Methods of enhancing fluid loss control using additives
First Claim
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1. A method of fluid loss control, the method comprising:
- preparing a pill at a surface of a well bore, wherein the pill comprises;
an aqueous base fluid, anda lost circulation material;
pumping the pill to a subterranean formation through the wellbore, wherein the pill is pumped down a drill string and through a drill bit into the subterranean formation;
allowing the pill to treat the subterranean formation and circulating at least a portion of the pill back to the surface of the subterranean formation;
observing a severe fluid loss from the wellbore to the subterranean formation at a rate of about 100 barrels per hour or greater while treating the wellbore with the pill;
after observing the severe fluid loss, adding a fluid loss control enhancement additive to the pill, wherein the fluid loss control enhancement additive comprises;
a salt,a swellable polymer, andfibers, wherein the salt is present in the pill in the amount of about 0.5 ppb to about 2.5 ppb;
pumping the pill down the drill string and through a drill bit into the subterranean formation;
allowing the pill to treat the subterranean formation, wherein the swellable polymer swells to at least about 10 times its original volume or greater as it absorbs water,wherein the fluid loss control enhancement additive works in combination with the lost circulation material to reduce or altogether stop lost circulation in the wellbore; and
introducing an acid or acid generating compound into the wellbore and contacting the swellable polymer thereby at least partially degrading the swellable polymer, wherein the acid is at least one of hydrobromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, chloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, fluoroacetic acid, difluoroacetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, citric acid, and any combination thereof.
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Abstract
In some instances, a fluid loss control enhancement additive may synergistically work with lost circulation materials (“LCM”) to arrest lost circulation in wellbores where LCMs alone have been ineffective. For example, a method may involve treating a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation with a pill comprising an aqueous base fluid and a lost circulation material; observing fluid loss from the wellbore to the subterranean formation while treating the wellbore with the pill; and adding salt, a swellable polymer, and fibers to the pill.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of fluid loss control, the method comprising:
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preparing a pill at a surface of a well bore, wherein the pill comprises; an aqueous base fluid, and a lost circulation material; pumping the pill to a subterranean formation through the wellbore, wherein the pill is pumped down a drill string and through a drill bit into the subterranean formation; allowing the pill to treat the subterranean formation and circulating at least a portion of the pill back to the surface of the subterranean formation; observing a severe fluid loss from the wellbore to the subterranean formation at a rate of about 100 barrels per hour or greater while treating the wellbore with the pill; after observing the severe fluid loss, adding a fluid loss control enhancement additive to the pill, wherein the fluid loss control enhancement additive comprises; a salt, a swellable polymer, and fibers, wherein the salt is present in the pill in the amount of about 0.5 ppb to about 2.5 ppb; pumping the pill down the drill string and through a drill bit into the subterranean formation; allowing the pill to treat the subterranean formation, wherein the swellable polymer swells to at least about 10 times its original volume or greater as it absorbs water, wherein the fluid loss control enhancement additive works in combination with the lost circulation material to reduce or altogether stop lost circulation in the wellbore; and introducing an acid or acid generating compound into the wellbore and contacting the swellable polymer thereby at least partially degrading the swellable polymer, wherein the acid is at least one of hydrobromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, chloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, fluoroacetic acid, difluoroacetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, citric acid, and any combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of fluid loss control comprising:
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preparing a first pill at a surface of a well bore, wherein the pill comprises; an aqueous base fluid, and a lost circulation material; pumping the first pill to a subterranean formation through the wellbore, wherein the first pill is pumped down a drill string and through a drill bit into the subterranean formation; observing severe fluid loss from the wellbore to the subterranean formation at a rate of about 100 barrels per hour or greater after completion of treating the wellbore with the first pill; after observing the severe fluid loss, treating the wellbore with a second pill comprising a second aqueous base fluid and a fluid loss control enhancement additive, wherein the fluid loss control enhancement additive comprises a salt comprising sodium chloride, a swellable polymer comprising crosslinked polyacrylamide, and fibers comprising viscose, wherein the salt is present in the second pill in the amount of about 0.5 ppb to about 2.5 ppb; pumping the pill down the drill string and through a drill bit into the subterranean formation; allowing the pill to treat the subterranean formation, wherein the swellable polymer swells to at least about 10 times its original volume or greater as it absorbs water, wherein the fluid loss control enhancement additive works in combination with the lost circulation material to reduce or altogether stop lost circulation in the wellbore; and introducing an acid or acid generating compound into the wellbore and contacting the swellable polymer thereby at least partially degrading the swellable polymer, wherein the acid is at least one of hydrobromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, chloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, fluoroacetic acid, difluoroacetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, citric acid, and any combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification