Energies, Vol. 19, Pages 319: A Study on a Dynamic Model and Calculation Method of Wellbore Temperature in Ultra-Deep Wells

Energies, Vol. 19, Pages 319: A Study on a Dynamic Model and Calculation Method of Wellbore Temperature in Ultra-Deep Wells

Energies doi: 10.3390/en19020319

Authors:
Jianguo Zhao
Han Zhang
Yang Wang
Xinfeng Liu
Pingan Wang

With growing global energy demand, deep and ultra-deep wells have become a focal point in oil and gas development. Wellbore temperature variations significantly impact drilling and completion operations in such wells. To analyze the temperature distribution in ultra-deep wellbores, a numerical model based on the Gauss–Seidel iterative algorithm was developed. This model explicitly accounts for the convective heat transfer coefficient and the distinct thermophysical properties of drilling fluids in both the drill string and the annulus. By employing adaptive meshing, it significantly enhances computational efficiency while ensuring accuracy. This study investigated the influence of key parameters—including drilling fluid density, specific heat capacity, drill pipe thermal conductivity, and formation properties—on bottom-hole temperature. The results show that the average deviation between the actual wellbore temperature and the model-predicted temperature is 0.5%. The heat transfer dynamics model for ultra-deep wells is validated by the close agreement between theoretical predictions and field data. This study offers a valuable theoretical basis for wellbore temperature management and the control of drilling fluid cooling systems, supporting safer and more efficient development of ultra-deep resources.