EXPERIMENTAL STUDY AND MODELING OF PRESSURE LOSS FOR FOAM-CUTTINGS MIXTURE FLOW IN HORIZONTAL PIPE

In this study, we first sought to elucidate foam rheology to describe foam flow behavior, and then to experimentally investigate the pressure losses for both foam and foam-cuttings flow in a horizontal pipe by considering both varied foam qualities of 80%, 85% and 90% and foam velocities. Also, a two-layer numerical model to predict pressure loss was developed based on experimental observations of cuttings behavior. Results show that the foam behaves like a power-law fluid. Furthermore, and the pressure loss significantly increases as foam velocity increases, while the delivered cuttings concentration dramatically decreases. Moreover, results indicate that both the pressure loss and the delivered cuttings concentration increase with foam quality. Comparisons between the experimental results and numerical model predictions show satisfactory agreement.