Taylor Bubble Model Validation During Pressurized MudCap Drilling (PMCD) Operations: A Comprehensive Review

In some oil fields across the world, lost circulation can be so severe during drilling that conventional treatments that might help the loss zone heal are ineffective. The Pressurized MudCap Drilling (PMCD) technique has been introduced to drill such problematic wells, but the computation of Light Annular Volume (LAM) and its pumping rate based on the gas migration rate determination is the most critical part of PMCD operation design. The Taylor bubble model can be used to provide solutions to equations describing the migration behaviour of gas kick through drilling fluids. However, the Taylor bubble modelling approach yields undesirable outcomes when used to determine gas migration rate for more complicated rheological models. To keep away from this, A literature review of PMCD principles and field data was assessed. This comprehensive literature review demonstrated that if Taylor's mathematical models employed for PMCD operations, it may result in unduly conservative calculations of the fluid volume used and the surface pumping pressures which makes handling logistics more difficult, resulting in PMCD operation’s complications.