| Title | Curing Lost Circulation Issues and Strengthening Weak Formations with a Sealing Fluid for Improved Zonal Isolation of Wellbores |
|---|---|
| Authors | Brandl, A., Bray, W.S., Molaei, F. |
| Year | 2011 |
| Conference | Australian Geothermal Energy Conference |
| Keywords | Drilling, lost circulation, zonal isolation |
| Abstract | An innovative fluid system was successfully applied to seal lost circulation zones and to strengthen the wellbore wall for improved cement slurry placement in highly permeable, fragile, and unconsolidated wells with low frac gradients. The fluid system, which contains a nano-engineered sealing material, has several operational and technical advantages (e.g. user friendliness, effectiveness up to 204 °C, no damage to producing formations) as compared with other common lost circulation systems. Lab test results, a model of the working mechanism, and case histories are presented to outline the performance and benefits of the sealing fluid in geothermal wells. |