{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T00:46:53Z","timestamp":1791334013416,"version":"4.3.1"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,7]],"date-time":"2025-08-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754524800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Gels"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Lost circulation, a prevalent challenge in drilling engineering, poses significant risks including drilling fluid loss, wellbore instability, and environmental contamination. Conventional plugging materials often exhibit an inadequate performance under high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP), and complex formation conditions. To address that, this study developed a high-performance gel\u2013resin composite plugging material resistant to HTHP environments. By optimizing the formulation of bisphenol-A epoxy resin (20%), hexamethylenetetramine (3%), and hydroxyethyl cellulose (1%), and incorporating fillers such as nano-silica and walnut shell particles, a controllable high-strength plugging system was constructed. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed the structural stability of the resin, with an initial decomposition temperature of 220 \u00b0C and a compressive strength retention of 14.4 MPa after 45 days of aging at 140 \u00b0C. Rheological tests revealed shear-thinning behavior (initial viscosity: 300\u2013350 mPa\u00b7s), with viscosity increasing marginally to 51 mPa\u00b7s after 10 h of stirring at ambient temperature, demonstrating superior pumpability. Experimental results indicated excellent adaptability of the system to drilling fluid contamination (compressive strength: 5.04 MPa at 20% dosage), high salinity (formation water salinity: 166.5 g\/L), and elevated temperatures (140 \u00b0C). In pressure-bearing plugging tests, the resin achieved a breakthrough pressure of 15.19 MPa in wedge-shaped fractures (inlet: 7 mm\/outlet: 5 mm) and a sand-packed tube sealing pressure of 11.25 MPa. Acid solubility tests further demonstrated outstanding degradability, with a 97.69% degradation rate after 24 h in 15% hydrochloric acid at 140 \u00b0C. This study provides an efficient, stable, and environmentally friendly solution for mitigating drilling fluid loss in complex formations, exhibiting significant potential for engineering applications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/gels11080617","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,8]],"date-time":"2025-08-08T09:56:42Z","timestamp":1754647002000},"page":"617","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Study on Gel\u2013Resin Composite for Losting Circulation Control to Improve Plugging Effect in Fracture Formation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Jinzhi","family":"Zhu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Tarim Oilfield Branch, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"R&D Center for Ultra Deep Complex Reservior Exploration and Development, China National Petroleum Corporation, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Ultra-Deep Oil and Gas, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"Engineering Research Center for Ultra-Deep Complex Reservoir Exploration and Development, Korla 841000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tao","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Tarim Oilfield Branch, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"R&D Center for Ultra Deep Complex Reservior Exploration and Development, China National Petroleum Corporation, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Ultra-Deep Oil and Gas, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"Engineering Research Center for Ultra-Deep Complex Reservoir Exploration and Development, Korla 841000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shaojun","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Tarim Oilfield Branch, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"R&D Center for Ultra Deep Complex Reservior Exploration and Development, China National Petroleum Corporation, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Ultra-Deep Oil and Gas, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"Engineering Research Center for Ultra-Deep Complex Reservoir Exploration and Development, Korla 841000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6786-6835","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yingrui","family":"Bai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"State Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Guochuan","family":"Qin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Tarim Oilfield Branch, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"R&D Center for Ultra Deep Complex Reservior Exploration and Development, China National Petroleum Corporation, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Ultra-Deep Oil and Gas, Korla 841000, China"},{"name":"Engineering Research Center for Ultra-Deep Complex Reservoir Exploration and Development, Korla 841000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7678-9536","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jingbin","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"State Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1692","DOI":"10.2118\/218380-PA","article-title":"Interpretable Lost Circulation Analysis: Labeled, Identified, and Analyzed Lost Circulation in Drilling Operations","volume":"29","author":"Feng","year":"2024","journal-title":"SPE J."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tomassi, A., Falegnami, A., and Romano, E. (2025). Unveiling simplexity: A new paradigm for understanding complex adaptive systems and driving technological innovation. Innovation, 100954.