Method for inhibiting the initiation and propagation of formation fractures while drilling
AssigneeConoco Inc.
InventorsGiin-Fa Fuh, Nobuo Morita, Donald L. Whitfill, David A. Strah
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fracture initiation and propagation during drilling are prevented or inhibited by including an effective amount of a specially sized solid particulate loss prevention material in the drilling fluid prior to encountering formation breakdown in a susceptible zone.
Claims7
A method of increasing fracture initiation pressure and fracture propagation pressure during well drilling with a circulating drilling fluid comprising adding to said drilling fluid, prior to encountering formation breakdown, a solid particulate loss prevention material having a size range of from 250 to 600 microns in a concentration which is within .+-.20 percent of that determined by the equation C=SG (3.5 MW-14.0).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.