4 TurbulentFlow

Drilling Engineering
Drilling Engineering PE 311

Turbulent Flow in Pipes and Annuli
Prepared by: Tan Nguyen
Frictional Pressure Drop in Pipes and Annuli

When attempting to quantify the pressure losses in side the drillstring and in the annulus it is
worth considering the following matrix:
Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

Introduction
Laminar Flow: In this type of flow, layers of fluid move in streamlines. There is no microscopic or
macroscopic intermixing of the layers. Laminar flow systems are generally represented
graphically by streamlines.
Turbulent Flow: In turbulent flow, there is an irregular random movement of fluid in transverse
direction to the main flow. This irregular, fluctuating motion can be regarded as superimposed on
the mean motion of the fluid.

Definition of Reynolds Number
Reynolds number, Re, is a dimensionless number that gives a measure of the ratio of inertial
forces to viscous forces. Reynolds number is used to characterize different flow regimes, such
as laminar or turbulent flow. Laminar occurs at low Reynolds number, where viscous forces are
dominant, and is characterized by smooth, constant fluid motion; turbulent flow occurs at high
Reynolds number and is dominated by inertial forces, which tend to produce chaotic eddies,
vortices and other flow instabilities.
_
For pipe
In field unit:
_
Re
928 u d
Re
ud

Determination of Laminar/Turbulent Flow
_
Re
928 u d
where fluid density, lbm/gal

u avg. fluid velocity, ft/s
d pipe I.D., in
viscosity of fluid, cp.
If
Re < 2,100
Laminar flow
Re = 2,100 4,000
Transition flow
Re > 4,000
Turbulent
Note that this critical Reynolds number is correct only for Newtonian fluids

Determination of Friction Factor - Laminar Flow
Relationship between shear stress and friction factor:
Pipe flow under laminar conditions:
Therefore,
Newtonian fluids flow in pipe under laminar flow conditions:
Hence,
This equation will be used to calculate the friction factor of Newtonian fluids flow in pipe under
laminar flow conditions.

Determination of Friction Factor - Turbulent Flow
For turbulent flow, the friction factor can be calculated by using Colebrook correlation.
1
1.255
4 log 0.269 / d
f
N Re f
Where is the absolute roughness. /d is the relative roughness.

For smooth pipe, the relative roughness /d < 0.0004, the following equations can be used to
calculate the friction factor in turbulent flow
Re = 2,100 100,000:
Blasius approximation:
Re = 2,100 100,000:
1
4 log N Re
f
0.0791
0.25
N Re
f 0.395

Determination of Friction Factor

Determination of Friction Factor

Determination of the Frictional Pressure Loss
From equation:
In field unit:
, an equation of dp/dL can be expressed as
. This equation can be used to calculate the frictional pressure drop
gradient for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids.

Combining this equation and the Blasius approximation gives
dp 0.75u1.75 0.25 0.75 q1.75 0.25
0.25
dL
1800d
8624d 4.75
u 2
0.0791
dp
25.8d
dL 928 vd 0.25
Note that the Moody friction factor is four times higher than the Fanning friction factor.

Example
Example: Determine the frictional pressure drop in 10000ft of 4.5-in commercial steel drillpipe
having an internal diameter of 3.826in. If a 20 cp Newtonian fluid having a density of 9 lbm/gal is
pumped through the drillpipe at a rate of 400 gal/min
Solution:
Mean velocity:
q
400
11.16 ft / s
2.488d 2 2.488 * 3.826 2
_
Reynolds number:
Re
928 u d
928 * 9 *11.16 * 3.826

17831
20
Since Re > 2,100, the flow is under turbulent flow conditions.

