Section 8

Squeeze Cementing
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................................8-3
Topic Areas ............................................................................................................................................8-3
Learning Objectives ...............................................................................................................................8-3
Unit A: Squeeze Cementing Background ..................................................................................................8-3
Purposes of Squeeze Cementing ............................................................................................................8-3
Squeeze Cementing Terminology ..........................................................................................................8-4
Hesitation ...............................................................................................................................................8-5
Planning Squeeze Cementing Jobs.........................................................................................................8-5
Unit A Quiz ............................................................................................................................................8-6
Unit B: Squeeze Cementing Calculations..................................................................................................8-7
Squeeze Problem One ............................................................................................................................8-9
Squeeze Problem Two..........................................................................................................................8-17
Unit B Quiz ..........................................................................................................................................8-22
Answers to Unit Quizzes .........................................................................................................................8-23

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Use for Section Notes

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Introduction
this process. The bottom of casing strings (shoe)
and liner tops may also require squeezing to
correct problems. These types of jobs may not
require perforating prior to squeezing.

If all primary cementing jobs were completely

successful, there would rarely be a need for
squeeze cementing. However, if drilling mud
has been bypassed (channeling) during the
primary job, squeeze cementing may be required
to correct or remediate the problem.

Topic Areas

Squeeze cementing is the process by which

cement is forced into the casing-hole annulus.
Fluid returns are not normally expected at the
surface. Perforations in the pipe are often
required to obtain a flow path to the annulus.
The channel or area of poor bond, as well as the
perforations, are filled with cement. Pump
pressure is allowed to rise in order to "squeeze"
cement slurry into the desired area. The cement
is allowed to harden into a plug which blocks
fluid movement. Drill-out of set cement inside
the casing is normally required.

In this section, these units will be included:

A. Squeeze Cementing Background
B. Squeeze Cementing Calculations

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this section, you should be
familiar with:

Existing production perforations may be

abandoned by squeeze cementing. Also, casing
leaks due to pipe corrosion may be sealed with

The purposes of squeeze cementing

How to calculate a basic squeeze cementing

job

Unit A: Squeeze Cementing Background

To perform a successful squeeze job, it is first
necessary to become familiar with

the purposes of squeeze cementing

terminology associated with squeeze

cementing

planning considerations for squeeze jobs.

Purposes of Squeeze
Cementing
Some of the more common reasons for
performing a squeeze job are

to correct a defective primary cementing job

caused by channeling or insufficient fill-up

83

to provide a seal for places purposely not

cemented during primary cementing for
example, squeezing liner tops

to reduce the gas/oil ratio by shutting off

some of the gas-producing perforation
(isolating the gas and oil zones)

to improve the oil/water ratio by shutting off

some of the water-producing formation
(isolating the oil and water zones)

to close-off an unproductive formation from

the wellbore

to prevent fluid migration

to repair casing holes caused by corrosion,

perforation, etc. (Fig. 8.1)

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Figure 8.2 Whole cement slurry does not

enter the formation
In squeeze jobs, forcing the formation to fracture
is not the objective. If the formation fractures, it
will break down. Then whole cement slurry (not
just the filtrate) will be displaced into the
formation. Therefore, care must be taken so that
the pump pressure and the pressure exerted by
the weight of the fluid are not sufficient to force
a fracture of the formation. The pressure
required to force filtrate into the formation
without fracturing it is called the pump-in
pressure.

Figure 8.1 Squeezing to repair casing.

Squeeze Cementing
Terminology
In order to understand the different methods
used in squeeze cementing, it is necessary to
first be familiar with the following terms:

Cement dehydration

Pump-in pressure and injection rate

Low- and high-pressure squeeze

Block squeezing

The volume per minute at which the fluid will be

pumped during the squeeze job is called the
injection rate. Both the pressure and rate should
be established by performing an injection test in
which well fluid is pumped into the formation to
determine at what rate and pressure the fluid will
be absorbed into the formation.

Cement slurry is composed of cement, additives

and water. When slurry reaches a permeable
formation, only the water (filtrate) will pass into
the cracks of the formation (Figure 8.2). Cement
dehydration is the process by which the cement
forms a cake and hardens on the face of the
formation.

