PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Volume 41, Issue 4, August 2014

Online English edition of the Chinese language journal

Cite this article as: PETROL. EXPLOR. DEVELOP., 2014, 41(4): 520–527. RESEARCH PAPER

Constructing a tough shield around the wellbore:

Theory and method for lost-circulation control
KANG Yili1,*, XU Chengyuan1, TANG Long1, LI Song1, LI Daqi2
1. State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China;
2. Sinopec Research Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Beijing 100101, China

Abstract: According to the mechanism analysis of drilling fluid loss in the formation with low pressure-bearing capacity, three basic
theories, including stress cage, plugged zone, and strength ring for wellbore strengthening, were summarized and the corresponding mod-
els were established. The application conditions for the three theories and their requirements on the material properties were determined
based on the models. Fracture propagation, filtration effect of drilling fluid and depleted formation pressure are the major factors that lead
to low formation pressure-bearing capacity. The stress cage theory strengthens the wellbore by establishing the balance between wellbore
pressure and formation stress. It is applied in the formation with low-development fracture. It demands that the material has enough com-
pressive strength and reasonable size distribution to sustain certain fracture width and low fracture pressure. The plugged zone theory
works by establishing the balance between wellbore pressure and formation pressure. It is suitable in pore and fractured formation and de-
mands that the plugging material has the properties of high surface friction coefficient, resilient deformation, volume fraction and strength
to create the synergy effect of rigid granule, fiber and resilient particle. The strength ring theory applies to fracture-vug formation and it
requires that the material can cement the weak structural plane or form a high strength body to separate the pressure propagation from
wellbore to formation. The effect and guiding significance of the three theories were further confirmed by field applications.

Key words: formation pressure-bearing capacity; lost circulation; drilling fluid; stress cage; plugged zone; strength ring

Introduction tion. In terms of safe and efficient drilling, Messenger J U

An increasing number of companies move to the exploita-
tion of more and more challenging oil and gas reservoirs in
deeper, more depleted and complex conditions. Under this
circumstance, safe and efficient drilling and reservoir damage
control set higher requirements on wellbore pressure con-
tainment (WPC) in potential lost-circulation formation [1−2].
WPC is the comprehensive reflection of structural integrity
and strength of formation, drilling fluid property and the in-
teraction between formation and drilling fluid. Low strength
of rock, well-developed fractures, poor plugging ability of
drilling fluid often lead to formation breakdown, and natural
and induced fracture propagation, which in turn leads to low
wellbore pressure containment, massive loss of drilling fluid
associated with other downhole complexities, seriously hin-
dering the exploration and development of oil and gas re-
sources.
To meet the requirements of safe and efficient drilling and
formation damage control, lots of efforts have been put into
the study on the lost-circulation control in low WPC forma-
sorted out loss control techniques for different types of thief
formations [3]. Xu Tongtai et al. proposed three key factors
leading to drilling fluid loss [4]. Lü Kaihe et al. put forward the
self-adaptive loss control technique for the formation with
severe heterogeneity [5]. Li Jiaxue et al. established a rigid
particle estimation model for plugging while drilling to in-
crease the WPC of naturally fractured formation [6]. Zheng
Lihui et al. proposed the loss control mechanism of fuzzy-ball
drilling fluid which has the characteristic of self-adaption to
the loss channel [7]. Wang Gui studied the pressure reopening
augmentation mechanism for wellbore strengthening based on
fracture mechanics [8]. Morita N et al. analyzed the impacts of
rock mechanics and fracture geometry parameters on the
wellbore strengthening effect [9]. Yang Pei et al. developed the
wellbore strengthening model considering the fracture stress
intensity factor [10]. With respect to formation damage control,
Abrams firstly proposed the 1/3 bridging law for the porous
reservoir [11]. Luo Xiangdong and Luo Pingya put forward the
temporary plugging method for porous and fractured reser-

Received date: 22 Nov. 2013; Revised date: 12 Mar. 2014.

