Discrete element modeling of rock destruction under high pressure conditions
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorLeroy W. Ledgerwood, III
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Abstract
Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) of rock subject to high confining pressures, such as in a subterranean drilling environment, may be used to predict performance of cutting structures used in drill bits and other drilling tools, as well as of the tools themselves. DEM may also be used to create “virtual” rock exhibiting specific drillability characteristics with or without specific reference to any actual rock, for purposes of assessing cutting efficiency of various cutting structure configurations and orientations, as well as of drilling tools incorporating same.
Claims14
A method of predicting performance of a cutting structure in a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
- obtaining inelastic stress/strain characteristics of an actual rock material at a plurality of confining pressures greater than a hydrostatic pressure in excess of ambient pressure;
- simulating a virtual rock material using discrete element modeling (DEM);
- calibrating the virtual rock material using the obtained stress/strain characteristics to produce substantially the same inelastic stress/strain response over simulated confining pressures corresponding to at least some of the confining pressures greater than the hydrostatic pressure;
- simulating movement of a virtual cutting structure engaging the virtual rock material under high pressure conditions confining rock detritus cut from the virtual rock material at one or more simulated confining pressures greater than a simulated hydrostatic pressure;
- and
- using at least one DEM-generated stress/strain curve of inelastic response of the virtual rock material to the simulated movement of the virtual cutting structure to predict the performance of an actual cutting structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.