Static slot testing of conventional lost circulation materials

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6471455· OSTI ID:6471455

Hinkebein, T. E.; Behr, V. L.; Wilde, S. L.

A study of the utility of conventional lost circulation materials and testing methods was performed using a modified API slot tester. Five lost circulation materials were evaluated in 266 tests at both room temperature and temperature-aged conditions simulating expected geothermal environments. A large variation in the maximum pressure (or sealing pressure) the plug could withstand was attributed to nonrepeatability in plug strengths. Plugs were composed to multiple or single particle bridges, with the latter providing stronger, better sealing plugs. Seals occurred on the upstream surface of the slots in all cases. Sealing pressures generally decreased with increasing slot widths and decreasing solids concentration. When the slot width was less than the size of the largest rigid particle in the lost circulation slurry, sealing pressure was maximized. When the slot width was greater than three times the maximum rigid particle size, no significant sealing ability was observed with the conventional materials tested. Additionally, cellulosic lost circulation materials are severely degraded by temperature aging. Mud gellation provided no significant improvement in lost circulation material sealing ability.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6471455
• Report Number(s): SAND-82-1080; ON: DE83006842
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
02 PETROLEUM
DRILLING FLUIDS
MATERIALS TESTING
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
WELL DRILLING
LOST CIRCULATION
OIL WELLS
BENTONITE
PROPPING AGENTS
CLAYS
DRILLING
FLUIDS
TESTING
WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
150901* - Geothermal Engineering- Drilling Technology & Well Hardware
020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production