Alternate Design for Controlled Polymer Slurry Injection in Abrassive Water Jet Cutting

Edukondalu Golla

Abstract: The water jet cutting technique is acknowledged as the most adaptable and rapidly evolving methodology globally. The capability of an abrasive-assisted water jet to penetrate both geological formations and metallic substances presents considerable prospects within the oilfield sector. Nevertheless, the dimensions of the cutting nozzle have precluded the application of water jet technology on a commercial scale for the drilling of reservoir rocks at depth. The ineffective transfer of momentum to abrasive particulates from pressurized water, coupled with the absence of abrasive feed rate regulation in commercially accessible devices, has further inhibited the adoption of water jet technology within the oil industry. Empirical research has demonstrated that the transfer of momentum can be markedly enhanced if abrasive particulates are introduced upstream of the nozzle. There exist limited methodologies whereby abrasives are initially suspended in a fluid medium and subsequently integrated into a high-pressure water stream prior to reaching the nozzle. However, previous investigations have been deficient in offering control over the abrasive feed rate. In the present study, an alternative design is proposed, which facilitates the provision of a regulated abrasive feed rate through the incorporation of a specially engineered Pressure Regulator-cum-Automatic Unloader (PRAU) Valve, thereby achieving precise regulation of pressure, while the injection rate is managed by a manually controlled Discharge Control (DC) Valve.

Keywords: Abrasive Water Jet Cutting, Pressure Regulator cum Automatic Unloader Valve, Discharge Control Valve, High Pressure Triplex Plunger Pump