* Corresponding author. E-mail: cwctkyl@vip.sina.com
Foundation item: Supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project (2011ZX05005-006-008HZ) and the National Key Basic Research and Devel-
opment Program (973 Program), China (2010CB226705).
Copyright © 2014, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina. Published by Elsevier BV. All rights reserved.
 KANG Yili et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2014, 41(4): 520–527
voirs [12]. Zhang Jinbo and Yan Jienian proposed the ideal
packing theory and d90 rule to optimize the particle size dis-
tribution based on the principle of maximum packing effi-
ciency [13]. Jiang Guancheng et al. put forward the broad-spec-
trum oil-film temporary plugging agent for severely hetero-
geneous reservoirs [14]. Yan Fengming and Kang Yili proposed
temporary plugging mechanism of loss control for frac-
ture-vug reservoirs [15−18].
By constructing a tough shield around the wellbore, we can
strengthen the wellbore and further prevent the lost-circula-
tion of drilling fluid. The ultimate goal for wellbore strength-
ening is to establish the balance between wellbore fluid pres-
sure and formation stress and pressure. Based on the factors
that weaken the WPC in possible lost-circulation formation,
we summarize the underlying theories for wellbore strength-
ening and establish the models under different theories. Based
on the models and laboratory experiment results, the applica-
tion conditions for different wellbore strengthening theories
and their requirements on the lost circulation material (LCM)
properties are analyzed.
1 Lost circulation mechanism of the low wellbore
pressure containment formation
When drilling into formation, the wellbore breaks the equi-
librium of stress field, making the stress redistributed around
the wellbore, causing concentrated stress and forming a sec-
ondary stress field. The secondary stress field, together with
the rock strength, forms the natural shield protecting the
wellbore integrity [19]. Under complete formation, the pressure
bearing capacity equals formation breakdown pressure. As-
suming the formation is a linear elastic porous material and
the wellbore rock is in plane strain state, the hoop stress in the
near wellbore region of a vertical well is given by [20]:
σθ = H
σ + σ h ⎛ rw2 ⎞ σ H − σ h ⎛ rw4 ⎞ rw2
⎜1 + 2 ⎟ − ⎜1 + 3 4 ⎟ cos 2θ − pw 2 (1)
2 ⎝ r ⎠ 2 ⎝ r ⎠ r Assuming that the horizontal stress is isotropic, i.e. σH=σh.
Low wellbore pressure containment (WPC) is the main
characteristic of potential lost-circulation formation [21]. Frac-
ture extension and propagation, wellbore fluid invasion and
formation pressure depletion are the main factors causing low
WPC.
1.1 Fracture extension and propagation
According to Eq. (1), the hoop stress σθ is smallest when
circle angle θ is 0° or 180°. Considering formation rock
strength σt and formation pore pressure, when there is no cir-
culation loss, the pressure bearing capacity Pb of the vertical
well is given by [22]:
pb = 3σ h − σ H + σ t − p p (2)
When a closed small fracture is generated on the wellbore
wall, the pressure bearing capacity of formation Pb is given
by [23]
pb = 3σ h − σ H − p p (3)
As the fracture propagates from near wellbore region to far
− 521 −
field region, the pressure bearing capacity of formation Pb is
further reduced and equal to the fracture propagation pressure
pb = σ h + σ t (4)
When the fracture propagates to vugs and/or natural frac-
tures, the pressure bearing capacity Pb is equal to formation
pore pressure Pp.
1.2 Seepage effect
With poor plugging and sealing ability, the drilling fluid fil-
trate will invade into the near wellbore formation under the
positive differential pressure between wellbore fluid pressure
and formation pressure. Assuming that the formation is a po-
rous medium with a porosity φ and the drilling fluid filtration
follows Darcy law. The additional tangential stress induced by
fluid invasion is given by [24]:
⎡ α (1 − 2ν ) ( r 2 + rw 2 ) ⎤
σθ = ⎢ − φ ⎥ ( p w − pp ) (5)
⎢⎣ 2 (1 − ν )
2
r ⎥⎦
The wellbore fluid invasion has a significant effect on the
WPC. Formations in the wellbore are different in seepage
capacity, which will lead to different degrees of hydrostatic
pressure dispersion of fluid column. The poorer the cake
building property of the drilling fluid, the higher the disper-
sion degree of wellbore fluid column pressure, and the lower
the formation pressure bearing capacity will be.
1.3 Formation pressure depletion
In the course of reservoir development, as the formation
fluid is produced constantly, the formation pressure will de-
cline gradually, which also has an important impact on the
WPC. Considering the effective stress, the relationship be-
tween horizontal principal stress and vertical principal stress
is given by[25]:
ν
σh =
1 −ν
(σ v − p p ) + p p (6)
By substituting Eq. (6) into Eq. (2), we can have
2ν 1 − 3ν
pb = σv + pp + σ t (7)
1 −ν 1 −ν
It can be seen form Eq. (7) that the WPC is not always de-
creasing with the pore pressure PP. It is also dependent upon
the Poisson ratio. When ν is less than 1/3, reduction in PP will
lead to a reduction in WPC. When ν is equal to 1/3, reduction
in PP will have no impact on WPC. When ν is larger than 1/3,
reduction in PP will result in an increase in WPC.
2 Wellbore strengthening theory
2.1 Stress cage theory
Proposed by Aston M. S et al for the first time, the Stress
Cage concept involves the control of lost circulation by ad-
justing hoop stress field and fracture tip stress field, and es-
tablishing the balance between wellbore fluid column pressure
and formation stress field [26−29]. The key of its application is
to prop the induced fracture or nature fracture open with LCM
 KANG Yili et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2014, 41(4): 520–527

