Developing a new laboratory-scale drilling simulator to optimise rock drilling at Curtin University
Bahman Joodi A , Shaun Brady A , Aaron Richards A and Vamegh Rasouli ACurtin University
The APPEA Journal 54(1) 313-318 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ13031
Published: 2014
Abstract
A new simulator that has been designed and built at Curtin University can simulate rock drilling in different environments. Horizontal and vertical stresses, pore pressure, circulation pressure, rate of penetration, depth of cut, and torque can be precisely monitored by the simulator to investigate the effects of each of the parameters for optimisation purposes. A computer simulation is also initiated using Particle Flow Code in two dimensions (PFC2D) for further studies on rock cutting mechanism and direct numerical results. The results obtained by combining these two methods are of high reliability for predicting cutting behaviour of different bits.
This paper presents the new drilling equipment and the results of studies on sandstone drilling. Previously, the single cutter scratching test on Mountain Gold sandstone was modelled by PFC2D and the results were very similar to the experimental results. Here, custom-made full-face PDC bits are used for drilling in cubical samples of synthetic sandstones with known properties. Water is used as the drilling fluid and the rock sample is drilled under atmospheric conditions. Bit torque, WOB and ROP are monitored to obtain optimum drilling response in terms of ROP and specific energy.
The obtained results are of high importance in predicting drilling speed and optimum drilling parameters. This can improve well planning and has the potential to reduce the cost of drilling wells.
Bahman Joodi is a PhD student at Curtin University in WA. He had worked for two years as a drilling engineer in various drilling rigs and is presently doing research in drilling simulation. Bahman has received his masters degree in petroleum well engineering from Curtin University in 2008. He has been involved in a number of industrial projects in drilling and drilling fluids engineering. bahman.joodi@postgrad.curtin.edu.au |
Shaun Brady is an undergraduate student of petroleum engineering at Curtin University in WA. He became involved in the development and early experimental use of the drilling simulator in the course of completing his undergraduate thesis. Shaun has completed internships with Chevron Australia and Shell and looks forward to joining the industry as a graduate in 2014. shaun.brady@student.curtin.edu.au |
Aaron Richards is an undergraduate student at Curtin University in WA and is presently involved in an experimental study to compare normal drag bits with high-speed impregnated diamond bits. Aaron will receive his bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from Curtin University in 2013. He has been involved in projects with the Department of Mines and Petroleum and Chevron Australia. aaron.m.richards@student.curtin.edu.au |
Vamegh Rasouli is an associate professor and head of department of Petroleum Engineering at Curtin University in WA. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and is a registered engineer with the National Professional Engineers Register (NPER) of Australia. Vamegh received his PhD from Imperial College London in 2002. In 2006, after joining Curtin University, he established the Curtin Petroleum Geomechanics Group (CPGG) and the Curtin Drilling Research Group (CDRG) in 2010. Vamegh is supervising a number of PhD students and is involved in a number of research and consulting projects in the area of geomechanics and drilling. He has done several projects related to petroleum geomechanics for various companies and has also been a consulting engineer on various geomechanics related projects with Schlumberger’s Data and Consulting Services (DCS) in Perth. V.Rasouli@curtin.edu.au |
