Mechanistic model for cuttings removal from solid bed in inclined channels

This paper presents the results and analysis of a set of erosion rate experiments, designed to investigate the removal rate of stationary sand bed particles in an inclined channel. The erosion rate tests of three beds with different bed particle-size ranges show that beds with intermediate average particle size have the maximum erosion rate. The theoretical analysis using a mechanistic model supports this observation. The instantaneous acceleration of bed particles at the beginning of transportation is correlated with particle removal rate. It is shown that the mechanistic model can predict optimum operating parameters to improve the efficiency of hole cleaning.