Prediction of Hole Cleaning Efficiency Using a Simple, User Friendly and Better Performing Simulation Model

Abstract The effective removal of drill cuttings from the wellbore is one of the key factors to avoid different drilling problems such as poor ROP, associated cuttings bed formation in the presence of weak mudcakes, embedded cuttings bed formation in the presence of poor quality mudcakes, creation of hole pack-off and pipe sticking problems, significant change in mud properties, increase in the severity of formation damage potential of drilling muds, etc. Poor hole cleaning may also trigger induced loss of circulation, borehole instability, kicks, blowout and other borehole problems due to the direct or indirect consequences of improper hole cleaning. Therefore, an accurate and reliable prediction of hole cleaning efficiency of drilling mud in different drilling condition is an inseparable part of a safe and economic drilling operation. An improved prediction tool could provide the necessary guidelines to take appropriate measures while drilling to avoid drill cuttings associated borehole problems. This paper describes a simple, user friendly and more reliable simulation model to predict the hole cleaning efficiency of drilling mud in different borehole conditions using some critical parameters associated with drilling mud, hole geometry, subsurface condition, and the cuttings properties.