Abstract
Addressing lost circulation during drilling operations typically involves the utilization of lost circulation materials (LCMs) to create a fracture plugging zone (FPZ), which effectively decouples the wellbore fluid column pressure (Pw) from the formation pressure (Pf). This FPZ, comprised of aggregated granular LCM particles, frequently succumbs to shear stress, with shear failure being the predominant mode of structural failure, leading to ongoing fluid losses. To illuminate the failure mechanisms of the FPZ under conditions of escalating drilling differential pressure (Pw - Pf), we utilized photoelastic experiments to capture and visualize the evolving mesoscopic mechanical structure of the FPZ. Photoelastic images were analyzed using the modified ten-step phase-shift method to calculate the shear stress distribution within the FPZ. Results indicated that shear failure is characterized by recurrent bidirectional shearing interactions between the FPZ and the fracture surface, accompanied by a significant increase in stress concentration at the initiation of shear failure. To augment the shear stability of the FPZ, a methodology inspired by the composite nature of concrete—comprising sand, stone, and cementitious materials—was adopted. The integration of adhesive particles within the FPZ resulted in a marked reduction in internal shear stress and an enhancement of its load-bearing capacity. These findings substantiate that the incorporation of adhesives effectively bolsters the mechanical stability of the FPZ across both mesoscopic and macroscopic scales.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
3-1-2026
Volume
258
Publication Title
Geoenergy Science and Engineering
Publisher
Elsevier
School
Centre for Sustainable Energy and Resources
Funders
National Natural Science Foundation of China (52274009) / Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2025NSFJQ0009) / Oil & Gas National Science and Technology Major Project (2025ZD1401305) / National Top Talents Program of China (JXRSB02001)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Jing, H., Kang, Y., Xu, C., Liu, L., Yan, X., & You, Z. (2025). Shear stability enhancement in fracture plugging zones: Unveiling failure mechanisms and adhesive benefits through photoelastic analysis. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 258, 214322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoen.2025.214322