Prediction of Temperature Profile in Oil Wells

Abstract

A mathematical model has been developed to predict the temperature distribution in wellbores either offshore or inshore. It is incorporated the different activities encountered during drilling operations. Furthermore, the effect of drill collar and casings and bit rotating in a well during completion has been considered. The two dimensional approach is presented in the form of a computer program which is adopted for solution of the finite difference equations describing the heat transmission in the wellbore in the form of a direct solution technique. The power law mode l has been selected for drilling mud and its indices have been calculated. Comparing measured data, recorded for a period of 82 hours during different activities in a drilling operation for 15/20A-4, an exploration well in the Central North Sea with calculated results, show there is a good agreement between the prediction and measured temperatures in the wellbore.