Practical Wellbore Hydraulics and Hole Cleaning

Practical Wellbore Hydraulics and Hole Cleaning presents a single resource with explanations, equations and descriptions that are important for wellbore hydraulics, including hole cleaning. Involving many moving factors and complex issues, this book provides a systematic and practical summary of solutions, thus helping engineers understand calculations, case studies and guidelines not found anywhere else. Topics such as the impact of temperature and pressure of fluid properties are covered, as are vertical and deviated-from-vertical hole cleaning differences. The importance of bit hydraulics optimization, drilling fluid challenges, pressure drop calculations, downhole properties, and pumps round out the information presented. Packed with example calculations and handy appendices, this book gives drilling engineers the tools they need for effective bit hydraulics and hole cleaning operation design.

Mark S. Ramsey, P.E. is the Principal and Owner of Texas Drilling Associates. His consulting engineering company provides well planning, rig team training, execution, accident investigations, research, and product development and product launch services. He authors and teaches both introductory and advanced public and proprietary drilling courses on six continents, including a Master of Science level drilling course. He also teaches professional engineering Ethics. Clients include ExxonMobil, Apache, BP/Amoco (including Wytch Farm, UK, Americas, Caspian Sea, North Sea, Columbia), Petrobras, Baker-Hughes, Amoco, Cabot, Schlumberger, Mariner Energy, Transocean Drilling, Santos, Noble Drilling, JNOC, CNOC, Devon, Deep Gulf Energy (Kosmos), Freeport McMoRan, BHP, Texas A&M(GPRI), Ecopetrol, and others on worldwide projects. He authored Schlumberger’s drilling portion of their highly utilized online glossary. Mr. Ramsey previously worked for Exxon (now ExxonMobil) in both drilling research and drilling operations and was named an Exxon “Distinguished Instructor” for consistent high-quality instruction. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University, who honored him as “Distinguished Engineer” in 2016. He holds numerous US and international patents and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.