Multi-scale (single cutter and full bit) oil & gas drilling Simulations
Oil and gas and other associated drilling process involve a detailed understanding of the fluid mechanics, rock geomechanics, tribology, and the thermal sciences. The PFTL employs a host of experiments and modeling approached to elucidate the physics of drilling in order to predict downhole performance and to enable the design of smarter drilling tools and equipment.
Simulation of Particle-Fluid-Surface-Interaction during Rock Drilling
NASA GSRP Fellowship, Sloan PhD Fellowship; NSF CAREER
Sample Results:
Single Cutter Simulation with Heat Transfer
Single Cutter Rock Property Investigations
Rock Testing
In silico rock property curves
In silico rock crushing simulations
(Instron.com)
Select PFTL References:
Mpagazehe, J., Queiruga, A., and Higgs III, C.F., "Towards an Understanding of the Drilling Process for Fossil Fuel Energy: A Continuum-Discrete Approach", Tribology International, 59, pp. 273-283, 2013.
Mpagazehe, J., "A Physics-based, Eulerian-Lagrangian Computational Modeling Framework to Predict Particle Flow and Tribological Phenomena", Ph.D. Thesis, CMU, 2013.
Menezes, P., Lovell, M. Avdeev, I., Lin, J.S., and Higgs III, C. F. "Studies on the formation of discontinuous chips during rock cutting using an explicit finite element model", International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 70, 1-4, pp 635-648, 2014.