Reticulated Foam Enhanced High Fluid Loss Squeeze LCM for Severe Lost Circulation Management in Highly Fractured Formations

Drilling of oil and gas wells is a time consuming, very complex process in which there occur all sorts of complications. The most common one is drilling mud loss. During drilling of wells the control of this fluid loss problem takes about 12 % of total time. In this case, up to 60 % of materials and time is spent on isolation of fractured-cavernous beds with high fluid loss intensity which make up only 10 % of the total number of isolated zones. The use of liners with welded and threaded connections of shaped tubes enabled to completely solve the problem of lost circulation zones isolation regardless of their thickness, the borehole caving and the fluid loss intensity.

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High-Fluid-Loss, High-Strength Lost Circulation Solution for Total Losses Zones in Saudi Arabia

10.2118/192272-ms ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mohamed Hegazy ◽

Sunil Sharma ◽

Khaled Fares ◽

Ahmed ElBatran ◽

Alok Dave ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

High Strength ◽

Fluid Loss ◽

Lost Circulation ◽

High Fluid

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Lost Circulation Material Implementation Strategies on Fluid Loss Remediation and Formation Damage Control

10.2118/199249-ms ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mingzheng Yang ◽

Yuanhang Chen

Keyword(s):

Damage Control ◽

Implementation Strategies ◽

Formation Damage ◽

Fluid Loss ◽

Lost Circulation ◽

Formation Damage Control

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Assessment of Lost Circulation Material Particle-Size Distribution on Fracture Sealing: A Numerical Study

SPE Drilling & Completion ◽

10.2118/209201-pa ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Lu Lee ◽

Arash Dahi Taleghani

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Particle Size Distribution ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Numerical Study ◽

Fluid Loss ◽

Material Particle ◽

Lost Circulation ◽

Fracture Sealing ◽

Discrete Element Methods ◽

Lost Circulation Materials

Summary Lost circulation materials (LCMs) are essential to combat fluid loss while drilling and may put the whole operation at risk if a proper LCM design is not used. The focus of this research is understanding the function of LCMs in sealing fractures to reduce fluid loss. One important consideration in the success of fracture sealing is the particle-size distribution (PSD) of LCMs. Various studies have suggested different guidelines for obtaining the best size distribution of LCMs for effective fracture sealing based on limited laboratory experiments or field observations. Hence, there is a need for sophisticated numerical methods to improve the LCM design by providing some predictive capabilities. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element methods (DEM) numerical simulations are coupled to investigate the influence of PSD of granular LCMs on fracture sealing. Dimensionless variables were introduced to compare cases with different PSDs. We validated the CFD-DEM model in reproducing specific laboratory observations of fracture-sealing experiments within the model boundary parameters. Our simulations suggested that a bimodally distributed blend would be the most effective design in comparison to other PSDs tested here.

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An Experimental Investigation of Filtercake Reinforced Wellbore Strengthening and Fracture Sealing

Volume 8: Polar and Arctic Sciences and Technology; Petroleum Technology ◽

10.1115/omae2019-96675 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Mingzheng Yang ◽

Yuanhang Chen ◽

Frederick B. Growcock ◽

Feifei Zhang

Keyword(s):

Experimental Investigation ◽

Critical Role ◽

Fracture Initiation ◽

Fluid Loss ◽

Lost Circulation ◽

Fracture Sealing ◽

Sealing Pressure ◽

Wellbore Strengthening ◽

Mud Loss ◽

Lost Circulation Materials

Abstract Drilling-induced lost circulation should be managed before and during fracture initiation rather than after they propagate to form large fractures and losses become uncontrollable. Recent studies indicated the potentially critical role of filtercake in strengthening the wellbore through formation of a pressure-isolating barrier, as well as plugging microfractures during fracture initiation. In this study, an experimental investigation was conducted to understand the role played by filtercake in the presence of lost circulation materials (LCMs). A modified permeability plugging apparatus (PPA) with slotted discs was used to simulate whole mud loss through fractures of known width behind filtercake. Cumulative fluid loss upon achieving a complete seal and the maximum sealing pressure were measured to evaluate the combined effects of filtercake and LCMs in preventing and reducing fluid losses. The effects of some filtercake properties (along with LCM type, concentration and particle size distribution) on filtercake rupture and fracture sealing were investigated. The results indicate that filtercake can accelerate fracture sealing and reduce total mud loss. Efficiently depositing filtercake while drilling can reduce the concentration of LCM that is required to plug and isolate incipient fractures.

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Modeling Lost-Circulation into Fractured Formation in Rock Drilling Operations

10.5772/intechopen.95805 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rami Albattat ◽

Hussein Hoteit

Keyword(s):

Analytical Modeling ◽

Drilling Fluid ◽

Fluid Loss ◽

Fracture Conductivity ◽

Type Curves ◽

Bingham Plastic ◽

Lost Circulation ◽

Rock Formations ◽

Solution Methods ◽

Drilling Operations

Loss of circulation while drilling is a challenging problem that may interrupt drilling operations, reduce efficiency, and increases cost. When a drilled borehole intercepts conductive faults or fractures, lost circulation manifests as a partial or total escape of drilling, workover, or cementing fluids into the surrounding rock formations. Studying drilling fluid loss into a fractured system has been investigated using laboratory experiments, analytical modeling, and numerical simulations. Analytical modeling of fluid flow is a tool that can be quickly deployed to assess lost circulation and perform diagnostics, including leakage rate decline and fracture conductivity. In this chapter, various analytical methods developed to model the flow of non-Newtonian drilling fluid in a fractured medium are discussed. The solution methods are applicable for yield-power-law, including shear-thinning, shear-thickening, and Bingham plastic fluids. Numerical solutions of the Cauchy equation are used to verify the analytical solutions. Type-curves are also described using dimensionless groups. The solution methods are used to estimate the range of fracture conductivity and time-dependent fluid loss rate, and the ultimate total volume of lost fluid. The applicability of the proposed models is demonstrated for several field cases encountering lost circulations.

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Modeling Lost Circulation Through Drilling-Induced Fractures

SPE Journal ◽

10.2118/187945-pa ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (01) ◽

pp. 205-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Yongcun Feng ◽

K. E. Gray

Keyword(s):

Loss Rate ◽

Fluid Loss ◽

Operational Parameters ◽

Fracture Width ◽

Pressure Losses ◽

Lost Circulation ◽

Wellbore Pressure ◽

Induced Fractures ◽

Wellbore Strengthening ◽

Viscous Pressure

Summary Previous lost-circulation models assume either a stationary fracture or a constant-pressure- or constant-flowrate-driven fracture, but they cannot capture fluid loss into a growing, induced-fracture driven by dynamic circulation pressure during drilling. In this paper, a new numerical model is developed on the basis of the finite-element method for simulating this problem. The model couples dynamic mud circulation in the wellbore and induced-fracture propagation into the formation. It provides estimates of time-dependent wellbore pressure, fluid-loss rate, and fracture profile during drilling. Numerical examples were carried out to investigate the effects of several operational parameters on lost circulation. The results show that the viscous pressure losses in the wellbore annulus caused by dynamic circulation can lead to significant increases in wellbore pressure and fluid loss. The information provided by the model (e.g., dynamic circulation pressure, fracture width, and fluid-loss rate) is valuable for managing wellbore pressure and designing wellbore-strengthening operations.

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