Remedial lost circulation treatments

Lost circulation treatments can be remedially applied as a squeeze job or in spot applications. Additionally, preventive treatment can be deployed when drilling through a formation with a known history of losses; this entails continuous addition of particles to the circulating drilling fluid or through regular, repetitive sweeps.

Preventive treatments by continuous addition

The basis of design for the treatment is continuous particle addition to a circulating drilling fluid when drilling through a formation known to have losses. The main challenge is to maintain a required particle size distribution and concentration in the drilling fluid; typical concentrations range from 12 to 20 lbm/bbl [34 to 57 kg/m3].