349 results about "Lost circulation" patented technology

Generally, the present invention provides drilling fluid additives for reducing or controlling lost circulation in a drilling operation. The additives comprises particles. The particles comprise one or more solids in association a wax or waxy substance. A drilling fluid comprising a drilling fluid additive of the invention is also provided, as well as a method and use of the drilling fluid additive in a drilling operation to reduce or control lost circulation. Methods for manufacturing the drilling fluid additives are also described.

A method of treating a well the method including the steps of: (A) forming a fluid including: (i) a shear-thinning aqueous liquid phase; and (ii) an inorganic setting material; wherein the fluid is shear-thinning, pumpable, and settable; and (B) introducing the fluid into the well.

A method and composition is provided for sealing a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore to restore lost circulation. In one embodiment, the composition comprises a pellet comprising a mixture of lost circulation materials (LCMs).

A method of conversion of a water-based mud to a gel-based LCM quickly to control lost circulation in a lost circulation zone in a wellbore during continuous drilling with a drilling mud, the drilling mud comprises a volcanic ash, water, a de-foamer, a pH buffer, and a polymer. The method comprises the steps of entering the lost circulation zone, determining a lost circulation volumetric flow rate, metering a first amount of a binder into the drilling mud to create a binder containing mud, pumping the binder containing drilling mud into the wellbore, and suspending metering of the first amount of the binder to the drilling mud after a pre-defined regulating period of time effective to permit the binder containing drilling mud to create a gel-based LCM operable to alter the lost circulation zone.

A settable thixotropic material comprises a thixotrope and a settable substance, the material being capable of gelling reversibly in a gelling time of less than 60 seconds. The thixotrope conveniently comprises a fine grained clay, especially smectite clays, e.g. hectorites. It is preferred to use synthetic smectite type clay colloids, and goods results have been obtained with the synthetic clay known as Laponite RDS. The settable material conveniently comprises cement, particularly Portland cement. The thixotropic material finds use generally in oilwell applications, e.g. to plug lost circulation zones, to repair damaged or corroded casing, as grouts, and to limit annular gas migration. The material also finds particular application in techniques for completion of horizontal wells completed with slotted or pre-drilled liners.

Methods and systems are disclosed employing a shale shaker for processing a mixture of drilling fluid and solids with multiple screen assemblies and conversion apparatus for switching flow to the screen assemblies between series flow and parallel flow; and in one aspect, a screen or screens for screening lost circulation material.

This invention discloses methods for reducing lost circulation in wellbores. The invention utilizes certain selected water swellable polymers that swell at a rate slow enough to reach the lost circulation zone of a well before those polymers have swollen to an extent that disrupts the drilling process. These selected polymers may be used alone or in conjunction with other lost circulation materials which do not swell or also swell slowly enough to reach the lost circulation zone without interfering with the drilling operation. Mixtures of such materials are also disclosed.

The present invention provides cement compositions comprising a strength-enhancing lost circulation material, and methods for cementing using such cement compositions. Exemplary embodiments of the cement compositions comprise cement, water, and a strength-enhancing lost circulation material. Optionally, other additives suitable for inclusion in cement compositions may be added.

A viscous aqueous high density well treatment fluid composition stable at high temperature containing a surfactant and inorganic salts is described. Methods of preparing the fluid and increasing the stability and viscosity of the fluid are given. The fluid is useful for wellbore cleanout, hydraulic fracturing, gravel packing, completion, acid diversion, lost circulation reduction, well killing, cementing, selective water shutoff, and fracture fluid diversion.

The invention relates to a plugging agent during well drilling in oil and gas field, and particularly to a high efficient plugging agent for severe lost circulation. The components are, by weight: 18-25% of walnut shell powder, 8-10% of sawdust, 8-10% of cottonseeds, 10-15% of hull powder, 20-30% of active plugging agents, and 15-25% of elastic rubber granules, and the raw materials are mixed uniformly to obtain a high efficient plugging agent for well drilling. According to the invention, the fibrous plugging agent with granules is formed by mixing natural plant inert materials, a synergistic agent, and a reinforcing agent with a certain preparation ratio. The plugging agent of the invention has the advantages of wide covering area for leak stopping, high pressure bearing capacity, good plugging effect, high success rate for disposable leak stopping, simple on-site preparation process, and reliable and safe construction, which can achieve the purposes of reducing loss of lost circulation and saving comprehensive cost. The high efficient plugging agent of the invention is applicable to leak stopping operations under various lost circulation conditions with good leak stopping effect and high success rate, and is superior to other types of plugging agents.

A method of preventing or treating lost circulation during the drilling of a well comprises the addition, at concentration ranging between about 0.5 and 6 pounds per barrel, of water-dispersible fibers having a length between about 10 and 25 mm, for instance glass or polymer fibers, to a pumped aqueous base-fluid including solid particles having an equivalent diameter of less than 300 μm The base-fluid with the solid particles can be the drilling fluid or a small-volume pill specially pumped for curing lost circulation.

