Predicting the Fluid Loss of Drilling, Workover, and Fracturing Fluids into a Formation With and Without Filter Cake

We present in this paper the theory associated with the invasion of power-law fluids in both radial and linear systems during drilling and completion operations. We have developed a computer model based on this theory, and present computational results which validate the model against analytical and experimental results. Calculations based on experimental parameters show that power-law fluids can be very effective in the control of invasion from the wellbore to the formation. Furthermore, the results show that this control does not come at the expense of long-term well damage, because it is easy to flow back the invaded fluid.