During a low-pressure squeeze job, enough

pressure is applied to form a filter cake of
dehydrated cement on the formation. In other
words, the pump-in pressure or the pressure
necessary to place cement against the formation
will not cause the formation to fracture.
However, if the formation will not absorb filtrate
at the pump-in pressure, (because of blocked
perforations or low formation permeability),
more pressure may be applied. This will result in
a fractured formation - whole slurry will fill the
fractures. This is considered a high-pressure
squeeze job.

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the necessity of using a spacer (in case of

fluid incompatibility)

Block squeezing requires that perforations be

made at the interval to be squeezed. Then,
cement is forced into this interval (Figure 8.3).
Block squeezing is generally used to isolate the
producing zone before completing a well.

Figure 8.3 Block Squeeze

the bottomhole static temperature, which

affects the setting time of the cement

the difference between the depths of the

perforations and the packer (if used), which
should from 100 to 150 ft to allow enough
volume to continue the squeeze after the
cement has cleared the workstring

the maximum pressure to be used, which

cannot exceed the pressure limitations of the
workstring, casing, BOPs, and other
equipment to be used

the type of cement to be used, in that fluidloss additives are used to ensure that a small
amount of cement filter cake will form
against the formation, while the slurry in the
casing remains fluid enough to reverse out

the amount of cement to be used, which

depends on the volume of the workstring
(volume of cement should not exceed the
capacity of the tubular goods) and the length
of the interval to be squeezed (a rule of
thumb is to use 2 sk/ft).

testing all wellhead equipment and annulus

to the pressure required to reverse out the
maximum height of cementing the
workstring.

Hesitation Squeeze
At some point during a squeeze job, you will
have attained the pressure planned for the job.
That pressure is then held. If it drops off (that is,
bleed off is occurring), you know that your
cement is continuing to dehydrate.
In this case, a hesitation squeeze may be
conducted. Time is allowed for the cement to
begin to set. The pressure is applied again. If
bleed off continues, more time is allowed. This
is repeated as many times as is necessary; the
only limitation is the thickening time of the
cement. If too long a period is allowed, the
workstring may be cemented up.

Planning Squeeze Cementing

Jobs
Before any type of squeeze job is undertaken,
information must be obtained and choices must
be made, including

the types of well fluids to be used, which

will affect the pressure to reverse out, and

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Unit A Quiz
Fill in the blanks with one or more words to check your progress in Unit A.
1. Common reasons for performing a squeeze job are to ___________ a defective primary cementing
job or to __________ holes in casing caused by corrosion. In addition, the ______________ ratio is
improved.
2. When the filtrate enters the formation, cement ____________ to form a cake on the formation.
3. The pressure required to force filtrate into the formation without ___________ it is called the
___________ pressure. This pressure is established by pumping _________________ into the
formation to be squeezed.
4. If the formation fractures during a squeeze job, then a _________ pressure squeeze job is being
performed.
5. If the pressure drops off during a squeeze job, this is called ______________. To correct this
condition, a _______________ squeeze may be performed.
6. The ____________ pressure to be used during a squeeze job cannot exceed the limitations of the
equipment being used.
7. Cement used for squeeze job usually contains ______________ additives.

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Unit B: Squeeze Cementing Calculations

Before beginning a squeeze cementing job,
several calculations must be performed. The
types of calculations to make depend on the
nature of the job. Following are the basic
squeeze problem calculations (Fig. 8.3,4):

8 Pressure to reverse out at the completion of

the job.

1 Volume of cement (bbl).

Following are the well parameters needed for the

calculations (Fig. 8.3):

9 Amount of cement pumped though the

perforations.

2 Pressure to reverse one barrel of slurry from

workstring.

A Drillpipe/tubing size

3 Minimum water requirements.

B Packer depth

4 Displacement volume to spot cement one

barrel above packer.

C Top of perforations
D Bottom of perforations

5 Pressure to reverse cement when spotted.

E Casing size

6 Pressure to reverse cement from workstring

when cement reaches top perforation.
7 Pressure to reverse cement from workstring
when cement reaches bottom perforation.
A

Well Fluid

5
Cement

Well Fluid

B
C
D
E

Figure 8.3 Well schematic showing squeeze calculations and parameters.

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Cement

Well Fluid

Well Fluid

Well Fluid

Squeeze Cementing

8
9

Figure 8.4 - Well schematic showing squeeze calculations and parameters.

The remainder of this section presents two
sample squeeze problems and shows, step by
step, how to calculate all the needed data. You
will need a copy of the Halliburton Cementing
Tables (the Red Book) to use during the
samples.