Compositions for lost circulation materials (LCM) and methods for using same in drilling and / or completing wellbores that help solve lost circulation problems in a wide range of fracture sizes, thereby advantageously eliminating the need for a variety of products for lost circulation in a field at any one time. An unexpected synergy and improved reduction in lost circulation is obtained. The invention provides specific LCM components in specific ratios that are analogs to lost circulation fractures and that yield superior performance in preventing or alleviating lost circulation in drilling and cementing boreholes. The invention compositions have a multi-modal particle size distribution (PSD) which provides a higher concentration of component materials in the same range of two or more fracture widths, thus allowing plugging to occur over a wider range than a single mode or narrow PSD.

A lost circulation material and method for well treatment employing the material that is effective at sealing or plugging small fissures and large fractures and has utility over a wide range of temperatures, including high temperatures. The material has an optimized bimodal particle distribution and optionally has a polymer flocculent or water swellable polymer.

A bottom hole assembly carrying an expandable tubular is disposed in a portion of a wellbore having a lost circulation zone, and the tubular is radially expanded to isolate the wellbore from the formation across the lost circulation zone. The expandable tubular is made up of a rolled up sheet like member and mounts along the outer periphery of a portion of the bottom hole assembly. A bladder on the bottom hole assembly is inflated for expanding the tubular radially outward against the wellbore wall. A drill bit and underreamer are included with the bottom hole assembly.

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.

A lost circulation additive including a guar chaff material. The method of forming a lost circulation fluid includes contacting the lost circulation additive with a base fluid. The method for treating a formation including injecting the loss circulation fluid into a wellbore.

The present invention relates to subterranean cementing operations and, more particularly, to cement composition that include improved lost circulation materials, and methods of using such cement compositions in subterranean formations. In certain exemplary embodiments, the improved lost circulation materials include inelastic particles of polyethylene, polystyrene and / or polypropylene. Optionally, the cement compositions also may include additives such as fly ash, a surfactant, a dispersant, a fluid loss control additive, a conventional lost circulation material, an generator, a retarder, a salt, a mica, fiber, a formation-conditioning agent, fumed silica, bentonite, expanding additives, microspheres, weighting materials, or a defoamer.

A composition of matter and a method of sealing a permeable formation are provided incorporating the composition to reduce or eliminate lost circulation in permeable formations up to at least 6000 psi. The composition comprises one or more sealing components, a wetting component, a viscosifier component, an activator or flocculant component, and an extender. A dry mixture of the components may be added directly from the bag to the drilling mud up to the rate of 90 pounds per barrel. The mixture will seal the formation in an aqueous or organic environment. The mixture de-waters at a rapid rate without regard to the time and temperature required for curing agents or other additives. The mixture may be weighted and does not require additional agents such as defoamers, accelerators, retarders or spacers to de-water and set as a solid plug.

An improved composition and method is provided for preventing or alleviating lost circulation during the drilling of wellbores in subterranean formations, and particularly during the drilling of oil and gas wells. The method is suited for horizontal and directional wells as well as more vertical wells. The composition of the invention comprises a synergistic blend of resilient, angular, carbon-based material and a water-swellable, crystalline synthetic polymer. The method employs the composition of the invention in preventing lost circulation.

A lost circulation material and method for well treatment employing the material that is effective at sealing or plugging fractured zones and has utility over a wide range of temperatures, including high temperatures. The lost circulation material includes particulate material to quickly de-fluidize the fluid formulation, fibrous material to suspend particles in the slurrified form of the composition and increase the shear strength of the resultant seal, and non-Portland cement material for increasing the compressive strength.

In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, techniques for predicting, classifying, preventing, and remedying drilling fluid circulation loss events are disclosed. Tools for gathering relevant data are disclosed, and techniques for interpreting the resultant data as giving rise to an actual or potential drilling fluid lost circulation event are also disclosed.

A composition of matter and a method of sealing a permeable formation are provided incorporating the composition to reduce or eliminate lost circulation in permeable formations up to at least 5100 psi. The composition comprises one or more sealing components, a wetting component, a viscosifier component, an activator or flocculant component, and an extender. A dry mixture of the components may be added directly from the bag to the drilling mud up to the rate of 90 pounds per barrel. The mixture will seal the formation in an aqueous or organic environment. The mixture de-waters at a rapid rate without regard to the time and temperature required for curing agents or other additives. The mixture may be weighted and does not require additional agents such as defoamers, accelerators, retarders or spacers to de-water and set as a solid plug.

A rapidly dehydrating lost circulation material (LCM) composition is provided. The LCM composition may include a carrier fluid, volcanic ash, a viscosifier, and date tree rachis fibers. The carrier fluid may be water and the viscosifier may be a cellulosic microfiber. The LCM composition may form a rapidly dehydrating loss control slurry (RDLCS). The LCM composition may be formed by mixing the carrier fluid, the volcanic ash, the viscosifier, and the date tree rachis fibers in a mixer to form a homogenous mixture. Methods of lost circulation control and manufacture of a rapidly dehydrating LCM are also provided.

The present invention relates generally to drilling and well servicing operations, particularly to additives comprising polystyrene to control lost circulation; drilling fluids comprising the additives; and methods of using same.