Lost Circulation Materials

Wellbore instability caused by depleted zones or weak formations in maturing fields has led to considerable expenses due to lost circulation. Mitigating these expenses should not be complex; it only requires a change in approach from reactive to preventative. Innospec Oilfield Services is an industry leader in lost circulation solutions — offering a wide range of LCM systems, depending upon your situation.

RediSeal

In situations where fluid loss is isolated, remedial treatments such as hesitation squeezes use high-concentration lost circulation material (LCM) pills to seal fractures or micro fractures. The purpose is to create a temporary bridging agent while drilling continues. However, in these remedial applications, the seals are not always strong enough to withstand the significant pressures coming from both sides of the wellbore.

For these reasons, Innospec Oilfield Services (IOS) developed the RediSeal high fluid loss squeeze pill application to produce a viable, cost-effective method to form a tighter seal in order to produce a significant decrease in leak-off. RediSeal improves the compressive strength of the filter cake, thereby increasing leadoff hesitation. On average, compressive strength on these filter cakes is about 150-400 psi.

Vanguard^®

One of the most reliable LCM products available is Innospec’s Vanguard. Vanguard is a multi-purpose blend of large PSD of inert granular particulates sized for easy passage through downhole drilling tools in order to prevent seepage, heal up to major losses, prevent losses while cementing, help get cement to surface/casing point, and prevent cement fall-back. Vanguard easily mixes with all drilling fluids and is recommended for use to seal severe to total loss situations.

FRAC-ATTACK^®

Innospec Oilfield Services (IOFS) offers efficient approach to prevent or stop lost circulation. One of the options is the fast-acting, single sack lost circulation solution named FRAC-ATTACK. FRAC-ATTACK has a proprietary diatomaceous earth blend specifically designed to provide a complete seal which improves formation integrity. FRAC-ATTACK allows heavier mud weights to be pumped as well as withstand formation pressures. It has also been proven effective in controlling underground cross flows and blowouts.

Strata Flex

StrataFlex is a unique blend of inert, resilient, and malleable particles designed to form an elastomeric sealant that forms an optimum seal in the fractures of depleted and weak formations. The product is available in fine and medium grades to cover a wide range of fracture sizes. It has been proven to prevent differential sticking. Compatible with all drilling fluids, StrataFlex can withstand high differential pressures while isolating and sealing fractures from further propagation.

• Contains a unique elastomeric sealant
• Inert, resilient particles
• Highly-compressible