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Squeeze Problem One

Well Parameters
A

2 7/8 in., 6.5 lb/ft

EUE Tubing

Drillpipe/tubing size

2 7/8 in., 6.5 lb/ft

EUE

Packer Depth

5000 ft

Top of perforations

5094 ft

Bottom of perforations

5136 ft

Casing size

7 in., 20 lb/ft

Cement type

Class G

Cement volume
Displacement/well fluid

75 sk
Fresh water (8.33
lb/gal)

1 Volume of Cement (bbl)

B

Packer at 5000 ft

Perf top at 5094 ft

Perf bottom at
5094 ft

7 in., 20 lb/ft
Casing

To convert the given volume of cement from

sacks to barrels, you must determine the yield of
the slurry.
1. Using the Technical Data section of the
Red Book, determine the yield of a neat
Class G slurry, given its weight of 15.8
lb/gal. The table shown in Fig. 8.6 (extracted
from the Class G section of the Red Book)
shows this to be 1.15 cu.ft/sk.

Figure 8.5 Parameters for Sample

Problem A.

2. Multiply the volume of cement in sacks by

the slurry yield to determine the volume in
cubic feet.
75 sk 1.15 cu.ft/sk = 86.25 cu.ft
Now, convert cubic feet to barrels using the
conversion constant found in the Technical
Data section of the Red Book:
86.25 cu.ft 0.1781 bbl/cu.ft = 15.36 bbl

Figure 8.6 Class G data from Red Book.

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the number of feet that one barrel will fill

inside the tubing, which is 172.76 ft/bbl.

2 Pressure to Reverse One Barrel of

Slurry from Workstring

3. Multiply the differential pressure found in

Step 1 by the value found in Step 2 to obtain
the pressure required to reverse out one
barrel of slurry from the workstring:

0.3878 psi/ft 172.76 ft/bbl = 67.00 psi/bbl

Well Fluid

Later on, you will be calculating different values

of cement left in the tubing, according to where
you are in your job. You will then use the value
determined in the step above to calculate the
total pressure required to reverse out the cement.

Figure 8.7 Determining pressure to

reverse on barrel of slurry from drillpipe.
The following is a quick way to calculate the
pressure required to reverse out the slurry from
the workstring. These calculations will be based
on a column equal in height to one barrel of
fluid in the workstring. (Your answer will be in
psi/bbl.)

Figure 8.8 Hydrostatic pressure data from

Red Book.

1. Referring to the Calculations and

Formulae section of the Red Book (shown
in Fig. 8.8), look up the psi/ft (hydrostatic
pressure gradient) of the 15.8 lb/gal cement
and the 8.33 lb/gal water. Then find the
difference between these two values: 0.8208
psi/ft and 0.4330 psi/ft:
0.8208 psi/ft 0.4330 psi/ft = 0.3878 psi/ft
2. Then, using the Capacity section (Table
211) for 2 7/8 in., 6.5 lb/ft EUE tubing, find

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First, determine the capacity of the tubing. It

extends from the surface to the packer, a
total of 5000 ft. Look up the capacity factor
for the 2 7/8 in., 6.5 lb/ft EUE tubing in the
Capacity section (Fig 8.9). This factor is
0.00579 bbl/ft. Multiply the length of the
tubing by its capacity factor to obtain the
capacity of the tubing:

3 Minimum Water Requirements

The minimum fluid (water) requirements for a
squeeze job include the volumes needed for the
following:

Cement mixing water (always fresh water

unless the slurry is otherwise designed)

Displacement fluid (the capacities of the

tubing and the casing)

5000 ft 0.00579 bbl/ft = 28.95 bbl

3. Then figure the capacity of the 7 in., 20 lb/ft
casing (Table 214) from the packer to the
lowest perforation (5136 ft 5000 ft = 136
ft).

Reversing fluid

Therefore, each of these volumes needs to be

calculated and then added together.

136 ft 0.0404 bbl/ft = 5.49 bbl

Note: This volume does not include both primeup and wash-up volumes, which would also
need to be accounted for.

4. You may have to reverse out the excess

cement remaining in the tubing (after
unsetting the packer). This reverse
circulation occurs around the setting depth
of the packer (5000 ft). So the volume in the
tubing to reverse out is the same as the
displacement volume you have already
calculated for the tubing (Step 2), which is
28.95 bbl.

