Lost Circulation: Hidden Cost of Drilling | The Panther Blog

E&P companies are no strangers to lost circulation. This unintended escape of drilling fluid into underground formations commonly presents a major financial and operational challenge for drilling projects. Yet, many oil and gas operators are still unprepared for the risk and end up bearing significant costs.

Addressing lost circulation effectively is key to maintaining smooth and cost-efficient operations. Fortunately, a proactive solution exists that can help tackle these problems head-on.

Problems Caused by Lost Circulation

Lost circulation can lead to several significant issues in drilling operations, including:

• Stuck Pipe: Insufficient fluid support increases the risk of the drill string getting stuck, leading to costly retrieval operations or the need to drill a new wellbore.
• Increased Downtime: Lost circulation forces operational halts, resulting in delays and higher overall costs due to non-productive time (NPT).
• Mud Losses: Increased use of expensive drilling mud and fluids due to lost circulation leads to higher material costs.
• Inefficient Material Use: Addressing lost circulation can result in overuse of materials, further escalating costs and resource waste.
• Compromised Wellbore Stability: Lost circulation can compromise well integrity, leading to long-term production issues that require ongoing maintenance and repairs.

Overall, the combination of increased material costs, operational delays, and long-term production issues undermines the economic viability and profitability of new wells.

The Cost of Lost Circulation

Lost circulation also wreaks havoc on both budgets and timelines in drilling operations, creating a cascade of costly issues.

The increased use of materials and fluids, coupled with the heightened risk of a stuck drill string, can necessitate costly retrieval operations or even drilling a new wellbore from scratch.

The impact of lost circulation doesn’t stop there. Operational halts lead to delays and non-productive time (NPT), driving up overall costs. Also, sealing loss zones with specialized materials isn’t just complex; it’s pricey too.

Over the long term, compromised well integrity can lead to persistent production issues, requiring ongoing maintenance and repairs.

A Proactive Approach

Total fluids management is a game-changer for tackling lost circulation and improving overall drilling efficiency. This proactive strategy significantly boosts the economic benefits of oil and gas operations.

What Total Fluids Management Includes:

• Drilling Fluid Systems: Maintains optimal mud viscosity and pressure to prevent issues like stuck pipe and minimize downtime.
• Mud Products: Specialized formulations reduce drilling mud losses and create robust barriers within loss zones.
• Fluid Additives: Improve the properties of drilling fluids to address specific challenges, including the use of lost circulation materials (LCM) to quickly and effectively seal loss zones.
• Production Chemicals: Preserve wellbore stability and well integrity, preventing long-term production issues.
• Solids Control: Efficiently separates and removes solids from drilling fluids, reducing waste and material costs.
• Haul-Off and Disposal: Manages waste fluids and materials, providing safe and cost-effective disposal solutions.
• Equipment Rentals: Offers access to advanced equipment for effective fluids management without the high capital expenditure.

By integrating these components, total fluids management addresses lost circulation issues and streamlines operations for better performance, ultimately enhancing the economic viability and profitability of drilling projects.

Streamlined Fluid Management with Panther Fluids

At Panther Fluids, we’ve developed this streamlined process for fluids control and management, all under a single contract. Our comprehensive service includes everything from mud systems to equipment rentals, covering all your needs efficiently. Plus, our on-site fluids experts are adept at troubleshooting and anticipating drilling problems, providing you with immediate support when you need it most.

Take our recent success in the Eagle Ford Shale as an example. Faced with lost circulation on several wells during a large drilling program, an operator turned to our proactive approach and our proprietary LS7 lost circulation material. Our experts on-site quickly counteracted the problem zones, saving the operator valuable time and significantly reducing costs.

Our LS7 LCM offering is a unique multicomponent blend compatible with both water-based mud (WBM) and oil-based mud (OBM) systems. Specially formulated to mitigate the risk of losses while drilling through depleted zones, LS7 proved its effectiveness in the Eagle Ford Shale, showcasing our capability to deliver reliable solutions in challenging drilling environments.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Panther Fluids provides a distinct advantage with the proactive approach of our total fluids management services, on-site expertise, and proprietary LS7 lost circulation material, delivering quick, cost-saving solutions even in challenging conditions.

Ready to Save on Your Next Drilling Project? 

Encountering lost circulation can become one of the most time-consuming and costly challenges in a drilling operation. It doesn’t have to be like that, though. Experience the Panther Advantage™. Our full range of fluids management and rentals proactively addresses issues like lost circulation, avoiding unnecessary costs and downtime.

What is the Panther Advantage? Comprehensive services, flexible packages, and on-site expertise under one contract with a single point of contact, streamlining your operations and reducing administrative overhead.

Don’t let lost circulation derail your success. Contact Panther Fluids today and take the first step toward more successful, cost-effective operations.