US 11,111,742 B2 · Apparatus for loss circulation material performance evaluation

Abstract

An apparatus for evaluating loss circulation material (LCM) in loss circulation zones is described. The apparatus includes a drilling fluid reservoir that can carry a wellbore drilling fluid. The apparatus includes a LCM reservoir that can carry a LCM. The apparatus includes a spacer fluid reservoir that can carry a spacer fluid. The apparatus includes a LCM test cell that includes a disk member that includes multiple openings. The disk member represents a loss circulation zone in a subterranean zone in which a wellbore is drilled using the wellbore drilling fluid. The LCM test cell is fluidically connected to the drilling fluid reservoir, the LCM reservoir and the spacer fluid reservoir. The LCM test cell is configured to fluidically receive a quantity of LCM from the LCM reservoir and to evaluate an ability of the LCM to decrease loss circulation through the loss circulation zone.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A loss circulation material (LCM) testing apparatus comprising:

a drilling fluid reservoir configured to carry a wellbore drilling fluid;
a LCM reservoir configured to carry a loss circulation material (LCM);
a spacer fluid reservoir configured to carry a spacer fluid;
and
a LCM test cell comprising a disk member comprising a plurality of openings, the disk member representing a loss circulation zone in a subterranean zone in which a wellbore is drilled using the wellbore drilling fluid, the LCM test cell fluidically connected to the drilling fluid reservoir, the LCM reservoir and the spacer fluid reservoir, the LCM test cell configured to fluidically receive a quantity of LCM from the LCM reservoir and to evaluate a sealing efficiency of the LCM, the sealing efficiency being an ability of the LCM to prevent flow of the wellbore drilling fluid through the plurality of openings in the disk member.

2 more elements

A method of evaluating a loss circulation material (LCM) comprising:

storing a wellbore drilling fluid in a drilling fluid reservoir;
storing LCM in a LCM reservoir;
storing spacer fluid in a spacer fluid reservoir;
flowing LCM test material to a LCM test cell fluidically coupled to the drilling fluid reservoir, the LCM reservoir and the spacer fluid reservoir, the LCM test material comprising a quantity of LCM from the LCM reservoir;
pressurizing the LCM test material to flow through a disk member comprising a plurality of openings, the disk member positioned within the LCM test cell, the disk member representing a loss circulation zone in a subterranean zone in which a wellbore is drilled using the wellbore drilling fluid;
and
determining a sealing efficiency of the LCM, the sealing efficiency being an ability of the LCM to prevent flow of the wellbore drilling fluid through the plurality of openings in the disk member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for loss circulation material performance evaluation

Life of this patent

Apparatus for loss circulation material performance evaluation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17