Use of lost circulation control (LCM) materials in oil well drilling: a review article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71112/wz9q4352Keywords:
Traditional materials, hybrid materials, smart polymer materials, filtration, stabilityAbstract
Lost circulation during oil well drilling represents a technical and economic challenge, compromising wellbore stability and operational safety. This study aimed to critically review the loss control materials (LCMs) used between 2021 and 2025. The PRISMA 2020 protocol was applied to 171 articles from Scopus and ScienceDirect, discarding duplicates and meeting inclusion criteria. 22 studies were analyzed using Rayyan and VOSviewer. The results showed three groups of LCMs: traditional ones composed of plant fibers and mineral particles with filtration reduction up to 40%; hybrid and cementitious ones consisting of thermosetting gels, EICP, MOS cements, and thixotropic cements with efficiencies greater than 80% up to 150°C and 1000 psi; and smart systems such as SMP foams, self-healing gels, microcapsules, and elastomeric microspheres with dynamic adaptability, shape recovery >98%, and sealing up to 8.97 MPa. The discussion highlights an evolution from basic solutions to hybrid and smart systems and highlights the need to incorporate artificial intelligence to optimize LCM selection in real time. It is concluded that, despite advances, it is essential to standardize testing protocols, validate on a commercial scale, and integrate predictive tools for more efficient loss control.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nicómedes Saavedra-Arancibia, Mirna Villegas, Sara Vladislavic-Mendoza, Deyvi Bustamante Perez, Silverio Arancibia (Autor/a)
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