Shape memory polymers as new advanced loss circulation materials for drilling applications

This review’s main focus is highlighting and recognizing the significant scientific advances of smart expandable lost circulation material, i.e., shape memory polymers (SMPs) composites as loss circulation material (LCM) for drilling applications as innovative and futuristic materials. This review highlights and explains ways of producing new smart materials for LCM, which can be programmed by its SMP cycle. It briefly describes loss circulation further on loss circulation material and its classification. Only very few SMPs used as LCM, like shape memory polyurethane, thermoset shape memory polymer, shape memory epoxy, etc., either used as Grout, mixed with xanthan gum, or medium-size particles combined with base fluid, while the next section focuses on shape memory polymer as loss circulation material with the shape memory effect and programming over treating wide fractures. The last section consists of conclusion, prospects, and recommendations.