Rapidly dehydrating lost circulation material (LCM)
A rapidly dehydrating lost circulation material (LCM) composition is provided. The LCM composition may include a carrier fluid, diatomaceous earth, 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 diatomaceous earth, 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 diatomaceous earth;
a viscosifier comprising a cellulosic microfiber; and
a fibrous material consisting of date tree rachis fibers, wherein the date tree rachis fibers comprise 6% to 8% by weight of the LCM composition,
wherein the LCM composition has a dehydration time of less than 3 minutes at 100 pounds-per-square inch differential (psid) pressure.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier fluid comprises water.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altered drilling fluid consists of the drilling fluid and the LCM composition.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diatomaceous earth comprises 15 pounds per barrel (lbm/bbl) to 60 lbm/bbl in the carrier fluid.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diatomaceous earth has a particle size in the range of 2 micrometers (μm) to 40 μm.