1. With the help of the Technical Data

section of the Red Book, you can calculate
how much mixing water you will need (see
Fig. 8.6). Because you are using Class G
cement with a weight of 15.8 lb/gal, the
water requirement is 5.0 gal/sk. Multiplying
the amount of cement needed, in sacks, by
the water requirement gives you your total
mixing water:

Keep in mind that you should use the type

and weight of fluid in the annulus for
reversing fluid.

5.0 gal/sk 75 sk = 375 gal

5. Now, the minimum amount of fluid required

for this job can be calculated by adding the
cement mixing water (Step 1), the two
displacement fluid volumes (tubing and
casing- Steps 2 and 3), and the reversing
volume (Step 4):

To convert to barrels:
375 gal 42 gal/bbl = 8.93 bbl
2. As for the fluid needed for displacement,
you will need to calculate the capacities of
the appropriate parts of both the tubing and
casing. Since there is no way of knowing
when a well will squeeze (pressure will not
bleed off), you must have enough fluid to
displace all of the slurry to the lowest
perforation.

8.93 bbl + 28.95 bbl + 5.49 bbl + 28.95 bbl

= 72.32 bbl
NOTE: As a good practice, we recommend that
you have double the volumes needed to reverse.

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Figure 8.9 Tubing capacity data from Red Book.

Figure 8.10 Casing capacity data from Red Book.

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4 Displacement Volume to Spot

Cement One Barrel Above Packer

5 Pressure to Reverse when Cement

Spotted
After the cement is spotted one barrel above the
packer, the packer will be set to avoid
circulating any cement behind the packer. When
the packer is set and you attempt to begin
pumping fluid into the perforations, you may
experience problems establishing an injection
rate, in which case you would unset the packer
and reverse all the cement out of the tubing.
Therefore, you need to calculate how much
pressure is required to do this.

The pressure needed to reverse out this cement

in the tubing can be calculated by multiplying
the barrels of cement in the tubing, which in this
case is the total cement volume, by the
differential pressure per barrel of fluid (as
calculated in Calculation 2 , 67.00 psi/bbl):

Cement

Well Fluid

15.36 bbl 67.00 psi/bbl = 1029 psi

Figure 8.10 Displacement Volume.

To avoid damaging the formation that can be
caused by pumping all the well fluid ahead of
the cement into the perforations, the packer is
left unset while the cement is spotted one barrel
above it. This allows well fluid to circulate out
of the well.
To determine the volume of displacement to
pump behind the slurry to spot it one barrel from
the packer, you subtract the total cement volume
plus one barrel from the tubing capacity
(determined during Calculation 3 ):
Tubing Capacity

28.95 bbl

Cement Volume

- 15.36 bbl

Volume Above Packer

- 1.00 bbl

Displacement Volume

12.59 bbl

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Use your Red Book to find the capacity

factor (bbl/ft) of the 7 in., 20 lb/ft casing,
then multiply this value by the length of
casing between the packer and the top
perforation (5094 ft 5000 ft = 94 ft).

6 Pressure to Reverse Cement from

Workstring when Cement Reaches
the Top Perforation

94 ft 0.0404 bbl/ft = 3.80 bbl

2. Now, subtract this volume from the total
volume of cement to determine how much
slurry remains in the tubing:
15.36 bbl 3.80 bbl = 11.56 bbl

Well Fluid

3. The final step in this calculation is to

multiply the volume of cement remaining in
the tubing by the differential pressure per
barrel of fluid (as calculated in Calculation
2 , 67.00 psi/bbl):

Cement

11.56 bbl 67.00 psi/bbl = 775 psi

Figure 8.11 Pressure to reverse when

cement reaches the top perforation.
As with the previous question, problems with
injection rates may occur when cement reaches
the top perforation. In this case, we can only
reverse out the cement that is left inside the
tubing, and not the cement that has exited below
the packer and is now inside the casing.
The first calculation we need to make, therefore,
is the volume of cement remaining in the tubing.
1. To do this, you calculate the volume of
cement in the casing and subtract that
volume from the total volume of cement.
Determining the volume of cement in the
casing requires you to calculate the capacity
of the casing from the packer depth (5000 ft)
to the depth of the top perforation (5049 ft).

