Formulation Design of Drilling Fluid Loss Control and Plugging Strategies in Deepwater Subsalt Reservoirs

Subsalt oil and gas resources are abundant worldwide, with significant reserves located in the deepwater offshore regions of Brazil. The Mero field is a typical example of deepwater subsalt oil and gas resources, located in the southeastern Santos Basin offshore Brazil. The reservoir depth exceeds 5000 meters, with an overlying salt gypsum layer ranging from 150 to 3000 meters. The subsalt reservoirs are primarily composed of Lower Cretaceous BVE and ITP carbonate rocks. The Mero3 block in the Mero field experiences the most severe lost circulation, with a total loss of 17,105 m³. Through geological and drilling data analysis, the main causes of lost circulation were identified, including the development of faults and natural fractures, weak formation layers, and the strong heterogeneity of the formation. These factors collectively result in poor pressure-bearing capacity of the sealing layer, leading to repeated lost circulation incidents. This study collected commonly used plugging materials in the Mero field and conducted performance evaluation experiments on particle size distribution, friction coefficient, compressive strength, and compatibility. A database of plugging material performance parameters was established, and high-performance plugging materials suitable for deepwater subsalt reservoir loss prevention and plugging operations were selected. Based on different loss rates, three loss prevention formulas were designed using efficient bridging and dense filling methods, and the application process for these formulas was refined. Furthermore, a strategy for fine-tuning drilling techniques and maintaining a combination of loss prevention and plugging was proposed. This strategy includes strengthening the precise control of the wellbore ECD in loss-prone formations, reducing downhole overpressure, and minimizing the occurrence of induced fractures. The research results achieved significant success in the field plugging operations at the NW8 well of the Mero3 block. In cases with varying loss rates, the plugging strategy effectively slowed down the loss rate. This provides valuable technical support for the oil and gas development of Brazil's Mero field and other similar subsalt reservoirs, promoting the safe and efficient extraction of oil and gas resources.