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  • 07 Lost Circulation

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    This document discusses lost circulation, which can result in costs from lost time and mud. There are natural and induced types of loss zones, such as pores/matrices, fractures, and exceeding fracture gradients. Loss rates are described from seepage (1-10 bbl/hr) to total (>100 bbl/hr). Loss treatments include fibers, flakes, granular materials, and polymers/cement suited to loss severity and zone type. Planning should assess offset data, formations, mud weights, and have strategies for all loss rates. Records of treatment effectiveness should modify future planning.

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    Lost circulation

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    This document discusses lost circulation, which can result in costs from lost time and mud. There are natural and induced types of loss zones, such as pores/matrices, fractures, and exceeding fracture gradients. Loss rates are described from seepage (1-10 bbl/hr) to total (>100 bbl/hr). Loss treatments include fibers, flakes, granular materials, and polymers/cement suited to loss severity and zone type. Planning should assess offset data, formations, mud weights, and have strategies for all loss rates. Records of treatment effectiveness should modify future planning.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    22 views8 pages

    07 Lost Circulation

    Uploaded by

    the
    This document discusses lost circulation, which can result in costs from lost time and mud. There are natural and induced types of loss zones, such as pores/matrices, fractures, and exceeding fracture gradients. Loss rates are described from seepage (1-10 bbl/hr) to total (>100 bbl/hr). Loss treatments include fibers, flakes, granular materials, and polymers/cement suited to loss severity and zone type. Planning should assess offset data, formations, mud weights, and have strategies for all loss rates. Records of treatment effectiveness should modify future planning.

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    of 8

    LOST CIRCULATION

    Mud Loss
    Lost time
    Cost of new mud
    Poor cement operations
    Possible stuck pipe
    Possible well control incident

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

    Types of Loss Zones


    Natural losses
    Pores & matrixes
    Natural fractures
    Cavernous formations
    Induced losses
    Exceeding fracture gradient
    High ECD
    Pack off
    Balled up assembly

    Loss Rates
    Description

    Loss Rate

    Formation/Reason

    Seepage

    1-10 bbl/hr

    Porous & Permeable

    Partial

    10-50 bbl/hr

    Unconsolidated sand
    and gravel Small
    open fractures

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

    Loss Rates
    Description

    Loss Rate

    Severe

    50-100 bbl/hr

    Total

    >100 bbl/hr

    Formation/Reason
    Long sections of
    unconsolidated
    Sand or fractures
    Cavernous large
    fractures

    Loss Treatments
    Loss Severity

    Size

    Fine - Medium

    Seepage

    Fibre

    Fine - Medium

    Flake

    Fine - Medium
    Fine - Medium

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

    Granular

    Fine - Medium

    Fine - Coarse

    Partial

    Shape

    Granular
    Fibre
    Flake

    Loss Treatments
    Loss Severity

    Severe

    Size

    Shape

    Medium - Coarse

    Granular

    Medium - Coarse
    Medium - Coarse

    Fibre
    Flake

    Sodium silicate & Cement

    Total

    Gunk treatments
    Polymer Treatments

    Type of Loss Zone


    Pit Level
    Pores/Perm
    Time

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

    Matrix

    Type of Loss Zone


    Pit Level
    Time

    Natural
    Fractures

    Type of Loss Zone


    Pit Level

    Time

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

    Induced
    Fractures

    Type of Loss Zone


    Pit Level

    Time

    Cavernous

    Fractured Formations
    Special
    Use very aggressive action for fractured formations
    Conventional LCM of little use
    Cross linking polymers
    Gunk
    Cement

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

    How much stuff to pump?


    Pill size dictated by pit size
    Stick to the plan
    Volume is better than higher conc. of LCM
    Repeat process with more volume
    Increased concentration is always an option

    Planning for Losses


    Losses dont just happen
    Look at offset data
    Look at the formations to be drilled
    Look at the mud weight & fracture gradients
    Assess the risk
    Plan accordingly

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

    Planning for Losses


    Always plan for the unexpected
    Have a strategy for all loss rates
    Have a flow chart to help the rig make choices
    Have a recipe ready for all loss rates
    Dont leave it to chance

    Records
    Keep a record of events
    Did the first treatment work?
    If only partial success, record the % stopped after each
    treatment
    Was the plan followed?
    Which treatment worked best?
    How should future treatments be modified?
    Modify future planning documents with loss history & LCM
    effectiveness

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

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