to compress the near wellbore formation and increase the For KI(pf), it is described as the following when L=rw+Lf
hoop stress around the wellbore (Fig. 1). An impermeable and If=1.
plugged zone will be formed in the fracture to prevent the
fluid pressure propagation from the wellbore to the fracture
KⅠ( p f ) =
1 L
πL ∫− L
( p f − pw ) LL +− xx dx =
tip, lower stress intensity factor at fracture tip and keep the p f − pw ΔL − L L+x p − pw L L+x
fracture system stable. Stress intensity factor at fracture tip
πL ∫
−L L−x
dx + f
πL ∫L −ΔL L − x
dx =
controls the stability of fracture system, and thus the
p f − pw ⎛ ΔL 2 L − ΔL π ⎞
strengthening effect of WPC. The stress intensity factor at 2L ⎜⎜ arcsin − arcsin + ⎟⎟ (12)
fracture tip can be obtained by overlapping formation stress πL ⎝ 2L 2L 2⎠
(σH, σh), wellbore fluid pressure (pw) and pressure in the frac- Note that the pressure and in-situ stress in Eqs. (8) to (12)
ture (pf) (Fig. 2). are effective pressure and stress, which correspond to the de-
If one assumes a line fracture with a half-length of L, then viations from the original pore pressure. The total stress-inten-
the stress-intensity factor is given by [30]: sity can be obtained by means of superposition. Therefore, the
KⅠ = K I (σ H ,σ h ) + K I ( pw ) + K I ( pf ) (8) stress-intensity factor for a wellbore with a fracture sealed up
For KI(σH, σh) and KI(pw), Tada H et al. gave the classic to the plug and pressure Pf between the plug and the fracture
analytical solution [31]: tip is given by:
K I (σ H ,σ h ) = σ h πLf Fλ ( s ) (9) {
K I = pw π ( a + ΔL ) 1 + (1 − s ) ⎡0.5 + 0.743(1 − s ) ⎤ +
⎣
2
⎦ }
K I ( pw ) = pw πLf FIf ( s ) (10) pf − pw ⎛ ΔL 2 L − ΔL π ⎞
2L ⎜⎜ arcsin − arcsin + ⎟⎟ +
where, πL ⎝ 2 L 2L 2⎠
Fλ ( s ) = (1 − λ ) Foλ ( s ) + λ F1 ( s )
σ h π ( a + ΔL ) Fλ ( s ) (13)
FIf ( s ) = (1 − I f ) FoIf ( s ) + I f F1 ( s )
With the wellbore fluid pressure Pw growing, the
Foλ ( s ) = 0.5 ( 3 − s ) ⎡1 + 1.243(1 − s ) ⎤
3
⎣ ⎦ stress-intensity factor KI increases. The fracture propagates
when KI increases to the critical stress-intensity factor KIc.
F1 ( s ) = 1 + (1 − s ) 0.5 + 0.743(1 − s ) ⎤
⎡ 2
⎣ ⎦ Then, the strengthened WPC model is given by:
FoIf ( s ) = (1 − s ) 0.637 + 0.485 (1 − s ) + 0.4s (1 − s ) ⎤
⎡ 2 2
K Ic
⎣ ⎦ − σ h Fλ ( s ) − pf f ( L )
π(a + ΔL)
σH Lf pb = (14)
λ= Lf = a + ΔL s= 1 + (1 − s ) ⎡0.5 + 0.743 (1 − s ) ⎤ − f ( L )
2
σh rw + Lf ⎣ ⎦
When If=1, where,
K I ( pw ) = pw π ( a + ΔL ) × ⎛ ΔL 2 L − ΔL π ⎞
2 L ⎜⎜ arcsin − arcsin + ⎟⎟
{1 + (1 − s ) ⎡⎣0.5 + 0.743(1 − s ) ⎤⎦} 2
(11) f ( L) = ⎝ 2L
π(a + ΔL) πL
2L 2⎠

