FLCM Suspension in Drilling Fluids via Yield Gravity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid loss during hydrocarbon well operations, particularly due to lost circulation zones, leads to inefficient drilling and production, as fluid loss control materials (FLCMs) often settle out of treatment fluids, failing to effectively seal unfavorable subterranean zones and prevent fluid loss.
Innovation Solution
A method to produce subterranean formation treatment fluids with enhanced suspendability of FLCM particulates by calculating and manipulating the properties of the treatment fluid and FLCM particulates using yield gravity or experimental functions, ensuring uniform suspension and effective deployment at lost circulation zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If FLCMs are introduced into treatment fluid to control lost circulation, then fluid loss control is improved, but FLCMs settle out of the treatment fluid due to high specific gravity, reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
A rheology modifier is introduced as an intermediary substance to alter the treatment fluid's rheological properties. This mediator increases yield stress and gel strength, creating a more supportive fluid matrix that can suspend high-specific-gravity FLCMs without them settling, thus resolving the contradiction between fluid loss control effectiveness and suspension uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The rheological parameters of the treatment fluid are changed by adding rheology modifiers. Specifically, yield stress and gel strength are increased to counteract the gravitational settling tendency of FLCMs. This parameter change allows the fluid to maintain FLCM suspension uniformity while preserving fluid loss control effectiveness
2Reliability
If FLCM concentration is increased to improve sealing of lost circulation zones, then fluid loss prevention is enhanced, but FLCMs settle more rapidly due to higher density and gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The rheology modifier acts as a mediator that enables higher FLCM concentrations to be suspended effectively. By increasing the fluid's yield stress and gel strength, the rheology modifier counteracts the increased gravitational force on higher FLCM concentrations, preventing accelerated settling while maintaining zone sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The increased yield stress and gel strength of the treatment fluid, achieved through rheology modifiers, serve as a counterbalancing force against the gravitational settling of FLCMs. This anti-weight effect allows higher FLCM concentrations to be maintained in suspension without increasing settling rate, thereby improving zone sealing effectiveness
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 method ensures that FLCM particulates are uniformly suspended within the treatment fluids, effectively sealing lost circulation zones and preventing fluid loss, thereby enhancing the efficiency and reliability of hydrocarbon well operations.
Implementation Method 1
a subterranean formation treatment fluid that is able to substantially uniformly suspend FLCM particulates
Implementation Method 2
The drilling fluid maintains a specific, balanced hydrostatic pressure within the wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
Methods including providing a wellbore in a subterranean formation having at least one pore opening; providing a proposed wellbore operation; providing a proposed treatment fluid; providing proposed FLCM particulates; calculating the suspendability of the proposed FLCM particulates in the proposed treatment fluid as determined by a yield gravity function based on properties of the proposed treatment fluid and properties of the proposed FLCM particulates or as determined by an experimental FLCM function; manipulating at least one of the properties of the proposed treatment fluid, the properties of the proposed FLCM particulates, or the proposed wellbore operation based on the yield gravity function or the experimental FLCM function so as to produce a FLCM-suspension treatment fluid; and introducing the FLCM-suspension treatment fluid into the wellbore in the subterranean formation so as to contact the at least one pore opening.