Faustin Hategekimana American University of Nigeria

A00015902

PET 410 WAC Paper

Instructor: Obioma U. Uche

Date: November, 25th 2015

Lost Circulation Zone and Well Control

Lost Circulation (also called thief zones) is one of the major problems encountered by

engineers while drilling in highly permeable and fractured formations, and depleted reservoirs. It

is defined as the undesirable loss of the drilling fluid from the hydrostatic column into the voids

of the formation and fractures zones when the fluid is being pumped down the pipe or annular

space. The failure of controlling lost circulation zones of drilling fluids results in the high cost of

designing drilling fluid as well as high operating expenses in general . In this paper, the causes

and effects of lost circulation zones as well as prevention techniques are going to be discussed.

For efficient drilling, drilling mud is pumped in the circulating system of the drilling rig.

The major functions of drilling mud are to remove cuttings beneath the drill bit, neutralize

subsurface formation fluid pressure and stabilize a hole during casing and cementing. The main

cause of lost circulation zone is the fractures which are created by the hydrostatic pressure of that

drilling fluid especially when drilling in high permeability formations zones (cavernous

formations). The softness of the formations like calcium carbonate reservoirs and depleted

acquifer zones also contribute to the lost circulation. Improper drilling operations and conditions

can be also the trigger of the problem (example: while tripping in too fast and cause high surge
pressure, improper annular whole cleaning, and excessive mud weight). In addition, lost

circulation could happen when cement slurries is used during casing and cement operations.

Lost circulation can be classified into three categories. Firstly, there is Seepage loss, a

situation whereby a little amount of mud is lost (>10 barrel per hour), and this will have little or

no effect on the drilling operation. Secondly, there is partial loss, a situation whereby a fluid is

lost into the formation and yet part of it can be recovered back to the surface (between 10-500

barrels per hour). Lastly there is total loss (>500 barrels per hour). In this case, almost all the

drilling mud pumped into the well is lost in the formation and will led to well instability problem

since it is no longer possible to keep the hole full of mud. There are two conditions necessary for

lost circulation to occur. Firstly, the wellbore pressure must exceed the pore pressure; secondly,

flow pathways must be present in the formations (Tetteh, 2011).

Analyzing the effect of thief zone is a major important issue not only for the profitability

of the drilling contractor, but also for the environment as a whole. Lost circulation can lead to a

blow out problems (uncontrolled flow of fluids from the subsurface formation zones to the

surface as a result of pressure control system failure). It can also lead to drill pipe stuck and other

problems resulting in additional well cost. Lost circulation has consequences on the ground water

for the well being drilled in fractured zones. According to the documentary called “Gasland”

directed by Fox, fluids used while drilling and the ones used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR)

during production can pollute the ground water through lost circulation. When drilling fluid

penetrates the fractured zones containing fresh water, that water is unfortunately contaminated.

The documentary shows the evidence of the case in Texas, USA. Most of the sites whereby

natural gas from shale is being produced from shale, through hydraulic fracturing, their domestic

water has been contaminated. The experiment was done and it was found that there is a high
amount of gas dissolved in it (especially methane) and other liquids impurities that probably

originated from the mixture of that water and drilling fluids.

In response to the issue, there are several preventive methods for the case of Thief zones.

The choice of any preferred method depends on the geological formation, and also the cause of

lost circulation. It is not possible to prevent lost circulation completely, due to the fact that it is

difficult to avoid the rock formations that are fractured and highly permeable as the target depth

should be achieved. What is possible however is just to minimize circulation loss (Chevron,

2014). This is only possible if the measures such as maintaining mud proper weight, adequate

hole cleaning, and avoiding restriction in the annular space, are taken (Frates, 2014).

One of the techniques used to prevent the problem is the addition of Lost Circulation

Materials (LCM) to the drilling fluids, which are the high viscous drilling fluids additives

designed to make sure that all the drilling fluids pumped down the whole return to the surface for

reuse (Oluwatoni , 2014). The main purpose of LCM is to maintain mud weight required to seal

off any fractured zone. Some examples of the additives used to make LCM are bentonite for the

purpose of increasing the viscosity of the drilling fluids (in order to form net that prevent losing

more fluids). The bentonite can be performed with “oyster sea-shell”, a LCM rich in calcium

carbonates that is commonly used. While drilling in high pressure zones where high mud weight

drilling fluids is required to control it, the use of LCM in the normal circulating system may not

be efficient. What is done is to make sure that the proper mud weight by-passes the shale

shakers to maintain the solid materials in the mud (Sarah, 2014).

Apart from the LCM, there are some preventive tests done to reduce the issue. Those are

conducting accurate leak of test (LOT), and formation integrity test (FIT). This is done by
closing in the well and increases the pressure in the open hole below the last string of casing

before continuing drilling in the next depth. I t is conducted in order to find the fracture gradient

of the formations whereby, the obtained results (from both LOT and FIT) can give an idea of the

maximum equivalent mud weight required during drilling operations (Cook, 2012). Since lost

circulation can happen during cementing operations, the cement slurries must be designed

carefully to avoid the problem. Additionally, In case there is lost circulation due to cementing

activities, the use of cement spacer technology is viable in solving the problem. Cement spacer

system consists of cement slurry and additives to seal off any fractures so that no cement can be

lost. This technology is done by using spacers to displace drilling fluids from the annulus to

allow casing and annular surfaces to accept a cement bond. The spacers must be pumped ahead

the lead cement slurry in order to separate fluid from the cement slurry. The cement spacers are

available on the market in 45 lb sacks (Castellanos, 2013).

Generally, lost circulation is a becoming a serious problem in today ongoing drilling

projects, and has a range of consequences. It is very costly for drilling projects operating under

lost circulation conditions since excess of drilling mud must be supplied to recover the one lost

in the formation. In fact, the question to be asked is “where does that drilling mud lost in the

fractured formations go to?” It is possible that while the fluid is being penetrated in the

formation, and chemicals present in it can be dissolved in domestic ground water present.

Therefore, drilling companies must take into consideration all those problems while dealing with

thief zone issue.

 References
Castellanos, H.. Innovative Cement Spacer System for Effective Zonal Isolation in Lost
Circulation Zones. Louisiana: M&D Industries of Louisiana, 2013

Chevron, P. Lost Circulation Guide,2014

Cook, J.. Stabilizing the wellbore to prevent Lost Circulation. Cambridge, England, 2012

Frates, C.. Sealing Fractures: Advances in Lost Circulation Control treatments. Colorado: Oil
Field Review Autumn,2014.

Khiari, A.. Optimization of Plug Utilized in lost Circulation Treatment while Drilling. Journal of
Petroleum and Gas Engineering,2010; 65-75.

Oluwatoni A. Akeju, 1. S. The Use of Crassostrea Virginica as Lost Circulation Material in

Water-Based Drilling Mud. International Journal of Engineering and Technology,2014;
Vol 4 No.2; 2042-3444.

Sarah. The Use of Crassostrea Virginica as Lost Circulation Material in Water-Based drilling
mud. International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2014; 2049-3444.

Tetteh-Fiagbor. Practical Approaches For Solving Lost Circulation. African University of

Science and Technology, 2012