Method for controlling lost circulation of drilling fluids with water absorbent polymers

Patent · Tue Jan 13 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6827947

Walker, C O

A method is described of reducing lost circulation of drilling fluids in a borehole penetrating an underground formation, comprising: injecting a discrete slug of a hydrocarbon fluid into a borehole, the hydrocarbon fluid having dispersed therein about 10 to about 100 pounds of a water absorbent polymer per barrel of hydrocarbon fluid which expands upon absorbing water; injecting into the borehole a discrete slug of a hydrocabon fluid after the hydrocarbon fluid and polymer slug; injecting into the borehole a slug of water after the hydrocarbon fluid slug; forcing the hydrocarbon fluid and polymer slug into a lost circulation zone; mixing the water slug with the hydrocarbon fluid and polymer slug to allow the water absorbent polymer to absorb water and expand in the formation closing off the lost circulation zone; and circulating undesired compounds out of the borehole.

• Assignee: Texaco, Inc., White Plains, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4635726
• OSTI ID: 6827947
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 28 May 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
DRILLING FLUIDS
LOST CIRCULATION
CONTROL
POLYMERS
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
WATER
ADSORPTION
ADSORBENTS
BOREHOLES
FLUID INJECTION
MIXING
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
QUANTITY RATIO
CAVITIES
FLUIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SORPTION
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing