Wellbore Fluid Loss Detection and Treatment System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lost circulation during wellbore drilling is a recurring issue due to fluid loss through fractured, permeable, or porous formations, which complicates drilling and production operations, especially in depleted reservoirs where mud weight exceeds fracture resistance, leading to challenges in maintaining well control and optimizing hydrocarbon production.

Innovation Solution

A method for planning and treating wellbores involves identifying risk zones, calculating expected fluid loss, and selecting appropriate solutions to reduce fluid loss, including particulate-based treatments and settable-based treatments to seal fractures and control fluid loss, using a combination of bridging materials and sealing agents to plug or fill fractures, and adjusting drilling fluid compositions and parameters to manage pressure and permeability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mud weight is increased to maintain well control in depleted reservoirs, then well control is improved, but fluid loss to formation increases due to exceeding fracture resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewell controlVSAvoidfluid loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of lost circulation conditions using monitoring devices before significant fluid loss occurs. By detecting early signs of fluid loss through pressure differential measurements and flow rate analysis, the system enables preventive action to be taken, such as adjusting drilling parameters or applying loss circulation materials, thereby maintaining well control while preventing excessive fluid loss to the formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors drilling parameters, pressure differentials, and flow rates to provide real-time feedback on wellbore conditions. This feedback loop allows dynamic adjustment of mud weight and drilling parameters to maintain well control while minimizing fluid loss. The monitoring system detects changes in formation pressure and fracture conditions, enabling adaptive control to prevent exceeding fracture resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If drilling fluid is circulated at high rate to remove cuttings and maintain well control, then drilling efficiency is improved, but fluid loss through fractures and porous formations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrilling efficiencyVSAvoidfluid loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts circulation rates based on real-time monitoring of formation conditions, pressure differentials, and detected lost circulation events. By varying circulation rates adaptively rather than maintaining a constant high rate, the system maintains drilling efficiency while reducing fluid loss during periods when formation fracture risk is elevated. The monitoring system enables dynamic optimization of circulation parameters to balance cuttings removal with fluid loss prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of substance

If loss circulation materials are used to plug fractures and reduce fluid loss, then fluid loss is reduced, but drilling operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid lossVSAvoiddrilling operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system provides automated detection and classification of lost circulation conditions, reducing the need for complex manual diagnostics and decision-making. By self-identifying the type and severity of fluid loss through pressure and flow rate analysis, the system simplifies the overall drilling operation complexity while effectively reducing fluid loss. The automated monitoring reduces reliance on complex procedural interventions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This approach effectively reduces fluid loss by accurately identifying and treating loss zones, maintaining well control, and optimizing hydrocarbon production by minimizing fluid loss and maintaining stable wellbore conditions, thereby enhancing drilling efficiency and production rates.

Implementation Method 1

loss circulation materials (LCM) to bridge and plug the fractures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBridging:

Implementation Method 2

settable-based treatments to seal fractures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSetting:

Data Source

PatentUS8401795B2Methods of detecting, preventing, and remediating lost circulation

Publication Date: 2013.03.19 M I LLC(US)

AI summary

A method for planning a wellbore, the method including defining drilling data for drilling a segment of a planned wellbore and identifying a risk zone in the segment. Additionally, the method including determining an expected fluid loss for the risk zone and selecting a solution to reduce fluid loss in the risk zone. Furthermore, a method for treating drilling fluid loss at a drilling location, the method including calculating a drilling fluid loss rate at the drilling location, classifying the drilling fluid loss based on the drilling fluid loss rate, and selecting a solution based at least in part on the classifying.