1987 CEMENTING TECHNICAL PAPER SPE 20449 NEW RHEOLOGICAL CORRELATION FOR CEMENT SLURRIES AS A FUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE by K.M. Ravi and D.L. Sutton, Halliburton ServicesCorrected 10/17/90 SPE 20449 SPE ‘Society of Petroteum Engneors: New Rheological Correlation for Cement Slurries as a Function of Temperature K.M. Ravi and D.L. Sutton, Halliburton Services Cope 1860, Sci of Petroleum Engineer Ie. ‘This paer was prepares fo prsentaton athe 6h Anu Technical Cnterence end Exton a he Socay of Paleum Engen held Now Oran, LA, Soptomber 2-26, 60, ‘Ti pape was slots fe retotton Dyan SPE Program Commit flowing view natin cats i an sb iio byte aun) Coats he pp ‘resents have no nor Torewed by te Scey of Pavoum Engines and ar uate corechon oye ashore) Tre mall as preset, Seo ogee ae Seysrton lie cyt Pvc Cea te crs Pie ered SPE rang ae ae etn ray Earl Cart Say {ierdn Ener Pomazeno copy trend ome octar ne mereen 90 wor setons aj noe Opes The sore! sno ota congpcoas SramTe ‘tenors snd by wom te papers prsered rte Paesbons Managur, SPE P.O ox C0096, Mhardaon, Te TES 3608, Tae. T5008 SPEOAT A ABSTRACT This paper presents results of a study conducted to determine the effects of elevated temperatures and pressures on cement slurry rheological properties. New correlations developed from this study provide a more accurate means for predicting friction pressures which might be encountered in actual cementing operations. Currently, there are no correlations available in the literature or being used in the industry which consider the effects of temperature and pressure on cement slurry theology. ‘The new correlation expands on the modified Bingham Plastic ‘model introduced by Shah and Sutton.’ The critical fluid properties required for the pressure drop correlation, plastic viscosity and yield point, are shown to be influenced significantly by temperature. As a prerequisite to measuring cement slurry rheology accurately under temperature and pressure conditions, a new viscometer was designed and constructed. The new viscometer operates using the same principles as a conventional rotational viscometer, but slurry can be circulated and conditioned as it is heated and pressurized. ‘The study shows that when compared to temperature effects, pressure effects on rheological properties of cement slurries can be neglected. However more work needs to be done to confirm pressure effects. The temperature effects have been correlated and are presented in this paper. INTRODUCTION ‘The current testing procedure for rheology, according to API Specification 10 (1988)? limits the maximum temperature at which rheological properties of oil well cements are determined to 180°F. This is inadequate for deeper, hotter wells in which the temperature may well exceed 180°F. In general, the rheological properties, PV and YP, of cement slurries decrease with an increase in the temperature. However beyond a certain temperature, not necessarily 180°F, the PV and YP may reach a constant value. These properties determine the friction pressures that control the rate at which the cement slurry may References and figures at end of paper. be pumped. ‘The main objective of a cement job is to displace wellbore fluid and obtain a good bond to casing and formation. Displacement efficiency increases with an increase in the rate fat which the slurry is pumped, however there is a risk of fracturing the formations at higher flow rates. Hence the slurry must always be pumped at flow rates that will attain an ‘effective circulating density (ECD) that will not fracture the formations. As the slurry is pumped down the casing and up the annulus a pressure loss from friction is experienced, This pressure drop must be overcome by the pumping unit on the surface. If rheological properties are overestimated, frictional pressures and hence circulating pressures calculated will be overestimated at a specified flow rate. Based on these calculations, the design flow rate will be underestimated. Whereas if PV and YP were known as a function of temperature, then the cement slurry could have been pumped at a higher flow rate and the displacement efficiency could have been improved without causing any formation breakdown. (On the other extreme if the theological properties are underestimated at elevated temperatures, then the design flow ate will be overestimated. Hence ‘any correlation, on! extrapolation to elevated temperatures, must guard against underestimation of the rheological properties. BACKGROUND Experimental data available in literature on high temperature and high pressure rheology of oil well cement slurries is limited to Kellingray et al,’ who modified a pressurized consistometer| to obtain rheological information. The maximum temperature and pressure at which they report data are 246°F and_ 11,900] psi. From their study it was concluded that compared to the| effect of temperature on rheology, the effect of pressure can be neglected. They also concluded that displacement rate can be increased by using the information on high temperature theology. Kellingray et al presented only limited data and gave no]2 NEW RHEOLOGICAL CORRELATION FOR CEMENT SLURRTES AS A FUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE SPE 20849 to circulate and condition the slurry as it was heated and pressurized in their modified consistometer. This could pose settling problems when rheology of thin slurries is studied. ‘A new correlation for rheological properties of cement slurries was presented by Shah et al, who concluded that fric- tion pressures of cement slurries are better described by a modified form of the theoretical Bingham plastic friction pres- sure equations. The theological properties PV and YP are important parameters in the equations developed by Shah et al.' Current work addresses the effect of temperature and pressure on PV and YP. PURPOSE ‘The purposes of this work are liste. 