Computational Hydraulic Analysis of a Deepwater Well Drilled With Synthetic-Based Mud in A Riserless Drilling Configuration

摘要

This paper presents an analysis of the temperatures and dynamic pressues occuring in a riserless-drilling-configuration deepwater well by circulating a synthetic-based mud and also discusses some aspects of the effects of gas solubility on kick detection in this new configuration. A numerical model has been developed to simulate the mud flow through the drillstring-riserless/return line system. The simulator is based on the numerical solution for the system of flow equations using finite-difference approximations. The model accounts for the pressure and temperature dependence of mud viscosity and mud density. Through a sensitivity analysis, the effects of pertinent parameters-specially the circulation rate-on the pressures generated in the system are examined.