DEVELOPING A GREEN LOST CIRCULATION MATERIAL (LCM) DERIVED FROM SUNFLOWER SEED SHELL WASTE

This report basically discusses the preliminary research done and basic understanding of
the chosen topic, which is developing green lost circulation materials (LCM) derived
from sunflower seed shell waste. The report concentrates around the important step for
each test as the proper amount of additives were dissolved in the mud base samples and
how does these result from the experimental process data correspond to the development
of lost circulation material. All laboratories experimental including the development of
prototype drilling fluids or base sample and the used of the sunflower seed shell additive
as lost circulation material were tested using standard variations of mud tests on its
rheological properties to determine its effectiveness for drilling operation. Not to forget,
the main objective of this project is to study the effectiveness of using sunflower seed
shell as flaky LCM additives to control and eliminate a wide range of lost circulation
problems due to fractures, highly permeable zones or broken unconsolidated formations.
The related equipment for the test procedure involves mixer, mud balance, viscometer,
HTHP and API filter press. The properties for LCM such as density, plastic viscosity,
yield point, gel strength and filtration rate will be measured through the experiment in the
laboratory. The LCM will be prepared in a range of particle sizes which is available in
fine, medium and coarse grades, and compatible to seal the loss zone regardless of the
type of drilling fluids. Its amount was variables used in the tests.
The significant of using the sunflower seed shell waste is that it has the lost circulation
material characteristics to prevent the mud losses, not effect the whole drilling fluid
circulation and economically inexpensive for its abundance. The sunflower seed shell
shall be a most low-cost and green waste product that enables the optimum plugging to
the zone of lost circulation with minimum amount of lost materials and time, considering
the fact that lost circulation is one of the most serious and expensive problems in the
drilling operation.