Systems and methods for determining a rheological parameter

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for determining a rheological parameter of a fluid within a wellbore.

1 . A method for determining a rheological parameter of a fluid within a wellbore, comprising:
 receiving, using a processing device, a plurality of differential pressure measurements of the fluid within a flow region of the wellbore;   storing, using the processing device, the differential pressure measurements;   generating, using the processing device, a curve based on the differential pressure measurements; and   determining, using the processing device, the rheological parameter of the fluid using the curve;   wherein the flow region comprises an area inside a conduit situated within the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving, using a processing device, differential pressure measurements of the fluid within a flow region of the wellbore comprises:
 receiving, using a processing device, pressure measurements of the fluid from a plurality of pressure sensors; and   calculating, using the processing device, the differential pressure measurements of the fluid from the pressure measurements.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating and determining steps comprise generating, using the processing device, a pressure curve based on the differential pressure measurements, and determining, using the processing device, the rheological parameter of the fluid using the pressure curve. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of differential pressure measurements correspond to a plurality of measured flow rates of the fluid flowing within a flow region of the wellbore and said receiving and storing steps comprise receiving and storing, using the processing device, the differential pressure measurements for flow rates of the fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of flow rates includes at least three different flow rates. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the generating and determining steps comprise:
 generating, using the processing device, a flow curve based on the differential pressure measurements and the plurality of flow rates;   determining, using the processing device, a flow behavior index for the fluid from the flow curve; and   determining, using the processing device, the rheological parameter of the fluid using the flow curve and a rheological model.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the rheological model comprises a model that relates shear stress and shear rate. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a wired drill pipe. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising correcting, using the processing device, the differential pressure measurements of the fluid for eccentricity between the conduit and the wellbore. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the differential pressure measurements of the fluid are corrected for the eccentricity between the conduit and the wellbore using an equivalent pipe model, a correlation-based model, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, using the processing device, times corresponding to each of the differential pressure measurements of the fluid;   generating, using the processing device, a pressure curve over time based on the differential pressure measurements of the fluid; and   estimating, using the processing device, a gel strength of the fluid using the pressure curve over time.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the differential pressure measurements are obtained at downhole conditions of the wellbore. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rheological parameter includes a shear stress and a shear rate of the fluid. 
     
     
         16 . A system for determining a rheological parameter of a fluid within a wellbore, comprising:
 a conduit arranged in a wellbore;   a plurality of pressure sensors along the conduit configured to measure a pressure of the fluid within the conduit; and   a processing device configured to:
 receive a plurality of differential pressure measurements of the fluid from the pressure sensors; 
 store the differential pressure measurements; 
 generate a curve based on the differential pressure measurements; and 
 determine the rheological parameter of the fluid using the curve. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processing device is configured to generate a pressure curve based on the differential pressure measurements and determine the rheological parameter of the fluid using the pressure curve. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a flow meter configured to measure flow rate of the fluid flowing within the conduit, and wherein the processing device is further configured to:
 receive a plurality of flow rates of the fluid from the flow meter;   receive differential pressure measurements of the fluid from the pressure sensors for the plurality of flow rates of the fluid;   store the differential pressure measurements for the plurality of flow rates of the fluid;   generate a flow curve based on the differential pressure measurements for the plurality of flow rates of the fluid; and   determine the rheological parameter of the fluid using the flow curve and a rheological model.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the rheological model comprises any model that relates shear stress and shear rate. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein receiving differential pressure measurements of the fluid from the pressure sensors comprises:
 receiving pressure measurements of the fluid from the pressure sensors; and   calculating the differential pressure measurements of the fluid from the pressure measurements.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processing device is further configured to correct the differential pressure measurements of the fluid for eccentricity between the conduit and the wellbore. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the differential pressure measurements of the fluid are corrected for the eccentricity between the conduit and the wellbore using an equivalent pipe model, a correlation-based model, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processing device is further configured to:
 receive respective times corresponding to each of the differential pressure measurements of the fluid;   generate a pressure curve over time based on the differential pressure measurements of the fluid; and   estimate a gel strength of the fluid using the pressure curve over time.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the differential pressure measurements of the fluid are obtained at downhole conditions of the wellbore. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the rheological parameter includes a shear stress and a shear rate of the fluid.