Lost circulation composition for fracture sealing
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsMatthew L. Miller, Donald L. Whitfill, Jason T. Scorsone
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Abstract
A lost circulation material and method for well treatment employing the material that is effective at sealing or plugging fractured zones and has utility over a wide range of temperatures, including high temperatures. The lost circulation material includes particulate material to quickly de-fluidize the fluid formulation, fibrous material to suspend particles in the slurrified form of the composition and increase the shear strength of the resultant seal, and non-Portland cement material for increasing the compressive strength.
Claims25
A lost circulation material composition, comprising:
- particulate material, wherein the particulate material comprises 45 to 60 percent by weight of the composition of diatomaceous earth, 5 to 15 percent by weight of the composition of graphitic material, 5 to 15 percent by weight of the composition of ground nut shells and 5 to 15 percent by weight of the composition of ground fibrous cellulosic material;
- fibrous material, wherein the fibrous material comprises 5 to 15 percent by weight of the composition of synthetic chopped fibers;
- and
- non-Portland cement material, wherein the non-Portland cement material comprises 10 to 20 percent by weight of the composition of calcium sulfate hemihydrate and 2 to 12 weight percent of the composition of sodium metasilicate.
A method of sealing a fracture within a subterranean formation, comprising:
- preparing a lost circulation material composition comprising:
- particulate material, wherein the particulate material comprises 45 to 60 percent by weight of the composition of diatomaceous earth, 5 to 15 percent by weight of the composition of graphitic material, 5 to 15 percent by weight of the composition of ground nut shells and 5 to 15 percent by weight of the composition of ground fibrous cellulosic material;
- fibrous material, wherein the fibrous material comprises 5 to 15 percent by weight of the composition of synthetic chopped fibers;
- and
- non-Portland cement material, wherein the non-Portland cement material comprises 10 to 20 percent by weight of the composition of calcium sulfate hemihydrate and 2 to 12 weight percent of the composition of sodium metasilicate;
- mixing the lost circulation material composition with a carrier fluid;
- and
- contacting the lost circulation material composition with the subterranean formation such that the lost circulation material composition forms a sealing mass, thereby substantially sealing a fracture within the subterranean formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.