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.xinn.2025.100954"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1016\/j.powtec.2020.05.026","article-title":"Fracture Plugging Zone for Lost Circulation Control in Fractured Reservoirs: Multiscale Structure and Structure Characterization Methods","volume":"370","author":"Yan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Powder Technol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103523","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jngse.2020.103523","article-title":"Borehole Temperature Distribution When Drilling Fluid Loss Occurs in the Two-Dimensional Area at the Bottom-Hole during Drilling","volume":"83","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Nat. Gas Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"724","DOI":"10.1016\/j.petsci.2024.11.016","article-title":"Development and evaluation of organic\/metal ion double crosslinking polymer gel for anti-CO2 gas channeling in high temperature and low permeability reservoirs","volume":"22","author":"Yang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Pet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"483","DOI":"10.1007\/s13369-019-04315-6","article-title":"Deep Illustration for Loss of Circulation While Drilling","volume":"45","author":"Elkatatny","year":"2020","journal-title":"Arab. J. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213920","DOI":"10.1016\/j.geoen.2025.213920","article-title":"Amphiphilic polymer with ultra-high salt resistance and emulsification for enhanced oil recovery in heavy oil cold recovery production","volume":"252","author":"Jiang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Geoenergy Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"042022","DOI":"10.1063\/5.0268850","article-title":"Viscoelastic displacement mechanism of fluorescent polymer microspheres based on macroscopic and microscopic displacement experiments","volume":"37","author":"Yang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Phys. Fluids"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39840","DOI":"10.1021\/acsomega.2c03895","article-title":"Study on the Model and Law for Radial Leakage of Drilling Fluid in Fractured Formations","volume":"7","author":"Bi","year":"2022","journal-title":"ACS Omega"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"430","DOI":"10.1016\/S1876-3804(20)60060-X","article-title":"Structural Failure Mechanism and Strengthening Method of Fracture Plugging Zone for Lost Circulation Control in Deep Naturally Fractured Reservoirs","volume":"47","author":"Xu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pet. Explor. Dev."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2300390","DOI":"10.1002\/macp.202300390","article-title":"A Review in Polymers for Fluid Loss Control in Drilling Operations","volume":"225","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Macromol. Chem. Phys."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110149","DOI":"10.1016\/j.petrol.2022.110149","article-title":"The Evolution of Lost Circulation Prevention and Mitigation Based on Wellbore Strengthening Theory: A Review on Experimental Issues","volume":"211","author":"Mirabbasi","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Pet. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Faisal, R.S., Salih, N.M., Kamal, I., and Pr\u00e9at, A. (2023). X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) to Scan the Structure and Characterize the Mud Cake Incorporated with Various Magnetic NPs Concentration: An Application to Evaluate the Wellbore Stability and Formation Damage. Nanomaterials, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/nano13121843"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"511","DOI":"10.1016\/j.petrol.2017.01.052","article-title":"Review of Fundamental Studies on Lost Circulation and Wellbore Strengthening","volume":"152","author":"Feng","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Pet. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.1016\/S1876-3804(14)60012-4","article-title":"Drilling Fluid Loss Model and Loss Dynamic Behavior in Fractured Formations","volume":"41","author":"Jia","year":"2014","journal-title":"Pet. Explor. Dev."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125245","DOI":"10.1016\/j.colsurfa.2020.125245","article-title":"Styrene Butadiene Resin\/Nano-SiO2 Composite as a Water-and-Oil-Dispersible Plugging Agent for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid","volume":"606","author":"Li","year":"2020","journal-title":"Colloids Surf. A Physicochem. Eng. Asp."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5178","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ces.2010.06.013","article-title":"Fractal Analysis of Invasion Depth of Extraneous Fluids in Porous Media","volume":"65","author":"Cai","year":"2010","journal-title":"Chem. Eng. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213214","DOI":"10.1016\/j.geoen.2024.213214","article-title":"A Novel Experimental Study on Plugging Performance of Lost Circulation Materials for Pressure-Sensitive Fracture","volume":"242","author":"Guo","year":"2024","journal-title":"Geoenergy Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"212837","DOI":"10.1016\/j.geoen.2024.212837","article-title":"Artificial Intelligence for Drilling Lost Circulation: A Systematic Literature Review","volume":"239","author":"Elmousalami","year":"2024","journal-title":"Geoenergy Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1007\/s12517-024-12142-9","article-title":"Review of Detection, Prediction and Treatment of Fluid Loss Events","volume":"18","author":"Amish","year":"2024","journal-title":"Arab. J. Geosci."