Experimental Study of Engineered Cement Plug to Effectively Cure Losses While Drilling in Iranian Oil/Gas Well

Abstract

Mud losses are one of the most severe problems encountered in drilling. This is commonly known as lost circulation. It can occur in naturally fractured formations and also can be induced in formations through drilling. Mud losses while drilling leading to cost overruns and HSE concerns, primary cement job failure due to not getting the cement up to the desired height resulting in subsequent sustained casing pressure and corrosion, not able to perform work over activity on certain wells due to losses. The objective of this paper is to explain extreme lost circulation problem and introduce cement plug formulation to cure or mitigate this problem. In addition, the cement plug has certain compressive strength that this is proper for use to control lost circulation in field. And finally, the application of a cement plug is described in one well of the Gas Field (National Iranian Oil Company).