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(Step 2) by the differential pressure per

barrel of fluid (as calculated previously in
Step 3 of the calculation for pressure to
reverse out one barrel, 67.00 psi/bbl):

7 Pressure to Reverse Cement from

Workstring when Cement Reaches
Bottom Perforation

9.87 bbl 67.00 psi/bbl = 661 psi

Well Fluid

Note: The effects of friction have been

disregarded in all these calculations.

Figure 8.12 Pressure to reverse when

cement reaches bottom perforation.
Related to the calculation just completed, this
calculation will be based on the fact that cement
has made it to the bottom perforation, but no
cement has entered the perforations. Therefore,
we need to once again calculate the volume of
cement that remains in the tubing.
1. First, find the volume of cement that is in
the casing. This calculation has already been
performed in Calculation 3 (5.49 bbl).
2. Now subtract this volume from the total
volume of cement:
15.36 bbl 5.49 bbl = 9.87 bbl
3. The pressure needed to reverse out this
cement in the tubing can now be calculated
by multiplying the barrels in the tubing

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8 Pressure to Reverse Out at the

Completion of the Job

9 Amount of Cement Pumped

Through the Perforations
Using information obtained from previous
calculations, you can calculate the amount of
cement pumped through the perforation during
this squeeze job.

Well Fluid

1. The total volume of slurry (15.36 bbl) minus

the volume of slurry in the casing (5.49 bbl)
minus the volume of slurry now in the
tubing is the volume of cement in the
formation:
15.36 bbl 5.49 bbl 4.95 bbl = 4.92 bbl
2. Divide this by the yield of the cement, 1.15
cu.ft/sk, to obtain the amount of cement in
the formation:
27.62 ft3 1.15 ft3/sk = 24 sk

8
9

Results of Calculations
The following table presents the results of the
nine calculations for Squeeze Problem One:
Squeeze Cementing Calculation Results
Description
1 Volume of cement (bbl).

Figure 8.13 Pressure to reverse out at the

completion of the job.

2 Pressure to reverse one

barrel of slurry from workstring.

For the following calculations, you have to

assume that some arbitrary volume of
displacement fluid was pumped behind the
cement at the time squeeze pressure is reached.
The volume chosen here is 24 bbl.
1. Find out how much cement is in the tubing
now, given that 24 bbl of displacement fluid
were pumped behind it:
28.95 bbl 24 bbl = 4.95 bbl
2. Now multiply the amount of cement in the
tubing by the pressure required to reverse
one barrel out of the tubing (67.00 psi/bbl)
4.95 bbl 67.00 psi/bbl = 332 psi

8 16

Result
15.36 bbl
67.00 psi/bbl

3 Minimum water
requirements.

72.32 bbl

4 Displacement volume to
spot cement one barrel above
packer.

12.59 bbl

5 Pressure to reverse cement

when spotted.

1029 psi

6 Pressure to reverse cement

from workstring when cement
reaches top perforation.

775 psi

7 Pressure to reverse cement

from workstring when cement
reaches bottom perforation.

661 psi

8 Pressure to reverse out at

the completion of the job.

332 psi

9 Amount of cement pumped

though the perforations.

24 sk

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Squeeze Problem Two

In this job, you are to squeeze off a channel that
runs from perforations below a packer to a point
above the packer. Note that the first seven
questions you will answer are based on the same
calculations as in Squeeze Problem One, with
two additional calculations (8 and 11):
1 Volume of cement
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Pressure to reverse one barrel of slurry from

workstring
Minimum water requirements
Displacement volume to spot cement one
barrel above packer
Pressure to reverse cement when spotted
Pressure to reverse cement from workstring
when cement reaches top perforation
Pressure to reverse cement from workstring
when cement reaches bottom perforation
Maximum pump pressure when cement slurry
has reached the bottom perforation
Pressure to reverse out at the completion of
the job
Amount of cement pumped through the
perforations
Maximum pump pressure if the channel is full
of cement

Well Parameters
Packer Depth

2 7/8 in., 6.516 lb/ft EUE

Tubing
6200 ft

Top of Perfs

6240 ft

Drillpipe Size

Bottom of Perfs
Casing Size
Cement Type
Cement Additives
Cement Volume
Displacement/ Well
Fluid

2 7/8 in., 6.5 lb/ft

EUE Tubing

Packer at 6200 ft

Perf top at 6240 ft

Perf bottom at
6250 ft

7 in., 20 lb/ft J-55

Casing

Figure 8.14 Parameters for Squeeze

Problem B.

