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Design and evaluation of lost-circulation materials for severe environments

Journal Article · · Journal of Petroleum Technology; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/18022-PA· OSTI ID:6931372
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  1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)

As part of the U.S. DOE's Geothermal Technology Development Program Sandia Natl. Laboratories conducted an extensive testing program to evaluate candidate LCM's to aid in solving the severe lost-circulation problems encountered in geothermal-well drilling. This work concentrated on high-temperature, fracture-dominated loss zones rather than the matrix loss zones more typical of oil and gas drilling. The results, however, are applicable to the petroleum industry, particularly because of the inevitable progression into hotter, more fracture-dominated petroleum reservoirs. The lost circulation materials (LCM's) for geothermal applications were analyzed with laboratory tools developed specifically for that purpose. Test results of commercial materials and mathematical models for evaluating their performance are presented. Physical attributes that govern the performance of LCM's in geothermal wells are identified and correlated with test results.

OSTI ID:
6931372
Journal Information:
Journal of Petroleum Technology; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Petroleum Technology; (USA) Vol. 42:3; ISSN JPTJA; ISSN 0022-3522
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English