Wc E
ΔL =
4 (1 − ν 2 ) (σ h − pf )
From Eq. (14), it can be seen that the strengthened WPC
considering fracture stability is affected by rock elastic
modulus, Poisson ratio, earth stress, plugging distance, frac-
Fig. 1 Schematic of Stress Cage theory ture length, propped fracture width and fracture fluid pressure.

2.2 Plugged zone theory

A lot of research has been done on the loss channel plug-

ging and sealing mechanism and the plugging techniques for
porous loss channel have been quite mature [25, 32-34]. The
plugged zone theory refers to plugging the fracture loss chan-
nel with LCM, forming high strength and tight plug in the
fracture, preventing fluid invasion and establishing balance
between wellbore fluid pressure and the formation pressure.
The strengthening effect of the WPC is dependent on the
strength of the fracture plugged zone.
The plugged zone composed of LCM is a granule matter
Fig. 2 Mechanical model of stress cage theory system. Based on granule matter mechanics, the plugged zone

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 KANG Yili et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2014, 41(4): 520–527
composed of LCM has multiscale structure [35] (Fig.3). Be-
sides microscopic single particle and macroscopic plugged
zone formed in the fracture loss channel, it also consists of
mesoscopic force chains which are formed by several particles
constantly contacting each other under external load. Fig. 4
shows the force chain network in the granule system. The
force chain is the main way for macroscopic plugged zone to
transfer the external load. The properties of the LCM affect
the strength of the mesoscopic force chains and further have a
significant effect on the WPC and stability of the macroscopic
plugged zone.
During the formation of fracture plugged zones, lost circu-
lation material plugs the loss channel in three modes: single
particle bridging, double particle bridging and multi particle
bridging. For the fracture plugged zone formed with single
and double particle bridging, its maximum plugging pressure
is dependent on the LCM shear strength and the friction force
between the fracture surface and LCM. So the strengthened
WPC is given by:
pb = max (σ m , f ) (15)
where,
⎛ d ⎞
f = 2 μ f Em ⎜ − 1⎟
W
⎝ f ⎠ on rock mass mechanic properties is larger than the effect of
For the multi-particle bridging mode, the force chain
strength has a decisive effect on the maximum plugging pres-
sure of the fracture plugged zone. Based on granule matter
mechanics, the force chain strength primarily depends on par-
ticle contact stress. High strength force chain only exists in
dense granule matter system so the fracture plugged zone
should be tight and compact. Assuming that Δ is the total elas-
tic deformation of force chain, the contact deformation of
each particle in the force chain is given by:
Fig. 3 Multiscale structure of the fracture plugged zone
Fig. 4 Force chain network in the fracture plugged zone
− 523 −
Fig. 5 Structural body formed under strength ring theory
Δ Δd
β= = (16)
N Lc
According to Hooke law, the particle contact force is given
by:
F = kβ (17)
Then, the particle contact stress is given by:
F kΔ
τ= 2= (18)
πd πLc d
Therefore, the strengthened WPC under plugged zone the-
ory is dependent on compactness, elastic deformation, surface
friction coefficient and LCM strength.
2.3 Strength ring theory
Rock mass structure control theory proposed by Sun
Guangzhong indicated that the effect of rock mass structure
rock material [36]. Nie Xunyong developed the separating-type
gel slug technique to control lost-circulation [37]. Strength ring
theory refers to the wellbore strengthening mechanism that the
LCMs cement the weak structural plane or form high strength
body to separate the pressure propagation from wellbore to
formation by physical and chemical reaction in the loss chan-
nel under formation environment including formation tem-
perature, pressure and fluid (Fig. 5).
The structural body formed in the loss channel should have
the ability to remain stability under the differential pressure
between the wellbore fluid pressure and formation pressure.
The strengthened WPC under strength ring theory is given by:
pb = σ q + p p (19)
The wellbore strengthening effect under strength ring the-
ory is dependent on the strength and stability of the structural
body and the material reaction speed in the formation envi-
ronment.
3 Theory application conditions and
requirements on material properties
3.1 Application conditions
Stress cage method strengthens the wellbore by propping
induced and existing fractures open with special LCM to in-
crease hoop stress in the near wellbore region. It is applied in
the porous formation with high elastic modulus and undevel-
oped fractures. Plugged zone theory focuses on plugging and
sealing the fracture loss channel. It is applied in the porous
formation and naturally fractured formation. Strength ring
theory places emphasis on forming high strength body in the
 KANG Yili et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2014, 41(4): 520–527

