03 - Lost Circulation Materials

Prevention and Control of Lost Circulation
Lost Circulation Materials Characterization
Earl M. Becker
Copyright 2019 Baker Hughes Company LLC. All rights reserved. The information contained in this document is company confidential and proprietary property of Baker Hughes and its affiliates. It is to
be used only for the benefit of Baker Hughes and may not be distributed, transmitted, reproduced, altered, or used for any purpose without the express written consent of Baker Hughes.
Classification of Particles by Shape
• Fibers
• Flakes
• Granules
2
Fibers
• Long slender particles

• Easily deformable
• Absorb large amounts of water to increase viscosity
3
Fibers
Short weak fibers

• Ground paper
• Wood
• Cane
• Rice hulls
• Peanut shells
• Leather
• Tree bark
4
Fibers
Long and sturdy

• Flax
• Hemp
• Animal hair
• Cotton linters
• Nylon
5
Fibers
• Form a “brush heap” like a mat in pore openings

• Work most effectively in conjunction with granular and flake materials
• Used for seepage losses and as pretreatment in high permeability zones
• Generally used in pill form to correct lost returns and regain circulation
6
CHEK-LOSS®
CHECK-LOSS
CHEK-LOSS® PLUS
CHECK-LOSS
PLUS
7
Fibers
• CHEK-LOSS®
• COTTONSEED HULLS
• MIL-CEDAR FIBER
• MIL-FIBER®
• KWIK-SEAL
• PAPER
• VEN FYBER
8
9
10
11
12
13
Flakes
• Thin particles with large planar surfaces

• Form shingle like layer against pore openings
• Often effective by themselves
• Can be combines with fibers and granules for treating seepage losses
14
Flakes
• Ground mica
• Plastic laminate
• Cellophane
• Polyethylene plastic chips
• Cottonseed hulls fall between the flake and fiber categories since the hull is flake-like
and some fibers remain attached to it.
15
Flakes
• MILMICA®
• SOLUFLAKE
• SOLU-SQUEEZ
• MIL-FLAKE®
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Granules
• Roundish, rigid shaped particles used as the primary “bridging” agent in curing lost
circulation
• Absorb less water than cellulose fibers and are a universally applicable LCM
24
Granules
• Ground walnut shells

• Pecan shells
• Almond shells
• Plastic
• Calcium carbonate
• Gilsonite
• Ground coal
• Calcinated shale
• Graphite
25
Granules
• WALNUT SHELLS
• MIL-PLUG®
• MIL-CARB Series
• LC LUBETM
• LC GLIDE
• CARBO-SEAL™
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
LC LUBETM FINE
33
Blends
• MIL-SEAL
• X-LINK
X-LINK Plug
34
35
• Experience in an area will determine the type and combination of

materials to use.
• No universal cure exists for all lost circulation situations
• Blends of granules, flakes, and fibers are most effective.
• These materials, if used properly, can seal pores of several

millimeters and withstand pressures as high as 1000 psi.
36
Bridging
• Form a bridge of particles across the fracture or collect in

the interstices of a permeable zone.
• Bridging agent must contain particles that are no smaller

than ½ of the opening size to be bridged.
• Sealing of fractures requires that rigid particles

(approximately the same size as the fracture) be used as
part of the blend.
37
Bridging
There is a difference between bridging in porous and

permeable zones and bridging in fractures.
• Permeable zones produce multiple bridges throughout the

volume of the porous rock.
Each bridge will be required to support only a
small fraction of the total pressure drop.
• In a fracture, the bridge occurs at the rock face and is

required to support the total pressure load.
38
Bridging
• Lost circulation materials that use bridging agents must

contain a selection of various lost circulation materials.
• Granular and fibrous materials are recommended

fibrous materials tend to bind the bridge to the permeable
zone, making it more permanent.
39
40
41
1000
1500
2000
2500
0
500
AQUAMAGIC
CARBO-SEAL
Particulate LCM
CARBO-TROL HT
LC-LUBE
MIL-CARB
MIL-CARB 5
MIL-CARB 50
MIL-CARB 150
MIL-CARB 450
MIL-GRAPHITE
MIL-MICA F
PROTECTO-MAGIC
SHALE BOND
SOLUFLAKE F
SOLUFLAKE M
SOLUFLAKE C
SOLUFLOW SF
SOLUFLOW F
SOLUFLOW M
WALNUT F
WO-30 F
WO-30 C
D(v, 0.9)
D(v, 0.5)
D(v, 0.1)
42
200
400
600
800
0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
CHEK-LOSS
Fibrous LCM
CHEK-LOSS C
DFE-911
KWIKSEAL F
MIL-PLUG F
MIL-PLUG M
MIL-PLUG C
MIL-SEAL F
MIL-SEAL M
MIL-SEAL C
WALNUT SHELLS F
D(v, 0.9)
D(v, 0.5)
D(v, 0.1)

03 - Lost Circulation Materials

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03 - Lost Circulation Materials

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Prevention and Control of Lost Circulation

Lost Circulation Materials Characterization

Classification of Particles by Shape

• Long slender particles

Short weak fibers

Long and sturdy

• Form a “brush heap” like a mat in pore openings

• Thin particles with large planar surfaces

• Ground walnut shells

• Experience in an area will determine the type and combination of

• No universal cure exists for all lost circulation situations

• Blends of granules, flakes, and fibers are most effective.

• These materials, if used properly, can seal pores of several

• Form a bridge of particles across the fracture or collect in

• Bridging agent must contain particles that are no smaller

• Sealing of fractures requires that rigid particles

There is a difference between bridging in porous and

• Permeable zones produce multiple bridges throughout the

• In a fracture, the bridge occurs at the rock face and is

• Lost circulation materials that use bridging agents must

• Granular and fibrous materials are recommended

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