Numerical Evaluation of CFD-DEM Coupling Applied to Lost Circulation Control: Effects of Particle and Flow Inertia

In the present study, the transport and deposition of solid particles to mitigate the loss circulation of fluid through a fracture transversely placed to a vertical channel is numerically investigated. These solid particles (commonly known in the industry as lost circulation materials—LCMs) are inje...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mathematical problems in engineering 2019, Vol.2019 (2019), p.1-13
Main Authors: Barbosa, Marcos V., Junqueira, Silvio L. M., De Lai, Fernando C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Circulation
Computational fluid dynamics
Computational physics
Computer simulation
Density ratio
Discrete element method
Drilling
Flow velocity
Fluid flow
Fluid mechanics
Fluids
Mathematical models
Numerical models
Parametric analysis
Particle injection
Particle size
Reynolds number
Sediment transport
Simulation
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Summary:In the present study, the transport and deposition of solid particles to mitigate the loss circulation of fluid through a fracture transversely placed to a vertical channel is numerically investigated. These solid particles (commonly known in the industry as lost circulation materials—LCMs) are injected into the flow during the drilling operation in the petroleum industry, in hopes to control the fluid loss. The numerical simulation of the process follows a two-stage process: the first characterizes the lost circulation flow and the second the particle injection. The numerical model comprises an Eulerian–Lagrangian approach, in which the dense discrete phase model (DDPM) is combined with the discrete element method (DEM). A parametric analysis is done by varying the vertical channel Reynolds number, the particle-to-fluid density ratio, and the particle diameter. Results are shown in terms of the particle’s bed geometric characteristics, focusing on the location inside the fracture where the particles deposit, and the particle bed length, height, and time spent to fill the fracture. Also monitored are the fluid loss reduction over time and the fractured channel bottom pressure (which can be related to the fracture pressure). Results indicate that using a slow/intermediate flow velocity, associated with heavy particles with small diameters, provides the best combination for the efficient mitigation of the fluid loss process.
ISSN:1024-123X
1563-5147
DOI:10.1155/2019/6742371