Table 1 Application conditions for the three wellbore strengthening theories

Theory Lithology Rock mass structure Formation type Rock mechanic property
Sandstone, carbonate rock, Medium to high modulus ratio
Stress cage Integrated structure Porous and fracture-pore formation
magmatic rock, metamorphic rock (E/σc), Low brittleness
Sandstone, carbonate rock, Porous, pore-fracture and fractured
Plugged zone Fractured structure No special demand
shale and coal rock formation
Millimeter- width fracture type,
Sandstone, carbonate rock,
Strength ring Cataclastic structure chemical corrosion type and Medium to high brittleness
shale and coal rock
fracture-vuggy formation

loss channel. It is suitable for fractured formation or frac-
ture-vug formation. In the wellbore strengthening process, the
above three theories can be used together to create the synergy
effect. The application conditions for each theory are shown
in Table 1.
3.2 Requirements on material properties
3.2.1 Requirements of stress cage theory on the material
properties
The stress cage theory requires that the LCMs have suffi-
cient strength, appropriate hardness and reasonable size dis-
tribution, so that the LCM can form a tight plugged zone,
sealing the fracture tip and reducing the fluid pressure in the
fracture. In the process of wellbore strengthening by stress
cage method, the fracture width can be calculated based on
the required WPC. Then the particle size and grain size com-
bination can be determined based on the calculated fracture
width. Table 2 shows the common particle size classification.
The stress cage theory requires the LCM with compressive
strength larger than WPC, d90 degradation rate under 15 MPa
less than 5% and 1.0−1.2 times the formation rock hardness.
The requirements on particle size range of different grades are
as follows: first grade particle size is between 0.6Wf to Wf.
Second grade particle size is between 0.23Wf to 0.40Wf. Third
grade particle size is between 0.10Wf to 0.17Wf. Fourth grade
particle size is between 0.04Wf to 0.07Wf.
Table 2 Particle size classification
Particle size grade Diameter/mm Mesh
A >2.000 <10
B 0.900−2.000 10−20
C 0.400−0.900 20−40
D 0.200−0.400 40−80
E 0.074−0.200 80−200
3.2.2 Requirements of plugged zone theory on the mate-
rial properties
The main influencing factors on the wellbore strengthening
effect under plugged zone theory include plugging compact-
ness, elastic deformation, strength and surface friction coeffi-
cient. The plugging compactness is characterized by the plug-
ged zone volume fraction which is the ratio of the volume of
fracture plugging material to the volume of the fracture chan-
nel plugged. LCM elastic deformation refers to the elastic
deformation of the LCM under the effect of formation stress
and pressure, which is quantitatively characterized by elastic
deformation rate. LCM strength is characterized by the d90
degradation rate under 15MPa. The higher the d90 degradation
rate, the lower the LCM strength will be. Plugged zone theory
requires that the LCMs have the elastic deformation rate of
5% to 20%, the volume fraction larger than 90%, the surface
friction coefficient large than 0.1 and the d90 degradation less
than 5%.
The pressure bearing capacity of plugged zone is controlled
by LCM types and their combination. The measuring results
of parameters of different LCM types and combinations are
shown in Table 3 [38-42]. It can be seen that the elastic deforma-
tion rate, surface friction coefficient, volume fraction and
LCM strength are greatly increased by the combination of
rigid particles, fiber and resilient particles. Resilient particles
can greatly improve the amount of contact deformation and
decrease the d90 degradation rate and the resilience of resilient
particle can be imparted to the fracture plugged zone. The
addition of fiber can greatly increase the LCM volume frac-
tion because fiber will fill in the pore between particles and
improve the compactness of the plugged zone. The addition of
fiber and resilient particle will increase the surface friction
coefficient because of their low sphericity and high roughness.
Fig. 6 shows that the maximum plugging pressure of the
plugged zone is greatly improved by the combination of rigid
particles, fiber and resilient particles.

