Assessment of Lost Circulation Material Particle-Size Distribution on Fracture Sealing: A Numerical Study

Lee, Lu; Dahi Taleghani, Arash

doi:10.2118/209201-pa

Assessment of Lost Circulation Material Particle-Size Distribution on Fracture Sealing: A Numerical Study

Journal Article · 07 January 2022 · SPE Drilling and Completion

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/209201-pa· OSTI ID:1981035

; Dahi Taleghani, Arash

Summary

Lost circulation materials (LCMs) are essential to combat fluid loss while drilling and may put the whole operation at risk if a proper LCM design is not used. The focus of this research is understanding the function of LCMs in sealing fractures to reduce fluid loss. One important consideration in the success of fracture sealing is the particle-size distribution (PSD) of LCMs. Various studies have suggested different guidelines for obtaining the best size distribution of LCMs for effective fracture sealing based on limited laboratory experiments or field observations. Hence, there is a need for sophisticated numerical methods to improve the LCM design by providing some predictive capabilities. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element methods (DEM) numerical simulations are coupled to investigate the influence of PSD of granular LCMs on fracture sealing. Dimensionless variables were introduced to compare cases with different PSDs. We validated the CFD-DEM model in reproducing specific laboratory observations of fracture-sealing experiments within the model boundary parameters. Our simulations suggested that a bimodally distributed blend would be the most effective design in comparison to other PSDs tested here.

Research Organization:: Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

DOE Contract Number:: EE0008602

OSTI ID:: 1981035

Journal Information:: SPE Drilling and Completion, Vol. 37, Issue 03; ISSN 1064-6671

Publisher:: Society of Petroleum Engineers

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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