Fiber Technology Simply and Effectively Cures Total Losses in Southern Mexico Without Knowing Size of Fractures

Andrade, Alexandre Victor; Torres, Lenin Omar Diaz; Bermudez, Raul; Bedino, H.; Carrillo, Nixklafe Neil Atencio; Vargas, Candelario; Carrillo, Angel Pedro Gonzalez; Martinez, Ignacio Ramirez

doi:10.2118/150844-ms

Cited by 19 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 8 publications

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“…It is based on an engineered combination of sized granules and stiff and flexible fibers. Several field applications have been reported (De Andrade et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradable Fiber Pill for Lost Circulation in Fractured Reservoir Sections

et al. 2014

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Lost circulation is one of the main causes of nonproductive time during drilling and impacts the success of cementing operations. Losses into the reservoir not only impact drilling, they potentially impact the reservoir, due to influx of quantities of drilling fluids that are potentially damaging, or will influence the production rate. Existing solutions are based mainly on particulates, which often are added to drilling fluids to plug fractures or to build up filtercake to cure fluid losses. When particulates are applied for curing losses in reservoir sections, it is desirable that the plugging materials maintain stability for sufficient time to allow well completion but eventually self-degrade to leave undamaged formation for future hydrocarbon production. The main challenges are the design of the lost-circulation material to cure losses into fractures of various widths and to provide plug stability and cleanup within a desired time frame over a broad bottomhole temperature range.Fibers have shown good fracture-plugging behavior. Parameters affecting fiber performance include, but are not limited to, fluid viscosity, fiber concentration, fiber geometry, flow rate, effect of the wall, and fracture width. To effectively apply fibers as lost-circulation applications, a novel, fiber-laden fluid was designed for easy preparation on surface, allowing compatibility with bottomhole assemblies (BHAs). The decrease in velocity inside the fracture enables fibers to bridge and then plug the fracture, thus regaining circulation. The fibers are specially designed to degrade in an adjustable time frame sufficient to ensure plug stability until the well is completed. With time, the plug undergoes further degradation, leading to nondamaged formation for production.This novel degradable solution has been successfully proven during field trials in various drilling scenarios ranging from severe to total losses with effective and efficient loss mitigation, without issues on placement through BHA and bit nozzles, and mitigating further reservoir damage.

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“…It is based on an engineered combination of sized granules and stiff and flexible fibers. Several field applications have been reported (De Andrade et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradable Fiber Pill for Lost Circulation in Fractured Reservoir Sections

et al. 2014

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Successful Implementation of Engineered Fiber Based Loss Circulation Control Solution to Effectively Cure Losses While Drilling, Cementing and Work Over Operations in Oman

Jain

Khattak

Mesa

et al. 2013

Day 2 Tue, October 01, 2013

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Oman is a hotspot for drilling activity and wells are being drilled in different environments varying from Deep exploration and development for gas and oil and water injection/disposal. One challenge tops all other challenges: Lost Circulation. Due to the fractured/fissured nature of the formation and low existing reservoir pressures, all major operators are suffering from lost circulation challenges. Some of the challenges include: Mud losses while drilling leading to cost overruns and HSE concerns, primary cement job failure due to not getting the cement up to the desired height resulting in subsequent sustained casing pressure and corrosion, not able to perform work over activity on certain wells due to losses. Enormous quantities of water are required to maintain well control, and due to the limitation of water availability all over Oman, this becomes another critical issue. An Engineered fiber-based Loss Circulation pill has proved successful to address these challenges in multiple fields for Petroleum Development Oman. Drilling shallow wells in Oman through the naturally fractured limestone formation of Natih, usually results in significant losses of up to 55 m3/h (346 bbl/h) even with a low density drilling fluid of 1,033 to 1,070kg/m3 (8.6 to 8.9lbm/gal). Packoffs are often observed due to the swelling shale section, which leads to several attempts with kick-off plugs and sidetracking. Engineered fibers pills enabled total returns to surface when no other loss circulation solution had worked before. This also enabled to bring cement all the way to surface using 1,410kg/m3 (11.8lbm/gal). In another field, a work over rig was mobilized to perform a well kill operation and pullout. Due to total losses through perforations into the reservoir, the well kill could not be completed. In addition, every time the water level fell gas started to flow in the well. After 17 attempts and 8 loss circulation material pills, a total of 763m3 (4,800bbl) of well-supply water had been pumped. An engineered fiber pill at 1,474kg/m3 (12.3lbm/gal) was designed and bullheaded into the perforations. The pressures while pumping and squeezing rose to 11,031kPa (1,600psi). The well was shut and observed for 3 hours without any pressure increase indicating losses were cured and gas flow stopped. Engineered fibers have proved their value in all sorts of lost circulation applications in North Oman. These pills have been successfully used to mitigate losses while drilling, while cementing, during mud circulation before cement job when the casing is on bottom and in work over jobs in depleted reservoirs. With the level of success achieved with such treatments, in some fields it has become a standard practice for curing losses.

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Engineered Fiber-Based Loss Circulation Control Pills To Successfully Combat Severe Loss Circulation Challenges During Drilling and Casing Cementing in Northern Pakistan

Arshad

Jain

Pardawalla

et al. 2014

Day 2 Thu, May 22, 2014

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Loss circulation is the biggest challenge after drilling and weather-related problems during the process of constructing new wellbores. As per industry figures, more than USD 2 billion per year are spent in combating losses. In the Kohat-Potwar plateau of the Upper Indus basin of northern Pakistan, a harsh and complex environment, a well usually takes anywhere from 180 to 270 days to drill. The overall time taken to drill depends on the formation thicknesses, severity of the losses, and the concession location within northern Pakistan. High-pressure water zones are located close to salt and shale formations, above the potential reservoirs. While drilling through the high-pressure formations, high mud weights greater than 1980 kg/m3 (16.5 lbm/gal) are required to maintain a well under control, which often leads to induced losses during drilling and also while running casing. The mud weight is typically lowered to 1500 kg/m3 (12.5 lbm/gal) or lighter to combat massive losses in naturally fractured limestone formations in the production hole. Engineered fiber-based loss circulation (EFBLC) control pills, based on a specially engineered fiber system and the particle size distribution principle, were developed to control the losses. The pills were effective in curing losses during drilling and while cementing; prior to the introduction of the EFBLC pills, operators spent days in combating losses with numerous traditional methods. Also, the pills were robust enough to work in water-base mud (WBM), oil-base mud (OBM), or synthetic-base mud (SBM) environments with weights up to 2040 kg/m3 (17.0 lbm/gal). In applications in northern Pakistan, the EFBLC pills were successful in combating the losses while drilling and cementing, thus reducing the threat of nonproductive time (NPT);minimizing the quality, health, safety and environmental (QHSE) concerns of well control; and preventing costly remedial jobs due to poor zonal isolation.

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Fiber Technology Simply and Effectively Cures Total Losses in Southern Mexico Without Knowing Size of Fractures

Cited by 19 publications

References 8 publications

Degradable Fiber Pill for Lost Circulation in Fractured Reservoir Sections

Degradable Fiber Pill for Lost Circulation in Fractured Reservoir Sections

Successful Implementation of Engineered Fiber Based Loss Circulation Control Solution to Effectively Cure Losses While Drilling, Cementing and Work Over Operations in Oman

Engineered Fiber-Based Loss Circulation Control Pills To Successfully Combat Severe Loss Circulation Challenges During Drilling and Casing Cementing in Northern Pakistan

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