Fiber Suspended Lost Circulation Materials in Drilling Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved suspending agents to effectively suspend lost-circulation materials (LCMs) in treatment fluids used in oil and gas operations, as existing solutions fail to maintain stability and prevent fluid penetration into subterranean formations during drilling and other operations.
Innovation Solution
The use of a treatment fluid comprising a base fluid, a lost-circulation material, and a suspending agent consisting of a plurality of fibers, which provides a lost-circulation material distribution of at least 30% at the temperature of a lost-circulation zone, ensuring that the LCM remains suspended and prevents fluid loss into the subterranean formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional suspending agents are used, then the treatment fluid can be prepared, but the lost-circulation materials cannot be effectively suspended and the fluid penetrates into subterranean formations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the suspending agent by using fibers with specific properties: aspect ratio between 1:1 to 10:1, length of 0.5 mm to 25 mm, and concentration of 0.1 ppb to 25 ppb. These parameter changes enable effective suspension of LCMs while preventing fluid loss into subterranean formations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system by combining fibers with specific properties with lost-circulation materials and base fluid. This composite approach, where fibers act as a suspending agent with defined aspect ratios and dimensions, provides superior suspension effectiveness compared to conventional single-material approaches.
2Productivity
If the treatment fluid is introduced into the wellbore, then drilling operations can proceed, but lost circulation occurs and reduces operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-suspending the lost-circulation materials in the treatment fluid using fibers before the fluid is introduced into the wellbore. This pre-suspension ensures that LCMs remain distributed and effective in plugging lost circulation zones, thereby maintaining operational efficiency during drilling operations.
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 fiber-based suspending agent effectively maintains a stable distribution of LCMs, preventing fluid loss and ensuring the treatment fluid remains within the wellbore, thereby enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of oil and gas operations by minimizing lost circulation.
Implementation Method 1
suspending agents can be used to uniformly distribute insoluble particles throughout a base fluid
Implementation Method 2
suspending agents can be used to uniformly distribute insoluble particles throughout a base fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment fluid comprises: a base fluid; a lost-circulation material, wherein the lost-circulation material inhibits or prevents some or all of the treatment fluid from penetrating into a subterranean formation from a wellbore, wherein the wellbore penetrates the subterranean formation; and a suspending agent, wherein the suspending agent consists of a plurality of fibers, and wherein the suspending agent provides a lost-circulation material distribution of at least 30% for a test treatment fluid consisting essentially of the base fluid, the lost-circulation material, and the suspending agent at the temperature of a lost-circulation zone of the subterranean formation and static aging for at least 1 hour.