Evaluating the Capabilities of Lattice Boltzmann Method for Non-Newtonian and Free-Surface Flows towards Applications in Wellbore Cementing

摘要

When oil and gas wellbores are drilled, barriers must be put in place to ensure that fluids do not leak out of the wellbore.udWellbore leakage can lead to environmental damage, loss of pressure at the wellhead, and consequently, loss of production.udAn important yet vulnerable barrier is the cement annulus.udCreating the cement annulus, a process known as primary cementing, is difficult to perform optimally.udEvery well has unique subsurface conditions, and so no cement slurry mix design both performs well and is economical for all wells.udAlthough some general guidelines and analytical techniques exist for approximating the performance of a cement slurry mix, the mechanics of primary cementing are complex.udComputational methods can help better understand primary cementing and aid designers in determining the optimal mix.udThe lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is a promising technique for simulating primary cementing because it is well-suited for efficiently simulating non-Newtonian flows, multiphase multicomponent flows, and flows through complex geometries--namely, some of the complexities associated with the mechanics of primary cementing.ududDespite the advantages of LBM, there are considerations that must be made, as with all computational methods, in regards to the accuracy and numerical stability of the solution.udIssues with accuracy and numerical stability are especially prevalent in non-Newtonian flows because of the nonlinear constitutive relationship.udChapter 1 is a numerical investigation of the accuracy, stability, and computational efficiency of different LBM models in simulating non-Newtonian flows.