Lost Circulation Materials
Lost Circulation Materials (LCM)
Lost Circulation Materials (LCM) are solids added to drilling fluids to plug fractures, vugs or highly permeable zones when mud is being lost into the formation.
- Onshore: Pumped in pills or mixed in the active mud system to cure seepage, partial or total losses in fractured or depleted land formations, reducing non-productive time and risk of well control events.
- Offshore: Used in deepwater and offshore wells to seal natural fractures and weak zones where losses can quickly lead to reduced hydrostatic pressure and potential influx, often in combination with tailored particle-size blends and wellbore-strengthening practices.
- Other Features
- Geothermal and mining drilling: Used the same way to seal loss zones and keep circulation in high-temperature or highly fractured formations.
- HDD/trenchless drilling: Added to drilling fluid to stop inadvertent returns and fluid breakout in shallow utility and pipeline bores.
