Selecting Bridging Agents’ Particle Size Distribution for Optimum Plugging While Drilling in Permeable Zones

Abstract

Differential sticking problems and drilling fluids losses reducing permeability as a result of deep invasion of drilling and completion fluids are still main challenges. Under the conditions of development of mature fields, these problems become more acute due to the uncompensated drainage of formation fluid from the pay zone. The resolution for one of these problems is a high-quality plugging of permeable formation. The paper states a wide review of research papers on this topic, laboratory testing of one of the selection methods, an example of technical application of one of the methods, and and prospects for further development of the topic to improve the approaches of practical application.