The study aims at providing a comparative evaluation of the sealing and blocking efficiency of a novel LCM (Refined – Sawdust) and a conventional LCM (Calcium Carbonate), used by the oil and gas industry to combat loss of circulation problems in drilling operations. Refined – Sawdust was used as an LCM in water -based mud, in comparison with the loss control capability of other LCM (CaCO3). Results showed that there is no much difference between the plastic viscosity, funnel viscosity, yield point, gel strength and filter cake thickness exhibited by the conventional LCM and that exhibited by the refined – sawdust LCM. Also, the ability of the LCMs to seal off fractures in time and reduce fluid losses was influenced by the particle size of the LCMs. The results showed that the mud samples formulated with the composite LCM yielded the better results when compared with other mud samples prepared with a specific particle size of the same LCM........

Keywords: Drilling fluids, Mud, Drilling operations, Loss Circulation Materials LCM, Rheology, Permeable formation, Refined – Sawdust, Calcium Carbonate, Water – Based Mud, Filter Cake, Filtrate, fluid loss.

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