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Lost Circulation

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Jochen Pfeiffer

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Project Manager

Schlumberger (Clamart)
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Lost Circulation

The Obvious
• The total or partial loss of drilling / completion fluid or

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cement to highly permeable zones,

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The more exact
• Loss of a highly complex balance between pore
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pressure, the hydrostatic/dynamic head and the
frac/parting pressure

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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

• Pore Pressure the pressure trapped within the pores of a

rock

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• Hydrostatic Head a pressure created by the weight of a fluid
column

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• Dynamic Head a pressure created by a moving fluid column
including hydrostatic and friction pressure
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• Frac Pressure the pressure at which a rock parts
• Parting Pressure the pressure at which a fracture reopens

3 JP
11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

A costly problem
• Time consuming
• Lost time due to slow drilling progress

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• Poor cuttings removal (stuck pipe)
• Additional CSG strings
• Missing the target

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• Damage to payzone resulting in skin
• Poor zonal isolation due to cement losses
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• Dangerous operation
• Kick/Blow out due to imbalance in the well
• Loss of well
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Lost Circulation

Questions to be asked before a treatment:

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• Do the losses present a safety hazard for the crew?

• How long does the LC cure have to last?

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• Can the plugging be permanent?
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• Is the reduction of losses considered a success?

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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

What is (considered) a Success in Treating Losses:

• Is the reduction of losses considered a success?

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• Is the net saving of mud considered a success?

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• Is the gaining of control over the well a success?
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This are issues that have to be
solved before the treatment

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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation
Fluid Loss
• The loss of the liquid phase of mud or cements as filtrate and the
solid phase as the filter cake (mainly due to Primary Porosity)

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Porosity

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• Primary Porosity is resulting from deposition and compaction of
material under changing temperatures and pressures.
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• Secondary Porosity is created by later geological processes, removing
or breaking some of the material under changing temperatures and
pressures.
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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation
Primary Porosity is resulting from deposition and compaction of
material under changing temperatures and pressures.

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Mud Solids Ø > 3x Pore Ø => Filter Cake
Pore Ø > 3x Mud Solids Ø => Seeping Mud Invasion
8 JP
11/7/2021 Porosity
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Lost Circulation
Secondary Porosity is created by later geological processes,
removing or breaking some of the material under changing
temperatures and pressures.

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11/7/2021
Porosity
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Lost Circulation
Type of Losses

• Highly permeable and/or unconsolidated formation

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- Sandstone / Gravel -
• Cavernous or vugular formation

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- Limestone, Dolomite, Saltdome Cap Rocks -
• Natural fractures and fissures
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- Sandstone, Limestone / Dolomites -
• Induced fractures
- Sandstone, Limestone / Dolomites -
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Maximum
Chemical Porosity

100 % secondary
Porosity
Caverns

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Vugs

100 %
primary

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Porosity
Induced Fractures
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Porosity

Maximum
Maximum
Mechanical Porosity Primary
Mechanical Primary Porosity Porosity
Porosity
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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation
The severity of the problem

• Highly permeable and/or unconsolidated formations

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- Curing under normal conditions no problem
• Natural fractures and fissures
- can be difficult depending on the critical ¢ P
• Induced fractures
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- as above often related to drilling or WO problems
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• Cavernous or vugular formation
- The most difficult class - specially when related to flow within
the formation
12 JP
11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation
Critical Parameters
• Severity of the losses
• Seepage < 20 bbl / hr = 3 m3 /hr
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Partial 20 - 200 bbl / hr = 3-30 m3 /hr
• Severe 200 - 500 bbl / hr = 30-80 m3 /hr
• Total no returns - What is the ¢ P?

• Type of the Zone of Losses

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• Limestone/Dolomite • at the bit
• Sandstone/Gravel • below next CSG shoe
• Evaporates (Anhydrite, Salt) • spread over OH section

13 JP
11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

The Techniques solving the Losses -

A solution to each of the Problems

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?
Highly permeable and/or unconsolidated formation

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• Zonelock S and SC

• Protectozone (producing zone)

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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

The Application

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Natural fractures and fissures
- Sandstone, Limestone / Dolomites -

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• InstanSeal
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• InstanSeal Cement

• Regulated Fill-up Cement

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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

The Application

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Vugular Formation
- Limestone, Dolomite

• InstanSeal Cement
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• Gunk Plugs
• (using Diesel / Oil, Bentonite / Polymer and Cement)

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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation - The Products

The Application
Cavernous formation

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- Limestone, Dolomite, Saltdome Cap Rocks -

• InstanSeal Cement (?)

• Gunk Plugsl.c
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• (using Diesel/Oil, Bentonite/Polymer and Cement)

• Foam cement
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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

Knowledge Management

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A Classical Decision Tree is confusing

• Too many parameters

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• pointing in several directions
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• are dependant on
or
• excluding others
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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

Knowledge Management

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A Software was created
• Based on Experience

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• not on Formulas and Models
• Incorrect but easy to improve
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• Teaching and learning in one
and
• easy to capture for reporting
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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

Lost Circulation Adviser

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• This tool will be developed in the field

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• by the people working in the field
• keeping in mind it will be used by field people
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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

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Lost Circulation Adviser

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• Install license
• copy license key
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• send e-mail with name, address and location

21 JP
11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

InstanSeal/InstanSeal Cement

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• Maximum application temperature: 190°F/240°F
• Gel mechanism is triggered by pressure drop during placement
• Controllable Set time from seconds to one hour

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• Weighting agents can be added to the fluid
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• No need for LCM material

22 JP
11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

InstanSeal/InstanSeal Cement

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l.c D P = 50 bar
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Water Phase containing high concentration of polymer
Oil phase
Cross- linker particle

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11/7/2021

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Lost Circulation

InstanSeal/ InstanSeal Cement - Benefits

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• Accurate placement
• Saves rig time (avoids tripping out)

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• Avoids the need to drill blind or with a floating mud
cap
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• Avoids waiting on curing
• Does not plug nozzles or MWD tools

24 JP
11/7/2021

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