Abstract
Water reactive polymers are rapid setting fluids that exhibit high viscosity after being exposed to water to control severe fluid loss. In this study, the performance of a water reactive polymer is studied through a series of fluid loss experiments. Various unconsolidated and permeable formations were simulated using different sand size grades, with the change in permeability being recorded after applying the reactive polymer under different operating conditions. The results showed 62–100% permeability reductions depending on the initial value of permeability and operating conditions. In addition, the setting time of the reactive polymer was obtained at different water concentrations and temperatures by monitoring the viscosity of the reactive polymer using a Brookfield viscometer. The results indicate that a hydration time of 30 min is satisfactory to reach an acceptable viscosity for all hydration volumes tested. At lower hydration volumes, the viscosity increased rapidly at the same rate and reached the same maximum viscosity. As hydration volume increased, both the rate of increase and maximum viscosity were reduced.
Highlights
Lost circulation is the loss of drilling fluid from the borehole into a formation
The permeability reduction following the application of the reactive polymer is shown in Figs. 7 and 8
At higher hydration volume beyond a ratio of 1:6, the viscosity initially increases with a similar rate of smaller hydration volumes; it reaches a measurable maximum viscosity
Summary
Lost circulation is the loss of drilling fluid from the borehole into a formation. It occurs when drilling into fractured, cavernous, vuggy and highly permeable formation (Hashmat et al 2016; Al-saba Mortadha et al 2014; Bugbee 1953). In the cases where particulate LCMs are ineffective as a preventative solution, reactive solutions will be used as remedial fluid loss control These fluids can be in the form of non-mud system, such as cement, chemically crosslinked pills and reactive polymers. Reactive fluids are an example of a remedial system suitable for curing severe lost circulation (Al-saba Mortadha et al 2014; Caughron et al 2002) They are composed of cross-linking polymers that form a highly viscous fluid once activated by a cross-linking agent. The polymer’s effectiveness at reducing the permeability of various unconsolidated sand formations was tested using a custom-built fluid loss simulator. A fluid loss simulator was used to measure the reactive fluids’ performance at reducing permeability of unconsolidated sand formations. A scratch test was performed to investigate the increase in strength of the formation after being injected with the reactive polymer. The rock strength was calculated over the length of the sample by dividing the shear force (Fs) by the area of the cutter (Ac)
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