Lost Circulation Material (LCM) is an additive introduced to drilling fluid that can come in all different shapes and sizes.
When drilling fluid escapes into porous or fractured formations, it can disrupt the drilling process. LCMs are added to the drilling mud to seal these fractures or voids, helping to maintain proper pressure and flow, and ensuring efficient drilling operations. Common LCMs include materials like fibres, granules, and particulate substances that help plug and seal the lost circulation zones.
It is well understood that irregular particles have greater thickening and strength properties. As a result, analysing size alone for selection of LCM materials would not be ideal. In this case, shape measurements such as Circularity and Smoothness as well as size, are key measurement parameters to monitor.
