Offshore Brazil, a major operator faced significant challenges managing lost circulation during drilling, threatening higher costs, operational delays, and potentially compromising wellbore integrity. Traditional bypass valves often struggle with LCM due to limited port flow area, increasing the risk of blockages and reducing the effectiveness of lost circulation treatments. Consequently, the operator required a reliable bypass valve that could handle these complex materials while protecting the lower directional drilling BHA from contamination and enable seamless continuation of the drilling program without the need to pull out of the hole to remove the drilling BHA.
SLB proposed the WELL DEFENDER valve, whose robust design enabled the effective placement of a blended solution with Losseal Max™ lost circulation control treatment and the FORM-A-BLOK™ high-performance, high-strength lost circulation pill. After the lost circulation treatment was completed, the WELL DEFENDER valve was deactivated and circulation was restored through the bit. Full mud returns were observed at the shale shakers, confirming the solution’s success and allowing drilling operations to resume without delay. In addition, this solution helped protect the lower directional drilling BHA from contamination, a key factor in maintaining operational integrity.