6250 ft
7 in., 20 lb/ft, J-55
Class H
0.4% Halad-413
150 sk
Fresh Water (8.33 lb/gal)

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1 Volume of Cement

Class H
Cement
0.4% Halad413

Water
Totals

Mixing
Water
Required
(gal)

94

0.0382 =

3.5908

0.376

0.0811 =

0.0305

0 +

4.3 gal
7.92

+
4.3 gal

35.819 =
130.20

8.33

4.3

Well Fluid

Factor
(gal/lb)

Material
(lb)

Material
Name

Absolute
Volume
(gal)

Total mixing water must be entered under absolute gallons

before totaling.
Find the weight of the mixed cement by using this formula:
Total Pounds/Total Absolute gallons = pounds/gallons
Find the cement yield in cubic feet per sack by using this
formula:
Total Absolute gallons / 7.4805 gal/cu.ft. (constant) = cu.ft./sack
The mixing water per sack is the sum of the gallons in the far
right column
Cement Density
(lb/gal)
Cement Yield
(ft3/sk)
Mixing Water
required

130.20 /

7.92 =

16.4

lb/gal

7.92 /

4.4805 =

1.06

ft3/sk

4.3

Gal/sk

Figure 8.15 Determining pressure to

reverse one barrel of slurry from workstring.

Based on the worksheet,

150 sk 1.06 cu ft/sk = 159 cu ft
159 cu. ft 0.1781 bbl/cu. ft = 28.32 bbl

3 Minimum Water Requirements

2 Pressure to Reverse One Barrel of

Slurry From Workstring

1. Cement Mix Water:

Hydrostatic pressure gradients (from

Calculations and Formulae section of Red
Book)
16.4 lb/gal cement
8.33 lb/gal water

150 sk 4.3 gal/sk = 645 gal

645 gal 42 gal/bbl = 15.36 bbl
2. Displacement Fluid:

0.8519 psi/ft
0.4330 psi/ft

Tubing: 6200 ft 0.00579 bbl/ft = 35.90 bbl

Casing: 6250 ft 6200 ft = 50 ft
50 ft 0.0404 bbl/ft = 2.20 bbl

Differential Hydrostatic Pressure Gradient =

3. Reversing Fluid: 35.90 bbl

0.8519 psi/ft 0.4330 psi/ft = 0.4189 psi/ft

Feet/Barrel Factor For Workstring = 172.76 lb/ft
0.4189 psi/ft 172.76 ft/bbl = 72.37 psi/bbl

Minimum water required:

15.36 bbl + 35.90 bbl + 2.02 bbl + 35.90 bbl
= 89.18 bbl
NOTE: Always plan to reverse with 2 times the
tubing capacity. Therefore in this problem plan
for an additional 35.9 bbls.

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4 Displacement Volume to Spot

Cement One Barrel Above Packer
Tubing Capacity
Cement Volume
Volume Above Packer
Displacement Volume

6 Pressure to Reverse Cement from

Workstring when Cement Reaches
Top Perforation

35.90 bbl
- 28.32 bbl
- 1.00 bbl
6.58 bbl

Capacity of casing from packer (6200 ft) top

perforation (6240 ft):
6240 ft 6200 ft = 40 ft
40 ft 0.0404 bbl/ft = 1.62 bbl

5 Pressure to Reverse Cement

When Spotted

28.32 bbl 1.62 bbl = 26.70 bbl remaining in

tubing
26.70 bbl 72.37 psi/bbl = 1932 psi

28.32 bbl 72.37 psi/bbl = 2050 psi

Well Fluid

Cement

Cement

Well Fluid

Figure 8.17 Pressure to reverse cement.

Figure 8.16 Calculations 4 and 5.

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(1903 psi) from the collapse resistance of

the casing being used. This value can be
found in the Dimensions and Strengths
section of the Red Book. Refer to the correct
table for the 7 in, 20 lb/ft, J-55 casing being
used (Fig 8.20). The collapse resistance is
2270 psi.