Example
From table 4.5, the absolute roughness for commercial steel pipe is = 0.000013 inches.
The relative roughness /d = 0.000013/3.826 = 0.0000034 < 0.0004 --> smooth pipe
1
1.255
4 log 0.269 / d
f
N re f
Solve this equation for the Fanning friction factor: f = 0.00666

Thus the frictional pressure loss can be obtained by
2
dp
f v
0.00666 * 9 *11.16 2
p f
D
D
*10000 756 psi
dL
25.8d
25.8 * 3.826

Example
Using Blasius approximation
0.0791 ,the equation

0.25
N Re
v
0.0791
dp
25.8d
dL 928 vd 0.25
1.75
dp 0.75 v 0.25
0.0777 psi / ft
0.25
dL
1800d
Pressure drop: DP = dp/dL x D = (0.0777)(10,000) = 777 psi
becomes

Example
Using Blasius approximation
0.0791 ,the equation

0.25
N Re
v
0.0791
dp
25.8d
dL 928 vd 0.25
1.75
dp 0.75 v 0.25
0.0777 psi / ft
0.25
dL
1800d
Pressure drop: DP = dp/dL x D = (0.0777)(10,000) = 777 psi
becomes
Turbulent Flow in Pipes/Annuli NonNewtonian Fluids

Equivalent Diameter for Annular Geometry Hydraulic Diameter Method
Hydraulic diameter is defined as:
Equivalent diameter by using hydraulic diameter method:
Turbulent Flow in Pipes/Annuli nonNewtonian Fluids

Equivalent Diameter for Annular Geometry From Momentum Equation
From the momentum equation, frictional pressure drop for Newtonian fluid in the annulus is
dp f
dL
d d
1,500 d 22 d12
d2
ln
d1
2
2
2
1
For pipe flow, d1 --> 0 then
dp f
dL
u
1,500d 2
Comparing these two equations, the equivalent diameter an annulus can be obtained
d 22 d12
de d d
ln d 2 d1
2
2
2
1

Equivalent Diameter for Annular Geometry Narrow Slot Approximation
From the narrow slot approximation, frictional pressure drop for Newtonian fluid in the annulus is
For pipe flow
dp f
dL
u
1,500d 2
Comparing these two equations, the equivalent diameter an annulus can be obtained
d e 0.816 d 2 d1

Equivalent Diameter for Annular Geometry Crittendon Correlation
A fourth expression for the equivalent diameter of an annulus was developed by Crittendon.
When using Crittendon correlation, a fictitious average velocity also must be used in describing
the flow system.

Bingham Plastic Model
1. Obtain apparent viscosity by combining the frictional pressure loss in

pipe (or annulus) for both Newtonian and Bingham Plastic models
or
a p
6.66 y d
a p
pv
y
a v
1500d 2 1500d 2 225d
( Pipe)
5 y (d 2 d1 )
v
( Annulus )
2. Use apparent viscosity to determine Reynolds Number

Another way to determine the flow regime (critical Reynolds number) is to use the Hedstrom number
N HE
y d 2
p2
In field unit
N HE
37100 y d 2
p2

Turbulent

Power Law Model
Apparent Viscosity for use in the Reynolds Number is obtained by comparing the laminar flow
equations for Newtonian and Power Law fluids
Pipe flow:
n
a v
Kv
3 1/ n
1500d 2 144000d (1 n ) 0.0416

Kd (1 n ) 3 1 / n
a
(1 n )
0
.
0416
96v
( Pipe)
Annular flow:
n
a v
Kv
2 1/ n
1000(d 2 d1 ) 2 144000(d 2 d1 ) (1 n ) 0.0208
K (d 2 d1 ) (1 n ) 2 1 / n
a
(1 n )
0
.
0208
144v
( Annulus)

Power Law Model
Reynolds number for power law fluids in pipe:
N Re
89100 v
( 2 n )
0.0416d
3 1/ n
Reynolds number for power law fluids In annulus:
N Re
109000 v
( 2 n )
0.0208(d 2 d1 )
2 1/ n
Friction factor for power law fluids under turbulent flow conditions
1/ f
4.0
0.395
1 n / 2
log(
N
f
)
Re
n 0.75
n 1 .2

