Rapid Response Solutions to Combat Lost Circulation
The operational margins in land, offshore, and deepwater drilling are tighter than ever, increasing the likelihood of unplanned fluid losses. The cost of lost fluid—along with the resulting non-productive time (NPT)—can have a significant impact on overall well economics.
Preventing losses is far more effective than responding to them after they occur. When drilling through depleted formations or operating within a narrow drilling window, incorporating specially engineered solids into the drilling fluid can strengthen the wellbore and reduce the risk of initiating fractures that can develop into major loss zones.
Effective preplanning and careful selection of the most appropriate lost circulation materials (LCMs) help ensure that any losses to natural fractures encountered while drilling can be addressed quickly and efficiently. This minimizes the cost of lost fluid and operational downtime, enabling drilling operations to resume with minimal disruption.
Wellbore Strengthening Strategies to Drill to Target Depth
Developing a well-specific Wellbore Strengthening (WBS) strategy begins with close collaboration with the customer to build a detailed understanding of downhole pressures and predicted fracture gradients. Once the operational challenge is defined, Newpark applies software modeling and laboratory testing to identify the optimal blend of proprietary mechanical wellbore stabilization products, enabling the well to be drilled efficiently and safely to target depth.
After the fluid formulation is established, attention shifts to engineering the procedures required to maintain the WBS blend in the circulating system as designed. This is achieved through strict fluid quality control and disciplined management of the Solids Control system to ensure the strengthening materials remain at the correct concentration and performance level throughout the interval.
Rapid Control of Fluid Losses to Induced and Naturally Occurring Fractures
Selecting a Lost Circulation Material (LCM) that matches the nature and severity of the loss event is critical for rapidly restoring circulation, minimizing drilling fluid losses, and enabling drilling to continue with confidence that the loss zone has been effectively sealed.
The Newpark FIX™ suite of LCMs provides a broad spectrum solution capable of addressing a wide range of loss scenarios due to its strong remedial performance. FIX products can also serve as part—or all—of an enhanced wellbore strengthening package for challenging drilling environments. Newpark specialists model predicted fracture widths and expected loss rates to recommend the appropriate wellbore strengthening and loss prevention strategy, deploying individual FIX additives or tailored combinations of single sack materials as required.
Reduce the cost of high fluid losses in challenging onshore and offshore formations
X-Prima™ high fluid loss squeeze provides deep sealing in natural and induced fractures, vugular formations, severely depleted sands, and rubble zones.
In formations with increased risk of lost circulation and high fluid losses, X-Prima has been proven to significantly reduce fluid losses and save days of NPT in land, offshore, and deepwater applications.
X-Prima fluid loss squeeze is a proprietary blend of granular and fibrous materials in a one-sack, high-solids formulation. X-Prima squeeze material is particularly effective in the remediation of severe lost circulation and in cases where conventional LCM and cement plugs have failed.