04 Lost Circulation PDF

Quartz School for Well Site Supervisors
Module – 11
Drilling Problems
& Solutions
Section – 4
Lost Circulation
Quartz School. Module 11: Drilling Problems & Solutions / Section 4: Lost Circulation 1/24
Objectives
On completion of this module you will be able to:
• Understand what is Loss Circulation and it’s effect

on drilling operations
• Be able to indentify different types of loss circulation
• Describe methods of preventing loss circulation
• Be able to recommend the best remedy that

corresponds to particular loss circulation type
Conditions of Lost Circulation
According to the amount of mud lost to the formation, the
lost can be:
– Partial (seepage)
– Complete (no returns)
Even in an area with lots of information / experience it’s

difficult to make a valid recommendation
Should use a systematic approach

– preventive
– corrective
Causes & Potential Lost-Circulation Zones
Lost circulation is caused by one of the two following
mechanisms:
1. Natural losses: where invasion or whole fluid is lost to

formations that are
a. highly permeable
b. unconsolidated
c. fractured
d. cavernous / vugular
2. Induced losses (Fracturing): where the drilling fluid is

lost due to excessive pressure that hydraulically breaks the
formation
Problems Derived from Loss Circulation
Natural Losses
UNCONSOLIDATED FORMATIONS
• Shallow sands or gravel or shell beds/reef formations

• High matrix permeability (10…100 Darcies)
HIGHLY PERMEABLE/LOW-PRESSURE FORMATIONS

• These are mainly depleted sand reservoirs
NATURAL FRACTURES
• This type of loss occurs mainly in shales where fractures or fissures
naturally exist
CAVERNOUS AND VUGULAR FORMATIONS

• Usually are associated with low-pressure limestone or dolomite
Natural Losses
Induced Losses
MECHANICAL FORCES
• Improper hydraulics
– Excessive flow rates and fluid rheological properties
resulting in high Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD)
• Drilling practices
– Pump surging caused by increasing the pump rate too
rapidly after connections and trips
– Raising and lowering the pipe too quickly (surge/swab)
• Excessive Rate of Penetration
– Excessive cuttings in the annular flow stream will result in
high ECD
Induced Losses
HOLE CONDITIONS
• Sloughing or caving shales

– Increased solids loading in the annulus resulting in high
Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD)
• Wellbore washouts
– Cuttings accumulations in the enlarged hole sections can fall
back into the hole, leading to packing off /bridges
• Cuttings beds or barite sag
– Localized density increase
• Kicks and well-control procedures
Induced Losses
DRILLING FLUID PROPERTIES THAT WILL
AFFECTPRESSURE LOSS IN THE ANNULUS
•Excessive viscosities and gel strengths
•A build-up of drilled fluids
•Thick filter cakes that reduce the hydraulic diameter of
the wellbore
•Excessive drilling fluid density or increasing the density
too rapidly
•Excessive Low-Gravity Solids (LGS) and high
Methylene Blue Test (MBT) values
Induced Losses
Type of Loss Zone
Pit Level
Time
Pores / Permeable
Matrix
Type of Loss Zone
Pit Level
Time
Natural Fractures
Type of Loss Zone
Pit Level
Time
Induced Fractures
Type of Loss Zone
Pit Level
Time
Cavernous
Classification of the Severity of Losses
• Seepage Losses (1-10 bbl/hr)

– Do not confuse with cuttings removal at the surface
• Partial Losses (10-100 bbl/hr)
• Severe Losses (>100 bbl/hr)
Classification of Lost-Circulation Materials
Lost-Circulation Materials can be classified into six types:
• Fibrous
• Granular
• Flaked or platelet
• Mixed
• High fluid-loss squeezes
• Reinforcing plugs
Classification of Lost-Circulation Materials
Lost-Circulation Materials are supplied in three grades:
• Fine materials
– under most circumstances will pass through the shaker
screens and stay in the system
• Medium materials
– tend to be screened out, but most likely will not plug
jets or MWD tools
• Coarse materials
– can plug off everything except open-ended drill pipe
Lost Circulation Treatments
Loss Severity LCM size Shape
Medium - coarse Granular

Severe
Medium - coarse Fibre
Medium - coarse Flake
Sodium silicate & Cement
Total Gunk treatments
Polymer treatments
Prevention and Control of Lost Circulation
Running LCM in the Drilling Fluid
– 15 - 20 lb/bbl LCM
– Problems!!!…might require bypassing the shakers
Maintaining Good Drilling Fluid Properties

