Patent ID: 6926081
Filing Date: 2005-08-09
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method of discovering, diagnosing and correcting formation integrity problems in successively drilled subterranean well bore intervals comprising the steps of: (a) drilling a first well bore interval; (b) determining if well bore fluid is being lost from each drilled well bore interval or if pressurized formation fluid is flowing into said drilled well bore interval, or both by circulating a well bore fluid through said drilled well bore interval for a period of time sufficient to determine if the quantity of said well bore fluid being circulated decreases due to well bore fluid outflow from said drilled well bore interval or increases due to pressurized formation fluid inflow into said drilled well bore interval; (c) determining the pressure containment integrity of said drilled well bore interval; (d) if it is determined that well bore fluid is being lost from said drilled well bore interval or pressurized formation fluid is flowing into said well bore interval, or both, in step (b) or if it is determined that said pressure containment integrity is inadequate in step (c), providing a pumpable sealing composition for sealing said drilled well bore interval to prevent well bore fluid outflow therefrom, to prevent pressurized formation fluid inflow thereinto or to increase the pressure containment integrity of said drilled well bore interval; (e) pumping said sealing composition into said drilled well bore interval to cause said drilled well bore interval to be sealed or the pressure containment integrity of said drilled well bore interval to be increased, or both; (f) drilling a second well bore interval; and (g) repeating steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) for the second drilled well bore interval.