Table 3 Properties of fracture plugged zone formed with different material types and combinations
Elastic deformation rate/% Surface friction d90 degration rate under
LCM type Volume fraction/%
15 MPa 30 MPa coefficient/f 15MPa/%
Rigid particle 0 0.3 0.150 79.5 9.7
Rigid particle+fiber 2.2 2.7 0.185 89.1 8.5
Rigid particle+elastic particle 9.4 12.1 0.179 81.5 4.1
Rigid particle+fiber
12.2 15.7 0.256 92.3 3.2
+elastic particle
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 KANG Yili et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2014, 41(4): 520–527
Fig. 6 Maximum plugging pressure of plugged zone formed
with different material types and combinations
Therefore, the plugged zone theory requires the combina-
tion of rigid particles, fiber and resilient particles to create the
synergy effect and form high strength and high stability frac-
ture plugged zone. The concentration of each type of LCM
should be determined based on the fracture loss channel size
by laboratory experiments. The general rule is that the rigid
particle concentration is higher than that of fiber and the con-
centration of fiber is higher than that of resilient particle.
3.2.3 Requirements of strength ring theory on the
material properties
The strength ring theory requires that the LCM can make
full use of the formation environment including formation
temperature, pressure and fluid. In the flowing process in the
wellbore, the LCM should remain stable and not react chemi-
cally or physically. Once entering into the loss channel, the
LCM should react chemically or physically to form high
strength structural body as soon as possible which is stable for
some time. The strength ring theory requires that the struc-
tural body strength is larger than the difference between the
strengthened WPC and formation pressure. The reaction time
of the LCM should be less than 60 minutes and the stable time
should be more than 15 days.
4 Case study
In the middle-late stage of development, the North Sea oil
field has depleted formation pressure. The pressure gradient of
sandstone reservoir in the depth of 5 210 m is 1.05 g/cm3 and
the fracture pressure gradient is 1.77 g/cm3. In contrast, the
shale above the sandstone has a collapse pressure gradient of
2.40 g/cm3. When well W-A was drilling in this depleted for-
mation, wellbore strengthening treatment was conducted in
the sandstone formation to ensure the wellbore stability of
shale formation and safe drilling in the sandstone formation.
Based on the formation stress and rock mechanic parameters,
the propped fracture width needed for the stress cage theory is
1 500 μm. Therefore, the B, C and D grade particles (Table 2)
were added into the drilling fluid and the concentration of
them worked out by laboratory experiments was 10%, 7% and
5% respectively. Drilling with the optimized drilling fluid, the
WPC of the sandstone formation was strengthened and no
lost-circulation in the drilling process occurred.
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Western Sichuan deep carbonate gas reservoirs are charac-
terized by well-developed natural fractures. For Well 4 in the
Puguang structure of the Sichuan Basin China drilled with
water-based drilling fluid, serious lost circulation of 1.74
g/cm3 drilling fluid was observed on the top of the Feixian-
guan target zone in which natural fractures were developed.
The plugged zone theory was used to strengthen the WPC.
Based on the analysis of pump pressure, dynamic fracture
width and LCM concentration, a pill system including 3%
rigid particles (calcium carbonate), 2% fiber (LF-1) and 1%
resilient particles (EP-2) was added to the original drilling
fluid. Once the pill was in contact with the thief zone,
squeezing pressure was applied to strengthen the properties of
the composite plug. A pill of 7.9 m3 volume was placed
through the drill bit to plug and seal the thief zone. After 30
minutes the lost circulation was stopped. A test was then con-
ducted, and the test pressure reached 15 MPa with no pressure
drop. The composite-plug remained effective until the zone
was successfully cemented off one week later.
In the drilling process of Well 2 in Luojiazhai gas field in
Chongqing. Underground blowout happened in the Feixian-
