Fundamentals of Horizontal Wellbore Cleanout

Fundamentals of Horizontal Wellbore Cleanout delivers the latest methods regarding effective sand cleanout tools in horizontal wellbores. Providing the most relevant information, including sand bed formation, sand settling velocity, friction and hydraulics, this book covers the most effective tools and emerging technologies. Sections discuss the settling characteristics of sand and the effects of particle shape and size on drag coefficients, along with models for drag coefficients using experimental data. Numerical studies on sand transport efficiency as well as prediction models of sand concentration and an evaluation of friction between pipe and sand bed are also included.

Illustrative case studies include cleanout with varying nozzle assemblies leading to optimum design on operation procedures, bottomhole assembly, and other lessons learned from known field experience. Rounding out with future research on cost-saving strategies including CO2 used as a washing fluid in water-sensitive formations, Fundamentals of Horizontal Wellbore Cleanout gives today’s petroleum and drilling engineers alternative methods to hole cleaning in today’s horizontal wells.

• Presents flowcharts, methods and field studies to help readers develop cost-saving strategies and optimal performance
• Helps users build their own models using the experimental data provided
• Guides readers on how to build research and operation capabilities by providing extensive literature reviews and references

Dr. Xianzhi Song is the Professor of College of Petroleum Engineering and the Vice Dean of College of Artificial Intelligence, China University of Petroleum at Beijing (CUPB). He is also the Vice Director of CUPB Geothermal Research Center, and the Director of CNPC Key Laboratory of Drilling Engineering, etc. He has obtained the National Natural Science Funds for Excellent Young Scholars of China, the Awards of Science and Technology for the Excellent Youth by Sun Yue-Qi Foundation, and National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation. His research areas involve drilling and completion, geothermal exploitation, and artificial intelligence. He has authored more than 50 papers and earned 20 patents. He received his B.S degree in petroleum engineering from China University of Petroleum at East China and PHD degree in oil and gas well drilling engineering of CUPB in 2010.

Dr. Gensheng Li is the Academician of Chinese Member of Engineering and the Vice-President of China University of Petroleum at Beijing (CUPB). He has over 30 years of experience concentrating on the research and application of water jet technology in drilling and well completion. His research interests include water jet assisted drilling within HPHT Wells, abrasive jet perforation and multistage fracturing, and unconventional oil & gas well drilling & completion. He received the National Award for Technological Invention in 2012 and National Award for Science and Technology Progress in 2007 as a principle investigator.

Dr. Zhengming Xu is a lecturer in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at the China University of Geosciences at Beijing (CUGB). His research interests include gas kick simulation, wellbore multiphase flow, cuttings transport, and particle settling. Xu holds a PhD degree in oil & gas well engineering from the China University of Petroleum, Beijing. He is a member of SPE.

Dr. Subhash Shah is Emeritus professor at the University of Oklahoma and the fellow of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). He has been working on petroleum industry for over 40 years and specialist on well completion, hydraulic fracturing, and coiled tubing flow. Dr. Shah has authored or coauthored more than 300 technical papers in 30 international journals. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Baroda, India, and master’s and PhD degrees from the University of New Mexico, all in chemical engineering. Shah is a Lifetime Member of SPE, a 2012-2013 SPE Distinguished Lecturer, and the recipient of the 2009 SPE Mid-Continent Region Completions Optimization and Technology Award.