Well Treatment Compositions Containing Hydratable Polyvinyl Alcohol and Methods of Using Same

Loss of wellbore fluids (such as drilling fluids, completion fluids and workover fluids) in a wellbore or into the flow passages of a subterranean formation during well drilling, cementing, completion and workover operations may be reduced or eliminated by introducing into the wellbore a fluid of a hydratable polyvinyl alcohol in an aqueous fluid. The amount of polyvinyl alcohol in the well treatment composition is between from about 50 pounds to about 1,200 pounds per 1,000 gallons of aqueous fluid. The aqueous fluid may contain a delayed viscosification agent and/or crosslinking agent. Alternatively, the polyvinyl alcohol may be greater than or equal to 95 percent hydrolyzed. When introduced into the well, a fluid impermeable barrier is formed within the formation or wellbore.