guan Formation at the depth of 3370 m. Sour gas entered into
Well 1 along the cataclastic thief zone in the Jialingjiang
Formation and spewed out. Before controlling the gas source
in the Feixianguan Formation, lost-circulation in Jialingjiang
theif zone must be controlled. The strength ring theory was
employed to strengthen the WPC because Jialingjiang Forma-
tion is cataclastic and rich in fractures. Based on the thief zone
property, high viscosity special gel was added into the cement
slurry and pumped into the thief zone. High strength structural
body was formed in the loss channel, separating the pressure
propagation from the wellbore to the thief zone successfully.
5 Conclusions
The ultimate goal of wellbore strengthening is to establish
the balance between the wellbore fluid pressure and the for-
mation stress and pressure. Fracture extension and propaga-
tion, wellbore fluid invasion and formation pressure depletion
are the major factors that contribute to low wellbore pressure
containment.
The wellbore strengthening theories include stress cage
theory, plugged zone theory and strength ring theory. The
stress cage theory strengthens the wellbore by establishing the
balance between wellbore pressure and formation stress. It is
applicable for the tight formation with undeveloped fractures.
The plugged zone theory works by establishing the balance
between wellbore pressure and formation pressure. It is suit-
able for porous and fractured formations. The strength ring
theory focus on cementing the weak structural plane and
forming high strength body to separate the pressure propaga-
tion from wellbore to formation. It is suitable for fracture-vug
formation. The above three theories are suitable for different
lithology, rock mechanical properties, rock mass structures
and formation types, but they can be used together, supple-
 KANG Yili et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2014, 41(4): 520–527
ment each other and create the synergy effect of wellbore
strengthening and lost-circulation control.
The stress cage theory requires that the material has enough
compressive strength and reasonable size distribution to sus-
tain certain fracture width and low fracture pressure. The
plugged zone theory demands that the plugging material has
the properties of high surface coefficient, resilient deforma-
tion and volume fraction to create the synergy effect of the
combination of rigid particles, fiber and resilient particles.
The strength ring theory requires that the material can make
full use of the formation environment and cement the weak
structural plane and form high strength body as quickly as
possible.
Field cases analysis shows that the reasonable selection of
wellbore strengthening theory can increase the wellbore pres-
sure containment and control the drilling fluid lost-circulation
effectively.
Nomenclature
σθ—tangential stress, MPa;
σH, σh—maximum and minimum horizontal principle stress, MPa;
θ—circle angle, (°);
rw—wellbore radius, m;
r—radial distance, m;
pw—wellbore fluid pressure, MPa;
pp—formation pore pressure, MPa;
σt—rock strength, MPa;
pb—wellbore pressure containment, MPa;
pf—pressure in the fracture, MPa;
ν—Poisson ratio;
φ —porosity, %;
α—effective stress coefficient;
σv—vertical principle stress, MPa;
a—plugging distance, m;
ΔL—distance between plugging point and fracture tip, m;
Lf—distance between fracture tip and wellbore wall, m;
L—type I fracture half length in an infinite flat, m;
KI—fracture tip stress intensity factor, MPa·m0.5;
KIc—critical stress intensity factor, MPa·m0.5;
If—influencing coefficient of wellbore pressure on fracture pres-
sure;
E—rock elastic modulus, MPa;
Wc—propped fracture width, m;
σm—material strength, MPa;
f—friction between material and fracture surface, N;
μf—material surface friction coefficient;
d—particle diameter, m;
Wf—fracture width, m;
Em—material elastic modulus, MPa;
Δ—total deformation of force chain, m;
N—particle number in the force chain;
Lc—force chain length, m;
F—particle contact force, N;
− 526 −
τ—particle contact stress, N/m2;
β—particle contact deformation, m;
k—material stiffness, N/m;
σq—structural body strength, MPa.
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