Predicting Mud Motor Performance and Reliability with Reduced Order Modeling

In this paper we present a reduced order model for simulating mud motor performance and reliability. The model breaks down a mud motor power section to a set of 2D simulations with simplified drilling fluid flow description. It can reliably predict power curves and failure risks caused by elastomer fatigue, hysteresis heating, and debonding. The model can capture mud compatibility effects as well. Due to relatively short simulation time, it becomes feasible to perform simulations for new motor design, elastomer, failure analysis, or to find optimal motor type, elastomer, interference fit, and differential pressure for a specific job.