Thana Deawwanich

PhD Candidate

B. Eng (Mech), M. Eng (Chem)

Location: Room A309 Engineering Annex
Email: tdeawwan@chemeng.adelaide.edu.au
Phone: + 61 8 8303 6118
FAX: + 61 8 8303 4373

Supervisors

Assoc Professor Quoc Dzuy Nguyen
Dr Yung Ngothai

Research Topic

Displacement of viscoplastic fluids in eccentric annuli

Research Abstract

The primary cementing, the completion of oil and gas wells, is of importance for two reasons, zonal isolation and casing string support. However, a deficient primary cementing process is predominantly caused by abnormal drilling mud channelling during the displacement process, promoted by the high degree eccentricity of the casing string.  The primary cementing process relevant to the displacement of viscoplastic fluids in eccentric annuli is effected by many factors, the rheological properties, the density difference, the pumping flow rate, and the interfacial mixing of these fluids. In this current study, we have found that the displacement efficiency of several viscoplastic fluids using the helical apparatus illustrates the effects of the fluid Rheology, yield stress and plastic viscosity. The study shows noticeable high displacement efficiency supported by the rotating of an inside cylinder, though the fluid velocity in laminar flow regime of the displacement is low and the degree of eccentric annuli is high. Furthermore, the visualization study insists that not only a helical flow due to the movement of the inside cylinder but also the interfacial mixing of the fluid-fluid interface effects the displacement process.

The aim of this project is to investigate the displacement behaviours between two viscoplastic fluids in eccentric annuli. Especially, the two substantial parameters, the tangential flow component of the helical flow and the interfacial mixing, will be investigated simultaneously with other parameters. A mathematical modelling will be derived after laboratory experiment work.

Interests

Rheology, fluid-particle mechanics, and transport phenomena. Applications areas cover well bore drilling and completion in oil and gas exploration, granulation process, and mineral process.

Recent Publications

• Deawwanich, T., Liew, J. C., Nguyen, Q. D., Savery, M., Tonmukayakul, N., & Chin, W. ‘Displacement of viscoplastic fluids in eccentric annuli: numerical simulation and experimental validation', Towards a Sustainable Australasia: Chemeca 2008, Newcastle, Australia, 28 September - 1 October 2008

• Franco, Z., Deawwanich, T., & Nguyen, Q. ‘Thermo-rheological behaviour of vegetable oils blended with diesel fuel', Towards a Sustainable Australasia: Chemeca 2008, Newcastle, Australia, 28 September - 1 October 2008

• Savery, M. R., Tonmukayakul, N., Chin, W., Deawwanich, T., Liew, J. C., & Nguyen, Q. D. ‘Laminar displacement of viscoplastic fluids in eccentric annuli: numerical simulation and experimental validation', The XXIIth International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Adelaide, Australia, August 24-30, 2008

• Nguyen, Q. D., Deawwanich, T., Tonmukayakul, N., Savery, M. R. & Chin, W. ‘Flow visualization and numerical simulation of viscoplastic fluid displacements in eccentric annuli', The XVth International Congress on Rheology, California, USA, August 3 - 8, 2008

• Deawwanich, T. & Tanthapanichakoon, W. ‘Effect of Sulfuric Concentration Used to Synthesize Ammonium Sulfate on Industrial-Scale Production Process of Fertilizer Granules', The 13th Annual Conference of Thailand's Institute of Chemical Engineering and Applied Science, Bangkok, Thailand, October, 2003