7 Pressure to Reverse Cement from

Workstring when Cement Reaches
Bottom Perforation
Capacity of casing from packer to bottom
perforation = 2.02 bbl (from Calculation 3 )

2270 psi 1903 psi = 367 psi

26.30 bbl 72.32 psi/bbl = 1903 psi

2. Since there is a differential pressure from

the packer to the perforation (no cement is in
the channel), you must also subtract this. To
calculate the differential, multiply the
distance from the packer to the lowest
perforation (6250 ft 6200 ft = 50 ft) by the
difference in the psi/ft for the cement and
well fluid (0.8519 psi/ft - 0.4330 psi/ft =
0.4189 psi/ft):

Well Fluid

28.32 bbl 2.02 bbl = 26.30 bbl

50 ft 0.4189 psi/ft = 21 psi

3. Now, subtract the differential pressure from
Step 1 to obtain the maximum pump
pressure:
7

368 psi 21 psi = 347 psi

Remember, this is the maximum pressure that
can be applied at the surface if the cement has
reached the perforations.

Figure 8.18 Pressure to reverse cement.

Well Fluid

8 Maximum Pump Pressure when

Cement Slurry Has Reached the
Bottom Perforation
It is necessary to determine the maximum
pressure that can be applied at the surface for
this squeeze job. The pressure applied at the
surface may be transmitted through the channel
to the outside of the casing above the packer. If
the pressure applied is high enough, it may
collapse the casing.
1. This calculation is done by first subtracting
the pressure to reverse out cement to lowest
perforation and no cement in the formation

Figure 8.19 Maximum pump pressure.

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Squeeze Cementing

Figure 8.20 Casing data from Red Book.

Subtract the pressure to reverse the remaining
cement slurry from the tubing from the collapse
resistance of the casing to find the maximum
pump pressure at surface:

9 Calculation of Pressure to
Reverse Out at the Completion of the
Job

2270 psi 789 psi = 14812 psi

Final Displacement Volume = 25 bbl

Cement Volume Remaining in Tubing:
35.90 bbl 25 bbl = 10.9 bbl

11

Reverse Pressure:
10.9 bbl 72.37 psi/bbl = 789 psi

Well Fluid

10 Amount of Cement Pumped

Through the Perforations
Volume of Cement in Perforations:
28.32 bbl 10.9 bbl 2.02 bbl = 15.4 bbl
15.4 bbl 5.6146 cu ft/bbl= 86.46 cu ft
86.46 cu ft 1.06 cu ft/sk = 82 sk

11 Maximum Pump Pressure if the

Channel is Full of Cement

10

Assuming that 25 bbl of displacement fluid have

been pumped behind the volume of slurry, and
that the channel is full of cement, you know
there is no differential pressure from the packer
to the perforations in this case. What is the
maximum pump pressure before the casing
collapses?

Figure 8.21 Calculations for 9, 10, and 11.

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Results of Calculations
The following table presents the results of the
nine calculations for Squeeze Problem Two:
Squeeze Cementing Calculation Results
Description
1 Volume of cement (bbl).
2 Pressure to reverse one
barrel of slurry from workstring.

Result
28.32 bbl

89.18 bbl

4 Displacement volume to
spot cement one barrel above
packer.

6.58 bbl

5 Pressure to reverse cement

when spotted.

2050 psi

6 Pressure to reverse cement

from workstring when cement
reaches top perforation.

1932 psi

1903 psi

8 Maximum pump pressure

when cement slurry has
reached the bottom perforation

347 psi

9 Pressure to reverse out at

the completion of the job

789 psi

10 Amount of cement
pumped through the
perforations

72.37 psi/bbl

3 Minimum water
requirements.

7 Pressure to reverse cement

from workstring when cement
reaches bottom perforation.

11 Maximum pump pressure

if the channel is full of cement

82 sk

1481 psi

Unit B Quiz
Fill in the blanks with one or more words to check your progress in Unit B.
1. The well parameters needed for squeeze calculations include:
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
2. To convert a given volume of cement from sacks to barrels, you must determine the
____________________________________________.
Now check your answers in the Answer Key at the back of this section.

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Answers to Unit Quizzes

Items from Unit A Quiz

Refer to
Page

1. correct, fill, oil/water

8-3

2. dehydrates

8-4

3. fracturing, pump-in, fluid

8-4

4. high

8-5

5. bleed-off, hesitation

8-5

6. maximum

8-5

7. fluid-loss

8-5

Items from Unit B Quiz

1. Drillpipe size

Refer to
Page
8-7

Packer depth
Top of perforations
Bottom of perforations
Casing size
2. yield of the slurry

8-9

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