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44616","DOI":"10.1021\/acsomega.4c07145","article-title":"Synthesis and Evaluation of High-Temperature Resistant Polymer Plugging Agent for Water-Based Drilling Fluids","volume":"9","author":"Zhu","year":"2024","journal-title":"ACS Omega"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e55732","DOI":"10.1002\/app.55732","article-title":"Preparation and Performance Evaluation of Intelligent Plugging Agent for Thermo-Sensitive Water-Based Drilling Fluid","volume":"141","author":"Luo","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"100070","article-title":"Drilling Fluids for Shale Fields: Case Studies and Lessons Learnt","volume":"4","author":"Gao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Unconv. Resour."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ultsonch.2016.11.026","article-title":"Research on Ultrasonic Excitation for the Removal of Drilling Fluid Plug, Paraffin Deposition Plug, Polymer Plug and Inorganic Scale Plug for near-Well Ultrasonic Processing Technology","volume":"36","author":"Wang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ultrason. Sonochem."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122392","DOI":"10.1016\/j.molliq.2023.122392","article-title":"Performance of Self-Healing Microgel Incorporating Nano-Silica as Plugging Material for Drilling Fluid","volume":"386","author":"Yang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Mol. Liq."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104577","DOI":"10.1016\/j.arabjc.2023.104577","article-title":"Synthesis and Plugging Effect of Inverse Emulsion Polymerization Microspheres (OPME) for Oil-Based Drilling Fluids","volume":"16","author":"Dai","year":"2023","journal-title":"Arab. J. Chem."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112574","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpcs.2025.112574","article-title":"Composite of Carboxylized Graphene Oxide with Nanosilica for Shale Plugging","volume":"200","author":"Cui","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Phys. Chem. Solids"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2100354","DOI":"10.1002\/mame.202100354","article-title":"Shape Memory Polyurethane as a Drilling Fluid Lost Circulation Material","volume":"306","author":"Lashkari","year":"2021","journal-title":"Macromol. Mater. Eng."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"212222","DOI":"10.1016\/j.geoen.2023.212222","article-title":"Recent Advances of Thermosetting Resin and Its Application Prospect in Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Engineering","volume":"230","author":"Yang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Geoenergy Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cis.2012.03.007","article-title":"Ordered Mesoporous Phenolic Resins: Highly Versatile and Ultra Stable Support Materials","volume":"175","author":"Muylaert","year":"2012","journal-title":"Adv. Colloid Interface Sci."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alanqari, K., Wagle, V., Al-Yami, A., and Mohammed, A. (2021, January 6\u20137). A Novel Epoxy Resin Composition as a Lost Circulation Material: Formulation, Lab Testing and Field Execution. Proceedings of the SPE International Conference on Oilfield Chemistry, Woodlands, TX, USA.","DOI":"10.2118\/204301-MS"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"130630","DOI":"10.1016\/j.energy.2024.130630","article-title":"Epoxy Resin Microencapsulated by Complex Coacervation as Physical-Chemical Synergetic Lost Circulation Control Material","volume":"293","author":"Guo","year":"2024","journal-title":"Energy"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121473","DOI":"10.1016\/j.molliq.2023.121473","article-title":"A Novel Self-Healing and Degradable Plugging Material for High Temperature Gas Well","volume":"376","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Mol. Liq."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213355","DOI":"10.1016\/j.geoen.2024.213355","article-title":"Shape Memory Resin with High Temperature Resistance for Plugging Fracture Formations Drilled with Oil-Based Drilling Fluid","volume":"243","author":"Zhao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Geoenergy Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhu, J., Lou, E., Zhang, S., Lu, H., and Wang, Z. (2023). Preparation and Performance of Resin-Gel\u2013Rubber Expandable Lost Circulation Material Blend. Gels, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/gels9110862"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, Q., Li, Y., Chen, Y., Wu, Q., and Wang, S. (2021). An Effective Method for Preparation of Liquid Phosphoric Anhydride and Its Application in Flame Retardant Epoxy Resin. Materials, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma14092205"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ilyin, S.O. (2024). Structural Rheology in the Development and Study of Complex Polymer Materials. Polymers, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym16172458"},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"(2012). Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries Cements and Materials for Well Cementing Part 2: Testing of Well Cements (Standard No. ISO 10426-2:2003)."}],"container-title":["Gels"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2310-2861\/11\/8\/617\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T18:25:58Z","timestamp":1760034358000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2310-2861\/11\/8\/617"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,7]]},"references-count":38,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8]]}},"alternative-id":["gels11080617"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/gels11080617","relation":{},"ISSN":["2310-2861"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2310-2861","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,7]]}}}