Case History
ROCKBLOCK 3 Significantly Reduced Losses in Problematic Tayarat Formation in Kuwait
Kuwait
In the Burgan Field, an operator was experiencing severe mud losses, over 200 bbls/hr, in a highly-deviated well in the Tayarat Formation.
Severe losses began at 4608-ft. while drilling 16-in. with a 9 lb/gal water-based mud (WBM). The operator continued drilling to 4658-ft., expanding the lost zone before utilizing lost circulation material (LCM). At that point, dynamic losses increased to 250 bbls/hr and static losses reached 180 bbls/hr. After experiencing stuck pipe twice, the operator was able to pull out of hole (POOH) seven stands.
The decision was made to pump a 50 bbl pill of ROCKBLOCK 3 (50 lb/bbl). After the first pill was pumped, dynamic losses were reduced to 120 bbls/hr and static losses to 60 bbls/hr. Another 50 bbl pill of ROCKBLOCK 3 (50 lb/bbl) was pumped. The operator POOH to 4070-ft., the pill was cleared, and dynamic losses were reduced to 30 bbls/hr.
ROCKBLOCK 3 reduced total losses over 85%, allowing the operator to drill to total depth of 7990-ft.
After spotting the first 50 bbl pill of ROCKBLOCK 3 dynamic losses were decreased from 250 bbl/hr to 120 bbl/hr with static losses of 60 bbls/hr. After spotting the second 50 bbl pill of ROCKBLOCK 3, dynamic losses dropped to 30 bbl/hr and static losses were 5 bbl/hr.