Shear Rate Corrections for Herschel-Bulkley Fluids in Couette Geometry

AbstractA methodology is presented to invert the flow equation of a Herschel-Bulkley fluid in Couette concentric cylinder geometry, thus enabling simultaneous computation of the true shear rates, γ̇HB, and of the three Herschel-Bulkley rheological parameters. The errors made when these rheological parameters are computed using Newtonian shear rates, γ̇N, as it is normal practice by research and industry personnel, can then be estimated. Quantification of these errors has been performed using narrow gap viscometer data from literature, with most of them taken with oil-field rheometers. The results indicate that significant differences exist between the yield stress and the flow behavior index computed using γ̇HB versus the parameters obtained using γ̇N and this is an outcome of the higher γ̇HB values. Predicted true shear rates and rheological parameters are in very good agreement with results reported by other investigators, who have followed different approaches to invert the flow equation, both for yield-pseudoplastic and power-law fluids

Modeling and Numerical Simulation of Yield Viscoplastic Fluid Flow in Concentric and Eccentric Annuli

Numerical solution of yield viscoplastic fluid flow is hindered by the singularity inherent to the Herschel-Bulkley model. A finite difference method over the boundary-fitted orthogonal coordinate system is utilized to investigate numerically the fully developed steady flow of non-Newtonian yield viscoplastic fluid through concentric and eccentric annuli. The fluid rheology is described with the Herschel-Bulkley model. The numerical simulation based on a continuous viscoplastic approach to the Herschel-Bulkley model is found in poor accordance with the experimental data on volumetric flow rate of a bentonite suspension. A strict mathematical model for Herschel-Bulkley fluid flow is established and the corresponding numerical procedures are proposed. However, only the case of flow of a Herschel-Bulkley fluid in a concentric annulus is resolved based on the presumed flow structure by using the common optimization technique. Possible flow structures in an eccentric annulus are presumed, and further challenges in numerical simulation of the Herschel-Bulkley fluid flow are suggested

Modeling and Numerical Simulation of Yield Viscoplastic Fluid Flow in Concentric and Eccentric Annuli

Numerical solution of yield viscoplastic fluid flow is hindered by the singularity inherent to the Herschel-Bulkley model. A finite difference method over the boundary-fitted orthogonal coordinate system is utilized to investigate numerically the fully developed steady flow of non-Newtonian yield viscoplastic fluid through concentric and eccentric annuli. The fluid rheology is described with the Herschel-Bulkley model. The numerical simulation based on a continuous viscoplastic approach to the Herschel-Bulkley model is found in poor accordance with the experimental data on volumetric flow rate of a bentonite suspension. A strict mathematical model for Herschel-Bulkley fluid flow is established and the corresponding numerical procedures are proposed. However, only the case of flow of a Herschel-Bulkley fluid in a concentric annulus is resolved based on the presumed flow structure by using the common optimization technique. Possible flow structures in an eccentric annulus are presumed, and further challenges in numerical simulation of the Herschel-Bulkley fluid flow are suggested

CFD Analysis of Pressure Losses and Deposition Velocities in Horizontal Annuli

Estimation of pressure losses and deposition velocities is vital in the hydraulic design of annular drill holes in the petroleum industry. The present study investigates the effects of fluid velocity, fluid type, particle size, particle concentration, drill string rotational speed, and eccentricity on pressure losses and settling conditions using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Eccentricity of the drill pipe is varied in the range of 0–75%, and it rotates about its own axis at 0–150 rpm. The diameter ratio of the simulated drill hole is 0.56. Experimental data confirmed the validity of current CFD model developed using ANSYS 16.2 platform

Application of Greek lignite as an additive for controlling rheological and filtration properties of water–bentonite suspensions at high temperatures: a review

Summarization: This review paper presents the results of an extensive study investigating whether addition of 3% w/w Greek lignite to 6.42% w/w water–bentonite suspensions, after being exposed to high temperatures, can prevent gelation and control filtration characteristics. Two different bentonites and eight lignites from different Greek basins have been used while a commercial lignite product has been used as standard. The lignite-free bentonite suspensions heated to 177 °C for 16 h (thermal aging) thicken considerably, increasing the yield stress and the yield point. Fluid consistency and flow behavior indices also change while no significant change is observed for plastic viscosity. Thermal aging of the suspensions results in unacceptably high fluid loss values. Addition of Greek lignite to water–bentonite suspensions, followed by thermal aging, provided the rheological stability of the suspensions by maintaining the low yield stress/point regardless of the type of bentonite. Some of the lignites performed as well as their commercial counterpart. No specific trends for rheological improvement have been identified with respect to various characteristics of lignites such as contents of humic, fulvic acids, humins and other parameters such as specific surface area and cation exchange capacity. Furthermore, addition of lignite in most cases provided very good filtration control of the water–bentonite suspensions after exposure to 177 °C, with some Greek lignites being superior to the commercial product. The same lignite parameters examined for rheological control, were also examined to determine their effect on fluid loss of these suspensions for both bentonites. The content of humic and fulvic acids of two groups of lignites showed weak inverse correlations with the fluid loss volumes for both bentonites, while all other parameters did not seem to directly correlate with the effectiveness of the lignites.Presented on: International Journal of Coal Geolog