Numerical simulation study on impact factors to dynamic filtration loss

Abstract

AbstractDuring drilling operations, naturally, fractured formations are prone to show serious mud losses, which hinder drilling and increase nonproductive time and costs. The influencing factors of dynamic fluid loss are important for optimizing drilling parameters, reducing drilling fluid loss, and protecting oil and gas reservoirs. In this study, we simulated the dynamic filtration loss of drilling fluid during drilling under formation conditions using commercial software CMG (Computer Modelling Group). The effects of filtration time, filtrate viscosity, pressure difference, internal filter cake permeability, and external filter cake permeability on filtration loss were investigated. The simulation results showed that the permeability of the external mud cake is an important factor to control the fluid loss, and the pressure consumed by the external mud cake with low permeability can account for more than 90% of the total pressure difference. When the permeability of the external mud cake is high, the permeability of the internal mud cake also has a significant influence on the dynamic fluid loss. Under formation conditions, the dynamic fluid loss of radial fluid loss is still proportional to the filtration time and pressure difference, and inversely proportional to the filtrate viscosity of drilling fluid. Under the simulated conditions, the pressure will quickly transfer to the boundary, and the formation pressure at the same position in the formation will gradually increase, while the increase is relatively small with a constant filtration rate. The results of this paper can be used to the real site for drilling optimization. This numerical analysis method can be easily applied to filtrate loss analysis, formation damage area calculation, and other radial flow-related study.