A Coupled Model of Temperature and Pressure for Managed Pressure Cementing in Deep-Water Region

Abstract

The narrow density window in deep-water environment brought great challenges to well drilling and completion by causing well control issues. Managed Pressure Cementing (MPC) is a new technology developed from Manage Pressure Drilling (MPD), which can precisely control the annular fluid pressure profile. Accurate calculation of wellbore temperature and pressure is the key to MPC. This paper focus on coupled models of temperature and pressure for MPC in deep-water region. The well cementing process can be divided into two stages: fluid displacement stage and cement setting stage, which displays different characteristics. During the cementing displacement stage, the cement is in a flowable slurry state and is circulated into the annulus. During this process, the rheology of fluids if effected by temperature in wellbore. On basis of the fluid rheology model, a coupled model of temperature and pressure in wellbore is established considering the transient flow characteristics during cementing displacement stage. During cement setting stage, the cement slurry stops flowing and the significant cement hydration reaction starts. A large amount of hydration heat and obvious pressure reduction can be observed. On basis of the cement hydration kinetics model, a coupled model of temperature and pressure in wellbore during cementing setting stage is established. Based on the models established in this paper, a series of numerical simulations are conducted using a deep-water well. Simulation results show that neglecting the complicated interactions between temperature and pressure can cause a big error. During the cementing displacement stage, higher temperature in the deep part of wellbore reduces the fluid viscosity, which leads to a smaller friction. On the contrary, larger friction is observed near seabed as a result of the low temperature in deep-water environment. The pressure in wellbore changes frequently due to the coexistence of multiple fluids in wellbore. Therefore, a frequent control of annular fluid pressure is required using the MPC technology. During the cement setting stage, an obvious temperature increase is observed as a result of cement hydration heat. The pressure decreases with the depending of cement hydration. An addition back pressure at wellhead has to be added using the MPC technology. The transient temperature and pressure have impact on the rate of cement hydration in turn. Cement in the deep part of wellbore have a faster rate of cement hydration. The low temperature at mudline slows the cement hydration process. Considering the complicated interactions between temperature, pressure, cement hydration and fluid rheology, coupled models between temperature and pressure based on hydration kinetics during well cementing in deep-water region is established in the manuscript. The new model established in this paper plays an important role in the MPC technology.