An equivalent circulating density prediction model for extended-reach horizontal wells considering drill strings sinusoidal buckling

Abstract Sinusoidal buckling of drill strings will be easily caused during drilling process of extended-reach horizontal wells due to the factors such as excessive well length and larger friction torque, which will cause measurement errors of well depth and vertical depth and furthermore influence t...

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Main Authors: Zhao Huang, Yanfei Li, Kun Jiang, Junrui Ge, Yue Gu, Zhiqiang Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10357-8
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author Zhao Huang
Yanfei Li
Kun Jiang
Junrui Ge
Yue Gu
Zhiqiang Hu
author_facet Zhao Huang
Yanfei Li
Kun Jiang
Junrui Ge
Yue Gu
Zhiqiang Hu
author_sort Zhao Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Sinusoidal buckling of drill strings will be easily caused during drilling process of extended-reach horizontal wells due to the factors such as excessive well length and larger friction torque, which will cause measurement errors of well depth and vertical depth and furthermore influence the accurate calculation of ECD. We have corrected the traditional ECD calculation model, considered the measurement errors of well depth and vertical depth caused by the sinusoidal buckling of drill strings, and established a set of equivalent circulating density (ECD) calculation model suitable for extended-reach horizontal wells to meet the requirements for fine ECD control during the drilling operation. We have combined the data from an extended-reach horizontal well in the East China Sea and compared the ECD data obtained from the recorded stand pipe pressure with the prediction results from Landmark commercial software、the model in this work and the conventional model. Results show that the prediction results by the model in this work are closest to the recorded values when drill string sinusoidal buckling occurs. Besides, the ECD value predicted by the model considering the measurement errors of well depth and vertical depth caused by the sinusoidal buckling of drill strings is smaller due to the factor that the length of drill strings with sinusoidal buckling is larger than the actual well depth. With the identical case well data, the larger the sinusoidal buckling degree of downhole drill strings, the smaller the predicted ECD value. The model can reduce risks for drilling operations of extended-reach horizontal wells and provide more accurate reference data for their well control operations.
format Article
id doaj-art-cc831af8ff5749de8d002877eb413e70
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-cc831af8ff5749de8d002877eb413e702025-08-20T03:46:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-10357-8An equivalent circulating density prediction model for extended-reach horizontal wells considering drill strings sinusoidal bucklingZhao Huang0Yanfei Li1Kun Jiang2Junrui Ge3Yue Gu4Zhiqiang Hu5Drilling & Completion Project Team, Pinghu Oil & Gas Field in the East China Sea, CNOOC (China) LimitedDrilling & Completion Project Team, Pinghu Oil & Gas Field in the East China Sea, CNOOC (China) LimitedMOE Key Laboratory of Petroleum Engineering Institute, China University of PetroleumDrilling & Completion Project Team, Pinghu Oil & Gas Field in the East China Sea, CNOOC (China) LimitedChengde Oil & Gas Field Intelligence Engineering Technology Research Center, Chengde Petroleum CollegeSINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Engineering Co., LtdAbstract Sinusoidal buckling of drill strings will be easily caused during drilling process of extended-reach horizontal wells due to the factors such as excessive well length and larger friction torque, which will cause measurement errors of well depth and vertical depth and furthermore influence the accurate calculation of ECD. We have corrected the traditional ECD calculation model, considered the measurement errors of well depth and vertical depth caused by the sinusoidal buckling of drill strings, and established a set of equivalent circulating density (ECD) calculation model suitable for extended-reach horizontal wells to meet the requirements for fine ECD control during the drilling operation. We have combined the data from an extended-reach horizontal well in the East China Sea and compared the ECD data obtained from the recorded stand pipe pressure with the prediction results from Landmark commercial software、the model in this work and the conventional model. Results show that the prediction results by the model in this work are closest to the recorded values when drill string sinusoidal buckling occurs. Besides, the ECD value predicted by the model considering the measurement errors of well depth and vertical depth caused by the sinusoidal buckling of drill strings is smaller due to the factor that the length of drill strings with sinusoidal buckling is larger than the actual well depth. With the identical case well data, the larger the sinusoidal buckling degree of downhole drill strings, the smaller the predicted ECD value. The model can reduce risks for drilling operations of extended-reach horizontal wells and provide more accurate reference data for their well control operations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10357-8Extended-reach horizontal wellSinusoidal bucklingECDMeasurement error of well depthMeasurement error of vertical depth
spellingShingle Zhao Huang
Yanfei Li
Kun Jiang
Junrui Ge
Yue Gu
Zhiqiang Hu
An equivalent circulating density prediction model for extended-reach horizontal wells considering drill strings sinusoidal buckling
Scientific Reports
Extended-reach horizontal well
Sinusoidal buckling
ECD
Measurement error of well depth
Measurement error of vertical depth
title An equivalent circulating density prediction model for extended-reach horizontal wells considering drill strings sinusoidal buckling
title_full An equivalent circulating density prediction model for extended-reach horizontal wells considering drill strings sinusoidal buckling
title_fullStr An equivalent circulating density prediction model for extended-reach horizontal wells considering drill strings sinusoidal buckling
title_full_unstemmed An equivalent circulating density prediction model for extended-reach horizontal wells considering drill strings sinusoidal buckling
title_short An equivalent circulating density prediction model for extended-reach horizontal wells considering drill strings sinusoidal buckling
title_sort equivalent circulating density prediction model for extended reach horizontal wells considering drill strings sinusoidal buckling
topic Extended-reach horizontal well
Sinusoidal buckling
ECD
Measurement error of well depth
Measurement error of vertical depth
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10357-8
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