Rapidly dehydrating lost circulation material (LCM)
A rapidly dehydrating lost circulation material (LCM) composition is provided. The LCM composition may include a carrier fluid, volcanic ash, a viscosifier, and date tree rachis fibers. The carrier fluid may be water and the viscosifier may be a cellulosic microfiber. The LCM composition may form a rapidly dehydrating loss control slurry (RDLCS). The LCM composition may be formed by mixing the carrier fluid, the volcanic ash, the viscosifier, and the date tree rachis fibers in a mixer to form a homogenous mixture. Methods of lost circulation control and manufacture of a rapidly dehydrating LCM are also provided.
1. A method to control lost circulation in a lost circulation zone in a wellbore, comprising:
introducing an altered drilling fluid into the wellbore such that the altered drilling fluid contacts the lost circulation zone and reduces a rate of lost circulation into the lost circulation zone, where the altered drilling fluid comprises a drilling fluid and a lost circulation material (LCM) composition, wherein the LCM composition consists of:
a carrier fluid;
a particulate material consisting of volcanic ash, wherein the volcanic ash comprises at least 11% by weight of the LCM composition;
a viscosifier; and
date tree rachis fibers,
wherein the LCM composition dehydrates to form a plug when subjected to a pressure differential, wherein the LCM composition has a dehydration time of less than 2 minutes at 100 pounds-per-square inch differential (psid) pressure.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising adding the lost circulation material to the drilling fluid to create the altered drilling fluid.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid comprises water.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the viscosifier comprises a cellulosic microfiber.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altered drilling fluid consists of the drilling fluid and the LCM composition.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the viscosifier comprises at least 3% by weight of the LCM composition.