Grasinger, Matthew
(2016)
Evaluating the Capabilities of Lattice Boltzmann Method for Non-Newtonian and Free-Surface Flows towards Applications in Wellbore Cementing.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
When oil and gas wellbores are drilled, barriers must be put in place to ensure that fluids do not leak out of the wellbore.
Wellbore leakage can lead to environmental damage, loss of pressure at the wellhead, and consequently, loss of production.
An important yet vulnerable barrier is the cement annulus.
Creating the cement annulus, a process known as primary cementing, is difficult to perform optimally.
Every well has unique subsurface conditions, and so no cement slurry mix design both performs well and is economical for all wells.
Although some general guidelines and analytical techniques exist for approximating the performance of a cement slurry mix, the mechanics of primary cementing are complex.
Computational methods can help better understand primary cementing and aid designers in determining the optimal mix.
The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is a promising technique for simulating primary cementing because it is well-suited for efficiently simulating non-Newtonian flows, multiphase multicomponent flows, and flows through complex geometries--namely, some of the complexities associated with the mechanics of primary cementing.
Despite the advantages of LBM, there are considerations that must be made, as with all computational methods, in regards to the accuracy and numerical stability of the solution.
Issues with accuracy and numerical stability are especially prevalent in non-Newtonian flows because of the nonlinear constitutive relationship.
Chapter 1 is a numerical investigation of the accuracy, stability, and computational efficiency of different LBM models in simulating non-Newtonian flows.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
15 September 2016 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
21 July 2016 |
| Approval Date: |
15 September 2016 |
| Submission Date: |
18 July 2016 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
82 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Swanson School of Engineering > Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| Degree: |
MS - Master of Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Lattice Boltzmann Method; Non-Newtonian Flow; Free-Surface Flow; Primary Cementing |
| Date Deposited: |
15 Sep 2016 19:40 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 14:34 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/28664 |
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