Mud Losses

ABERDEEN DRILLING SCHOOLS LTD. 2000

ABERDEEN DRILLING SCHOOLS LTD. 2000
 Cause
Well bore pressure is overbalanced to formation
pressure
Mud is lost to natural fractures/ permeability.

Warning.
Likely loss zone.
Lost circulation can occur at any time in open hole.

Indications.
Seepage loss, total loss possible.
Static losses during connections/survey.
Pit volume loss.

First action to total loss.

Reduce pump speed to ½.
Pick string off bottom , stop circulation
Zero stroke counter , fill annulus with light mud or
water.
Record strokes / if/ when the annulus fills up.
Monitor well for flow.

Preventative action.
Minimise mud weight.
Control ROP.
Minimise well bore surge pressures.
Pre treat with LCM.
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.

INDICATIONS:
MAY BEGIN WITH SEEPAGE LOSS,POSSIBLE TOTAL LOSS.
PIT VOLUME LOSS.
EXCESSIVE HOLE FILL UP.
IF SHUT-IN SUDDEN LOSS OF PRESSURE.

FIRST ACTION (TOTAL LOSS):

REDUCE PUMP SPEED TO 1/2.
PULL OFF BOTTOM, STOP PUMPS.
ZERO STROKE COUNTER, FILL ANNULUUS WITH WATER OR
LIGHT MUD.
RECORD STROKES IF/WHEN THE ANNULUS FILLS UP.
MONITOR WELL FOR FLOW.

PREVENTIVE ACTION:
MINIMISE MUD WEIGHT/MAXIMISE SOLIDS REMOVAL.
CONTROL PENETRATION RATE.
MINIMISE WELLBORE PRESSURE SURGES.
AVOID IMPOSED/TRAPPED PRESSURE.
 Fracture versus Matrix Permeability.
Fracture Permeability. Matrix Permeability.
ABERDEEN DRILLING SCHOOLS LTD. 2000
ABERDEEN DRILLING SCHOOLS LTD. 2000
ABERDEEN DRILLING SCHOOLS LTD. 2000
ABERDEEN DRILLING SCHOOLS LTD. 2000
 Lost Circulation
ECD
• APL - Sub to monitor ECD.

• After connections, rotate pipe slowly to break the Gel strength, stop
rotation and break circulation with max. 10 SPM.

• When circulation is achieved gradually increase the SPM over 10

minutes.

• Avoid Back-reaming unless absolutely essential.

• When reaming stands reduce RPM to 50 and flow rate to 1000 l/min.

• Control tripping speeds.

• Maintain the mud wt. Within specified parameters.

 Annular Pressure Loss
ECD
• Use an APL sub to monitor ECD.

• If lag depth becomes too high, stop drilling and circulate out cuttings.

• Be aware of increased ECD when increasing Rotary RPM.

• Monitor Mud losses and Torque.

• Ream each stand if orientating.

• Rotate at Max. RPM to agitate low side cuttings bed.

ABERDEEN DRILLING SCHOOLS LTD. 2000
ABERDEEN DRILLING SCHOOLS LTD. 2000
ABERDEEN DRILLING SCHOOLS LTD. 2000
Mud Cap Drilling
 Losses whilst drilling
(dynamic or slight Static)

Stop Drilling
Observe well

No flow. Well flows

Severity of dynamic losses acceptable ? Measure flow volume to

(mudstock/supply governed) establish whether flow
is due to backflow or
Yes No loss of O/B

Drilling in objective,
Drilling in objective, Drilling above objective, no further sealing Drilling above objective, Flow is less than Flow is more than
no further sealing and/or further sealing formations and/or further sealing Volume lost volume lost
formations expected Formations expected expected Formations expected
Circulate bottoms Close in
Continue drilling (with Take RFTs to establish up at reduced rate (No static O/B
Take RFTs to establish overbalance (O/B) Attempt to improve
LCM) until in the seal. to minimise losses
overbalance (O/B) formation strength
Establish presence/thick-
by cement squeeze
Ness of seal by VSP When “influx” is Record Pressures
O/B excessive O/B correct at 3000ft – circulate
O/B excessive O/B correct Attempt to improve over chokes
formation strength Drill out Squeeze back influx
Reduce mud gradient Set cement plug
Continue drilling by cement squeeze (to avoid contamin-
(through bit)
(with LCM) until After “influx” has ation of complete
Reduce mud and squeeze
losses become un- Continue drilling Leak-off or limit test been circulated out, system)
gradient Drill out cement
acceptable due to go to “No flow”
increasing O/B Circulate at reduced
Drill out until losses
Continue drilling Leak-off or limit test Formation rate to mudgradient
become unacceptable. Formation
Set cement plug Repeat until O/B strength to kill well
(through bit) and strength
becomes too large sufficient to
squeeze Formation Formation too low
to cure losses cater for
strength strength for expected Go to “No flow”
expected
sufficient to too low pressure
Drill out until losses pressure
cater for for expected Set drilling liner
become unacceptable. expected pressure
Repeat until O/B pressure Continue drilling Continue drilling
becomes too large to Reduce mud gradient until in seal
cure losses. Continue drilling Set drilling and continue drilling (log VSP)
liner in seal
Set drilling liner Set drilling liner

Reduce mud gradient

and continue drilling
 Losses induced
Whilst running in

Total Losses,
Partial Losses
level drops
Fill up annulus with
Continue RIH at
light fluid
reduced speed
(see note 1)
to last casing shoe
Flow check
Establish circulation
whilst rotating string
Well flowing
(note 2)
No flow
Dynamic losses only Severe or total Close in
losses
Go to Interface light fluid/
“losses while drilling” Yes Mud in riser? No
Spot LCM or cement
and squeeze until
Spot LCM through Squeeze LCM down
losses are reduced to
bit and squeeze into annulus to reduce
dynamic losses only
loss zone losses
Go to (note 3)
“Losses while drilling”
Losses reduced to
Yes acceptable level No

Strip in to casing shoe

Well dead Well still pressurised
RIH slowly to casing (note 4)
(note 5) (note 6)
shoe or to above
expected loss zone Spot and squeeze
Strip in to bottom
cement until losses
Spot and squeeze are reduced
Circulate out influx
LCM/cement

Clean out

Losses reduced
to dynamic only

Go to
“Losses while drilling”
 Lets Talk
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