A method is provided for reducing lost circulation when aqueous, oil, or synthetic
based drilling fluid is used. The method includes injecting two fluids into the
well bore and lost circulation zone. The first fluid is an aqueous liquid containing
at least one polymer capable of absorbing water in an alkaline environment. The
aqueous liquid has a pH that inhibits at least one polymer from absorbing water.
The second fluid contains a hardening composition in a base fluid having a pH sufficient
to increase the pH in situ to allow at least one polymer to absorb water and expand
with the absorbed water and substantially increase in size to close off the lost
circulation zone and allow the hardening composition to create a plug in the well
bore and set up.