Power Law Model
Summary
Summary
Newtonian Model
Power Law Model
Summary
Newtonian Model
Power Law Model
Summary
Newtonian Model
Power Law Model
Example Newtonian Fluid in Annulus

Example 1: A 9.0 lbm/gal brine having a viscosity of 1.0 cp is being circulated in a well at a rate
of 200 gal/min. Apply the all the criteria for computing equivalent diameter. Determine the flow
pattern and frictional pressure gradient. The drillpipe has an external diameter of 5.0 in. and the
hole has a diameter of 10 in.
Solution:
Hydraulic Method
Momentum Mothod
Narrow Slot Method
Crittendon Method
Note that the Crittendon correlation is applied for the fourth method. In this
method, we need to calculate the equivalent diameter based on Crittendon
correlation and the fictitious average velocity.
Example BHF - Annulus

Example 2: A 10 lbm/gal mud having a plastic viscosity of 40 cp and a yield point of 15 lbf/100ft 2
is circulated at a rate of 600 gal/min. Estimate the frictional pressure loss in the annulus opposite
the drill collars if the drill collars are in a 6.5-in hole, have a length of 1,000 ft, and a 4.5 in. OD.
Check for turbulence using both the apparent viscosity concept and the Hedstrom number
approach. Use an narrow slot equivalent diameter to represent the annular geometry.
Equivalent diameter using narrow slot approximation
Reynolds number based on apparent viscosity
Reynolds number for a plastic viscosity of 40 cp
Using the graph for Hedstrom number, the critical Reynolds number is 3,300. The flow is turbulent

Using Blasius approximation with Re = 3,154, the friction factor is f = 0.0098
Frictional pressure loss is given:
Example PL - Annulus
Example 3: A 15.6 lbm/gal cement slurry having a consistency index of 335 eq cp and a flow
behavior index of 0.67 is being pumped at a rate of 672 gal/min between a 9.625-in. hole and a
7.0-in.casing. Determine the frictional pressure loss per 100 ft of slurry. Use the equivalent
diameter based on the narrow slot approximation.
Solution:
The mean velocity:
Reynolds number:

Power Law Model
Example PL - Annulus

4 TurbulentFlow

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Drilling Engineering

Drilling Engineering PE 311

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Frictional Pressure Drop in Pipes and Annuli

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

where fluid density, lbm/gal

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

Where is the absolute roughness. /d is the relative roughness.

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

, an equation of dp/dL can be expressed as

. This equation can be used to calculate the frictional pressure drop

gradient for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids.

dp 0.75u1.75 0.25 0.75 q1.75 0.25

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

928 * 9 *11.16 * 3.826

Since Re > 2,100, the flow is under turbulent flow conditions.

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

Solve this equation for the Fanning friction factor: f = 0.00666

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

0.0791 ,the equation

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes Newtonian Fluids

0.0791 ,the equation

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes/Annuli NonNewtonian Fluids

Equivalent diameter by using hydraulic diameter method:

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes/Annuli nonNewtonian Fluids

For pipe flow, d1 --> 0 then

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes/Annuli nonNewtonian Fluids

For pipe flow

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes/Annuli nonNewtonian Fluids

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes/Annuli nonNewtonian Fluids

1. Obtain apparent viscosity by combining the frictional pressure loss in

1500d 2 1500d 2 225d

2. Use apparent viscosity to determine Reynolds Number

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes/Annuli nonNewtonian Fluids

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes/Annuli nonNewtonian Fluids

Prepared by: Tan Nguyen

Turbulent Flow in Pipes/Annuli nonNewtonian Fluids

1500d 2 144000d (1 n ) 0.0416

1000(d 2 d1 ) 2 144000(d 2 d1 ) (1 n ) 0.0208

928 * 9 11.16 3.826