Case Study - Engineered Fiber-Based Loss Circulation Control Pills EFLCC Solves Total Loss Circulation Challenges on Complex Depleted and Fractured Formation in Natuna Sea, Indonesia

Abstract

The loss of circulation during well drilling and cementing jobs is a serious problem for the oil and gas Industry. Loss of time is very costly and wellbore erosion can lead to inadequate zonal isolation putting the long-term integrity of the well in jeopardy. Lost circulation was a major challenge experienced by an operator when drilling wells in their 2011 campaign. The site geological prognosis indicated a high degree of depletion in sands and presence of natural fractures. As anticipated, severe lost circulation while drilling was experienced in these formations and drilling efficiently proved to be a challenging process due to heavy mud losses. An engineered fiber-based loss circulation control pills (EFLCC), based on special engineered fiber system and using a particle size distribution principle were developed to address this issue. The combination of fibers, special solids, and cementitious material was designed and tested in the laboratory to validate its ability to bridge the loss zone while permanently sealing the losses allowing further drilling to the next casing point. This paper presents the case history and field application of these novel engineered fiber-based loss circulation control pills for the successful treatment of heavy mud losses to formation in wells in offshore gas fields in Indonesia. The paper also includes a discussion of the methodology, material properties and applications.

Mathematical Simulation of Lost Circulation in Fracture and Its Control

“…Kulkarni et al [23] performed an experimental study to evaluate the suspension characteristics of lost-circulation materials in different drilling fluids and analyzed the effects of suspending agents. Jaffery et al [24] proposed an engineered fiberbased lost circulation control pills based on special fiber system and particle size distribution principle to solve the lost circulation challenges in a depleted formation with natural fractures. Xu et al [25] experimentally analyzed the effects of multiple factors, such as low rate, particle size distribution, and particle geometry, on the transport and captured characteristics of lost circulation material.…”

Estudo Numérico Do Problema De Invasão De Fluidos Do Poço Para O Reservatório E Influência De Parâmetros Reológicos Neste Processo

“…Jaery et al [5], Se baseam em uma tecnica diferente da apresentada neste trabalho. O trabalho destes autores falam sobre a perda de uido realizando uma crítica aos Lost-circulation materials (LCMs) que são as substâncias adicionadas ao uido de perfuração e que posteriormente são bombeadas para o poço na tentativa de amenizar o problema da perda de circulação, porém, ele argumenta que esta solução depende de fatores físicos do poço, ou seja, por exemplo, a fenda não pode ser muito grande ou isso afetaria o desempenho do uido com o aditivo.…”