Experimental Study on Feasibility of Double-Layer Pipe Dual-Gradient Drilling in Offshore Deepwater Oil and Gas Fields

WANG Guorong; LYU Zhiyu; TANG Yang; GONG Yan

doi:10.11911/syztjs.2025059

Volume 53 Issue 3

Jun. 2025

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Petroleum Drilling Techniques > 2025 > 53(3): 40-46. > DOI: 10.11911/syztjs.2025059

WANG Guorong, LYU Zhiyu, TANG Yang, et al. Experimental study on feasibility of double-layer pipe dual-gradient drilling in offshore deepwater oil and gas fields [J]. Petroleum Drilling Techniques, 2025, 53(3)：40−46. DOI: 10.11911/syztjs.2025059

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Experimental Study on Feasibility of Double-Layer Pipe Dual-Gradient Drilling in Offshore Deepwater Oil and Gas Fields

School of Mechatronic Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610500, China

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Received Date: January 05, 2025
Revised Date: May 10, 2025
Available Online: May 14, 2025

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Abstract

Deepwater oil and gas extraction faces challenges due to narrow safe density windows. Double-layer pipe dual-gradient drilling presents a viable solution, differing significantly from conventional drilling in both system architecture and operational principles, thus necessitating experimental validation of its feasibility. Guided by fluid dynamics theory and the working principles of double-layer pipe dual-gradient drilling, a laboratory-scale experimental system was established. Experiments investigated the variation in lift pump pressure under different drilling fluid flow rates and return fluid flow rates. The study assessed the impact of these parameters on lift pump pressure and efficiency. Key findings demonstrate that the double-layer pipe dual-gradient drilling lift system achieves stable operation that the return fluid flow rate exceeds the drilling fluid flow rates at the drilling fluid flow rates of 20–35 L/s, and the maximum pump pressure can reach 3.5 MPa. Adjustment of drilling fluid and return fluid flow rates enables precise pressure regulation of wellbore, confirming the technical feasibility of this approach. This research elucidates how drilling fluid and return fluid flow rates influence bottom-hole pressure, offering an experimental foundation for pressure management in double-layer pipe dual-gradient drilling systems.
- deepwater oil and gas,
- double-layer pipe,
- dual-gradient drilling,
- lift pump,
- pump pressure,
- experimental study

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Experimental Study on Feasibility of Double-Layer Pipe Dual-Gradient Drilling in Offshore Deepwater Oil and Gas Fields

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