZ-SILVA, Luis-Fernando; CARVAJAL-JIMENEZ, Jenny-Mabel  and  RAMIREZ, Ana B. Estimation of caving volumetric-flow using the ultrasonic Doppler Method. C.T.F Cienc. Tecnol. Futuro [online]. 2018, vol.8, n.1, pp.61-66. ISSN 0122-5383.  https://doi.org/10.29047/01225383.92.

Estimating the volumetric flow of cuttings and cavings that are extracted and transported by the drilling mud into the flow line while drilling a well is of major interest to for drillers so that they can understand the drilling conditions and maintain the wellbore stability. In this paper, a new method to estimate the volumetric flow of cavings via the Doppler effect is proposed. The proposed method is a non-invasive method that uses two piezo-electric acoustic sensors located on the flow line, one acting as an emitter and the other acting as a receiver. The system device estimates cavings and cuttings by measuring the mud and solids flow on a real-time basis. Results obtained at a laboratory experimental level reflected a maximum volumetric-flow error of 10.5% for small-sized cavings and 34,7% for large-sized cavings. According to those results, the method may be suitable for estimating caving volumetric-flow with acoustical techniques at the flow line while drilling and it might be used as a real-time operation method to evaluate wellbore stability.

Keywords : Geomechanics; Acoustics; Flow line; Drilling; Wellbore Wellbore stability.

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