Nano-Film-Forming Plugging Drilling Fluid and Bridging Cross-Linking Plugging Agent Are Used to Strengthen Wellbores in Complex Formations

Abstract

Lost circulation is one of the great challenges during the drilling process as it can not only increase the risk of drilling operations but also cause an increase in drilling costs, thus greatly affecting the drilling efficiency. Wellbore strengthening has been widely used to prevent lost circulation, which ultimately expands the mud density window by increasing the formation fracture pressure. This paper proposes a combination of “preventive” wellbore strengthening and “remedial” wellbore strengthening to prevent leakage and plug and stabilize wellbores by means of summarizing the characteristics of lost circulation and wellbore instability in the Hasan area. The formula of the bridging cross-linking plugging agent is determined by experiments as well slurry + 8–10% granular material + 3–5% fiber material + 2–4% elastic material + 0.5–1% cementing material. The formula of the nano-film-forming plugging drilling fluid is determined to be 3% bentonite + 0.2NaOH + 0.2% KPAM + 3% SMP + 1% PB-1 + 2% SMNA-1 + 2% lubricant SMLUB-1 + 1% modified nano-SiO ₂ particles. Then, the performance evaluation of the composite system is carried out by the high-temperature and high-pressure plugging simulation evaluation device. The results show that the bridging and cross-linking plugging agent can effectively block the 1–3 mm crack, the pressure-bearing capacity is greater than 10 MPa, and the anti-liquid return capacity is greater than 4 MPa. The nano-film-forming plugging drilling fluid has lower fluid loss and better rheological properties.