Prediction Model and Distribution Law Study of Temperature and Pressure of the Wellbore in drilling in Arctic Region

The low temperature condition of permafrost in Arctic region affects the rheology of drilling fluids and the distribution of temperature and pressure in the wellbore during drilling. In order to understand the influence law of permafrost in Arctic region on the temperature and pressure distribution in wellbore and provide a basis for the design and construction for drilling in Arctic region, a model to predict the wellbore temperature and pressure of drilling in Arctic region was built. It was based on the analysis of the influence of low temperatures on the rheology of water-based and oil-based drilling fluids, considering the coupling between permafrost and wellbore. By comparing the measured and test results, it was verified that the prediction accuracy of the proposed model met the requirements of drilling in Arctic region. The model was used to simulate the temperature and pressure distribution in a wellbore in Arctic region under the conditions of no circulation or pump function. The results showed that the drilling fluids absorbed the heat of the high-temperature formation and returned to the annulus transferring the heat to the permafrost in shallow part of the wellbore during the circulation. This process thawed the permafrost near the wellbore and the wellbore temperature was lowered due to the heat consumed by thawing. The circulating friction in annulus increases with the increase of circulation time. The longer the pump shutdown lasts, the closer the temperature of drilling fluid to the formation temperature in the wellbore. The larger the annular circulation pressure loss, and the higher the pump pressure. The research results can provide a basis and guidance for design and construction of drilling in Arctic region.