Investigation and Application of Self-Resonating Cavitating Water Jet in Petroleum Engineering

Abstract The paper presents the investigations of a unique jet as self-resonating water jet including the modulating principles, characteristics of impact pressure and rock erosion, and field applications in petroleum engineering in China. The research showed that jet nozzles designed with organ pipe structure could generate significant self-resonating cavitating water jets. As compared with conventional cone-shaped nozzle with 120° taper angle, the amplitudes of pressure fluctuation and maximum impact pressure of self-resonating cavitating water jets increase by 24 and 37%, respectively, and rock erosion efficiency increases by 1 to 2 times. Self-resonating water jets have been successfully applied in petroleum drilling engineering, with enhanced average rates of penetration of tricone bits by 31.2% and improved bit footages by 29.1%. Treatment of near wellbore formation and self-excited oscillating water injection with self-resonating water jets have resulted in economic efficiency.