– solids control
– density
– low YP, PV and gel strengths
– low MBT levels
Keep ECD to a minimum

– use Virtual Hydraulics (VRDH module) for estimating ECD
Prevention and Control of Lost Circulation
Minimize Surge & Swab Pressures

– Use Virtual Hydraulics (TripPro) for determining trip velocity and
acceleration schedule
– Break circulation while tripping in
– Rotate pipe before turning on the pumps
Down hole equipment
– Remove bit nozzles if large losses are expected
– Minimize the BHA (i.e., no stabilizers, minimum DC & HWDP)
Attack immediately
Lost Circulation Guidelines
Depleted reservoir - Loss Management
Hole
Taking Determine Loss
rate
Calculate
ECD.
Can flow rate
Be reduced?
Can rheology
be reduced?
Can Weight be
reduced?
Yes Calculate NEW
ECD
Fluid Discuss with

No No No colleagues
Add BAROFIBRE Fine/
Coarse & BARACARB Yes Determine Loss Losses Effect agreed
Rate of Loss
5/50/150 - add 2 sacks each rate Cured? changes
< 1m3/hr
per hour
No
Flex Plug
To Approx 15 m3 mud, add :
BARACARB 50 10 kg/m3
BARACARB 150 30 kg/m3 Yes No
BAROFIBRE F 30 kg/m3 Rate of Loss
BAROFIBRE C 30 kg/m3 1-3m3/hr
STEELSEAL 10 kg/m3 Geltone IV Squeeze
EZ MUL 2F 5 kg/m3

BARACARB 50
BARACARB 150
BAROFIBRE F
30 kg/m3
60 kg/m3
60 kg/m3
Yes
No
Rate of Loss
No
Cement Plug + Losses
Cured?
Yes Drill
BAROFIBRE C 60 kg/m3 4-6m3/hr Steelseal No
STEELSEAL
EZ MUL 2F
30 kg/m3
10 kg/m3

No
Option 2 : Ultra Plug
Yes
Losses
Ahead
BARACARB 150 50 kg/m3 No
BARACARB 600 50 kg/m3 Yes Cured?
Rate of Loss Option 1 : X-Link
BAROFIBRE F 50 kg/m3
BAROFIBRE C 50 kg/m3
> 7m3/hr
STEELSEAL 50 kg/m3
To Approx 15 m3 water, add :
EZ MUL 2F 10 kg/m3
BARAZAN D+ 0.75 kg/m3
Losses No Losses No BAROFIBRE F 50 kg/m3 Repeat previous.
BAROFIBRE C 50 kg/m3 Increase concentration
Cured? Reduced?
STEALSEAL 50 kg/m3
of LCM by 50%
Yes Yes
Summary
• Any mud system can be used to drill Lost Circulation Zones
– Materials and procedures are developed to minimize mud
losses
• Lost Circulation Contingency Plans should be set in place
• Use best available technology on critical wells

– Research the well design
– Observe good drilling practices

04 Lost Circulation PDF

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Quartz School for Well Site Supervisors

On completion of this module you will be able to:

• Understand what is Loss Circulation and it’s effect

• Be able to indentify different types of loss circulation

• Describe methods of preventing loss circulation

• Be able to recommend the best remedy that

Even in an area with lots of information / experience it’s

Should use a systematic approach

1. Natural losses: where invasion or whole fluid is lost to

2. Induced losses (Fracturing): where the drilling fluid is

• Shallow sands or gravel or shell beds/reef formations

HIGHLY PERMEABLE/LOW-PRESSURE FORMATIONS

CAVERNOUS AND VUGULAR FORMATIONS

• Sloughing or caving shales

• Seepage Losses (1-10 bbl/hr)

• Partial Losses (10-100 bbl/hr)

• Severe Losses (>100 bbl/hr)

Lost-Circulation Materials can be classified into six types:

Lost-Circulation Materials are supplied in three grades:

Loss Severity LCM size Shape

Medium - coarse Granular

Maintaining Good Drilling Fluid Properties

Keep ECD to a minimum

Minimize Surge & Swab Pressures

Fluid Discuss with

To Approx 15 m3 mud, add :

To Approx 15 m3 mud, add :

• Lost Circulation Contingency Plans should be set in place

• Use best available technology on critical wells

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