Composite Particulate Lost Circulation Materials for Wellbore Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subterranean methods face issues with fluid loss into weak, permeable, or fractured formations during well boring, leading to premature dehydration of cement compositions and disruptions in drilling operations due to hydrostatic pressure.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating composite particulates comprising cellulosic fibers and fillers into drilling fluids and cement compositions to seal pores and fractures, thereby reducing fluid loss and maintaining circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drilling fluid is circulated at high hydrostatic pressure to maintain well bore stability, then well bore stability is improved, but fluid loss into fractured and permeable formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating lost circulation materials onto the external surface of the drill string before entering the well bore. This creates a protective barrier that proactively prevents fluid loss at fracture zones before the drilling fluid reaches them, allowing high hydrostatic pressure to be maintained without excessive fluid loss into the formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lost circulation materials serve as an intermediary substance between the drilling fluid and the fractured formation. These materials (such as ground coal, petroleum coke, calcium carbonate, asphaltenes, perlite, and plastic materials) form a filter cake or bridge across fracture openings, mediating the interaction between the high-pressure drilling fluid and the permeable formation, thereby reducing fluid loss while maintaining well bore stability.
2Loss of substance
If cement composition is used to seal lost-circulation zones, then fluid loss is reduced, but drilling operations are interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs lost circulation materials that are designed to be temporary, sacrificial barriers rather than permanent seals. These materials (ground coal, petroleum coke, sized calcium carbonate, asphaltenes, perlite, cellophane, plastic materials, and ground thermoset polymer laminates) are inexpensive and can be quickly deployed and discarded if necessary, allowing continuous drilling operations without the need for time-consuming cement setting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the drill string system by applying lost circulation materials directly to the external surface of the drill string. This separates the sealing function from the cementing process, allowing the drill string itself to act as a carrier for the sealing materials, thereby eliminating the need to stop drilling operations for cement injection and setting.
3Loss of substance
If conventional lost-circulation materials are used, then fluid loss is controlled, but material bridges across fracture openings effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating lost circulation materials onto the external surface of the drill string before entering the well bore. This creates a protective barrier that proactively prevents fluid loss at fracture zones before the drilling fluid reaches them, allowing high hydrostatic pressure to be maintained without excessive fluid loss into the formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lost circulation materials serve as an intermediary substance between the drilling fluid and the fractured formation. These materials (such as ground coal, petroleum coke, calcium carbonate, asphaltenes, perlite, and plastic materials) form a filter cake or bridge across fracture openings, mediating the interaction between the high-pressure drilling fluid and the permeable formation, thereby reducing fluid loss while maintaining well bore stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composite particulates effectively prevent and reduce fluid loss into subterranean formations, ensuring stable cement setting and uninterrupted drilling operations by sealing fractures and maintaining fluid circulation.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the lost-circulation zone with lost-circulation materials in an attempt to plug off and/or bridge fractures and/or permeable zones in the formation
Implementation Method 2
the composite particulate comprises a cellulosic fiber and a filler
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments relate to compositions and methods for using a composite particulate comprising a cellulosic fiber and a filler as a lost-circulation material. An example of a method of controlling lost circulation in a subterranean method, comprises contacting a subterranean formation with a fluid comprising a base fluid and a lost circulation material, wherein the lost circulation material comprises a composite particulate, and wherein the composite particulate comprises a cellulosic fiber and a filler. An example method of cementing comprises introducing a cement composition into a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein the cement compositions comprises a cement, water, and a lost-circulation material, and wherein the lost-circulation material comprises a lost-circulation material, and wherein the lost-circulation material comprises a cellulosic fiber and a filler. Example compositions include lost-circulation materials, treatment fluids and cement compositions.