LOST CIRCULATION

HOLE PROBLEMS

LOST CIRCULATION Measurable loss of whole mud

(liquid phase and solid phase) to the
formation. Lost circulation can
occur at any depth during any
operation

ADVERSE EFFECTS ON DRILLING OPERATIONS

INTERMEDIATE
SURFACE HOLE PRODUCTION HOLE
HOLE
Loss of fluid level
Loss of fluid level monitoring
Loss of drive monitoring Loss of formation
/conductor shoe Loss of formation evaluation
Hole cleaning evaluation Hole cleaning problems
problems Hole cleaning problems Hole bridge /collapse
Hole bridge Hole bridge /collapse Extended wellbore
/collapse Extended wellbore exposure time
Stuck pipe exposure time Stuck pipe
Well control event Stuck pipe Well control event
Loss of well Well control event Underground blowout
Underground blowout Additional casing string
Additional casing string Production zone
damage

LOST CIRCULATION MECHANISMS

PRESSURE INDUCED Wellbore pressure exceeds fracture
FRACTURE pressure of the formation causing
the rock to crack open (fracture)
NATURALLY EXISTING Over balanced wellbore pressure is
FRACTURES/ HIGH exposed to a formation with
PERMEABILITY unsealed fractures or high
permeability
CAUSES OF LOST CIRCULATIONS
PRESSURE INDUCED NATURAL FRACTURES I
FRACTUREPRESSURE PERMEABILITY
INDUCED FRACTURES
Excessive mud weight Unconsolidated formation
Annulus friction pressure Fissures / fractures
Wellbore pressure surges Unsealed fault boundary
Imposed / trapped pressure Vugular / cavernous formation
Shut-in pressure
Low formation pressure

HOLE PROBLEMS
MECHANISMS
 PRESSURE INDUCED FRACTURES

CAUSE :
WELLBORE PRESSURE GREATER
THAN FORMATION FRACTURE
PRESSURE
THE FORMATION FRACTURES
ALLOWING MUD LOSS

WARNING :
PROGNOSED LOSS ZONE
EXCESSIVE MUD WEIGHT
LOW FRACTURE STRENGTH
POOR HOLE CLEANING
WELLBORE PRESSURE SURGES

CASING INDICATIONS:
MAY BEGIN WITH SEEPAGE LOSS.
SHOE POSSIBLE TOTAL LOSS
PIT VOLUME LOSS
EXCESSIVE HOLE FILL-UP
IF SHUT-IN, SUDDEN LOSS OF
FIRST PRESSURE
INTERFACE
FIRST ACTION (TOTAL LOSS):
REDUCE PUMP SPEED TO 1/2
PULL OFF BOTTOM, STOP PUMPS
ZERO STROKE COUNTER, FILL
ANNULUS WITH WATER OR LIGHT
MUD
RECORD STROKES IF / WHEN THE
ANNULUS FILLS UP
MONITOR WELL FOR FLOW

PREVENTIVE ACTION:
MINIMIZE MUD WEIGHT/MAXIMIZE
SOLIDS REMOVAL
CONTROL PENETRATION RATE
MINIMIZE WELLBORE PRESSURE
LOW PRESS SURGES
SAND AVOID IMPOSED/TRAPPED
PRESSURE
MECHANISMS HOLE PROBLEMS
NATURAL FRACTURES / HIGH PERMEABILITY

CAUSE :
UNCONSOLIDATED WELLBORE PRESSURE IS OVER
BALANCED TO FORMATION
PRESSURE
MUD IS LOST TO NATURAL
FRACTURES AND/OR HIGH
PERMEABILITY

WARNING :
PROGNOSED LOSS ZONE
VUGULAR LOST CIRCULATION CAN OCCUR AT
ANY TIME DURING ANY OPEN HOLE
OPERATION

INDICATIONS:
MAY BEGIN WITH SEEPAGE LOSS,
TOTAL LOSS POSSIBLE
STATIC LOSSES DURING
CAVERNOUS CONNECTIONS/ SURVEY
PIT VOLUME LOSS

FIRST ACTION (TOTAL LOSS):

REDUCE PUMP SPEED TO ½
PULL DRILL STRING OFF BOTTOM,
UN STOP CIRCULATION
SEA ZERO STROKE COUNTER. FILL
L ED
FAU ANNULUS WITH WATER OR LIGHT
LT MUD
RECORD STROKES IF / WHEN THE
ANNULUS FILLS UP
MONITOR WELL FOR FLOW

FRACTURED
PREVENTIVE ACTION:
FORMATION MINIMIZE MUD WEIGHT
CONTROL PENETRATION RATE
MINIMIZE WELLBORE PRESSURE
SURGES
PRE-TREAT WITH LCM
LOSS SEVERITY CLASSIFICATIONS
SEEPAGE LOSS PARTIAL LOSS TOTAL LOSS
(< 20 BBLS/HR) (> 20 BBLS/HR) (NO RETURNS)
GRADUAL LOSSES IMMEDIATE DROP RETURN FLOW
OPERATION NOT IN FLUID LEVEL STOPS
INTERRUPTED WHEN PUMPING IS IMMEDIATELY
POSSIBLE STOPPED PUMP PRESSURE
WARNING OF SLOW TO REGAIN DECREASE
INCREASED LOSS RETURNS AFTER STRING WEIGHT
SEVERITY STARTING INCREASE
CIRCULATION OPERATION
OPERATIONS SUSPENDED
USUALLY REMEDIAL ACTION
INTERRUPTED REQUIRED
REMEDIAL ACTION
REQUIRED

METHODS FOR LOCATING LOSS DEPTH

Successful treatment of lost circulation depends greatly on locating the
depth of the loss zone

SURVEY METHODS PRACTICAL METHODS

 TEMPERATURE SURVEY  OFFSET WELL DATA

 ACOUSTIC LOG  GEOLOGIST / LOGGER
 RADIOACTIVE TRACER IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL
 SPINNER SURVEY LOSS ZONE
 PRESSURE TRANSDUCER  MONITORING FLUID
 HOT WIRE SURVEY LEVEL TRENDS WHILE
DRILLING

CONSIDERATIONS FOR SURVEY METHODS

 SURVEY TOOLS NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE

 CONSIDERABLE TIME REQUIRED TO RUN SURVEY
 SURVEYS REQUIRE LARGE VOLUME OF MUD
 RESULTS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO INTERPRET
 POSSIBILITY OF LOSING SURVEY TOOL IN THE HOLE