Abstract
Lost circulation and problems related to drilling present a major challenge for the drilling industry. Each year, billions are spent to treat these problems. There is not a single solution to lost circulation because of the complexity and kind of formations susceptible to this issue. Lost circulation treatment data for the Shuaiba formation (induced fractured formation) were gathered from drilled wells in Southern Iraq (over 2000). Treatments have been grouped according to the volume of mud loss as complete, severe, and partial loss remedies. Detailed costs and probabilities calculations were conducted. The costs of three types of loss treatments (partial, severe, and complete) were handled separately since some treatments of severe, and all treatments of complete losses have to be introducing through open end drill pipe (OEDP). Expected monetary value (EMV) and decision tree analysis (DTA) were utilized to choose the optimal mud loss pathway to treat the lost circulation type.
In this study, probability and cost were both considered to select the practical and efficient strategy of stopping mud loss. Too many of the remedy scenarios were investigated. The selection of the optimum strategy for every type of loss was based on the lowest EMV and efficiency. Once both conditions were satisfied, the treatment strategies were selected to treat each type of loss. Treatment strategies were provided for complete, severe, and partial losses as flowcharts that can be utilized as a reference in the field to stop or at least mitigate this troublesome problem. The methods used in this paper have the possibility to be adopted and invested to treat mud loss based on historical data of treatments in any formation worldwide.
Cost-Effectiveness of Refractory Asthma Treatment Strategies: A Decision Tree Analysis