1. Construct a high-pressure, high-temperature rheometer in which slurry can be circulated and conditioned as it is pressurized and heated. 2. Collect rheological data for cement slurries at high temperature and high pressure. 3, Determine whether the data can be correlated. 4. Develop correlations, and while extrapolating to elevated temperatures, guard against underestimating the rheological properties. 5. Develop a simple procedure to use the correlations in the field. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS Assembly ‘A high-pressure, high-temperature rheometer in which the slurry can be circulated and conditioned as it is heated and pressurized was constructed for this work. The principles of the conventional rotational viscometer were used in construction. ‘A. schematic of the bob and sleeve assembly of the high- pressure, high-temperature rheometer is given in Figure 1. The assembly consists of two vertical coaxial cylinders, the ‘outer one of which is rotating with an angular velocity N. ‘The inner cylinder or bob is 2 in. x 4 in. and the outer cylinder ot sleeve is 2.125 in, x 42 in. An impeller that runs independent of the sleeve is also included. This keeps the slurry conditioned and circulating on demand, and stirring can be discontinued while taking dial readings or whenever necessary. ‘The slurry is pressurized by oil and heated by an electrical unit. Torque is sensed by a radial transducer, and the dial reading and the sleeve RPM are displayed digitally. The sleeve ‘can be rotated at any speed (a multiple of 1) in the range of 1 to 800 RPM. Calibration ‘The instrument is calibrated in a manner similar to that used to calibrate a Fann 35 viscometer; different weights are applied from the bob. From the geometry of the bob and the weight applied, the force on the bob is calculated. Results from this instrument were compared with a Fann 35 viscometer using a calibration oil. Results shown in Table 1 indicate a good agreement between the data from the high- pressure, high-temperature rheometer built for this work, and a Fann 35 viscometer. Procedure Slurries were tested using the following procedure. 1. Mix the exact amount of slurry needed for the test using API Specification 10 (1988)? 2. Condition the slurry in the rheometer. 3. Determine rheological properties at 70°F (room temperature, unpressurized) using a Fann 35 viscometer at 300, 200, and 100 RPM, and the rheometer at 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, and 60 RPM. Wait 10 seconds between readings to reach steady state and turn off the impeller in the rheometer when taking dial readings. 4. Pressurize the slurry to 200 psi and take readings at 70°F (room temperature), 120°F, 160°F, 180°F, 220°F, 260°F, 300°F, and 330°F (due to the sensitivity of the torque transducer, on some tests the temperature was limited to 260°F). Heat the slurry at 4°F /min and engage stirring impeller during this ts to condition the slurry. For tests under elevated pressures, pressurize the slurry accordingly after reaching the temperature. 5. Stir an additional 20 mimutes at the test temperatures to study the effect of stirring on rheology measurements. Take readings at 10 minute and 20 minute intervals. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION slurries Tested ‘The slurries tested contained the following components. = oil well cement = cement retarder = fluid loss additive - fine sil ~ hem: = water - cement dispersant ‘The composition of the different slurries tested are given in Table 2. (weighting agent) Comparison With Fann Data Bingham plastic model rheological parameters PV and YP were calculated from rheometer and Fann 35 data at room temperature. Results shown in Figure 2 indicate that there is ‘a good agreement between PV calculated from the rheometer and Fann 35 data. A comparison between YP calculated from rheometer and Fann 35 data is shown in Figure 3. Considering that YP has the units of Ibf/100 sq ft, the agreement in the YP | values from the two units are satisfactory. PY vs. Temperature Data A plot of PV vs. temperature data is shown in Figures 4 to 6. From these figures the following observations can be made. 1. PV decreases with an increase in temperature. 2. This decrease does not take place indefinitely and PV reaches (or approaches) constant value beyond a certain’ temperature which we refer to as equilibrium temperature of| the slurry for PV calculations. 3. The equilibrium temperature is different for each slurry. 4, PV vs. temperature data can be correlated by an| equation of the form shown below. P¥aa + be + ext? oSPE 20489 KRISHNA M. RAVI AND DAVID L. SUTTON where a, b, and ¢ are constants to be determined, T is the temperature in °F, and PV is the plastic viscosity in ep. PV vs, Temperature Correlations The PV vs. temperature data for all the slurries are correlated by an equation of the form shown in Eq. 1,, and Constants a, ’, and c are calculated. ‘After analyzing Constants a, b, and ¢, for convenience, ‘Constant ¢ in Eq. 1 was set equal to 0.00325 for all slurries. Equation 1 is then rewritten as PY ~ 0.00325 xT? =a + bxT Constants a and b were then recalculated for Eq. 2. The regression coefficient was greater than 0.99 for all the slurries (except Slurry 9). Constants a and b, in Equation 2, for all slurries are given in Table 3. From Eqs. 1 and 2, the equilibrium temperature T, beyond which the PV value does not decrease is given by T, (orP¥) = ~b/(2xc) » {0.00680 ® YP vs. Temperature Data A plot of YP vs. temperature data is shown in Figures 7 to 9. From these plots the following observations can be made. 1. YP decreases with an increase in temperature. 2. Though it is not clearly evident as in the ease of PV, YP also has a tendency to attain a constant value beyond a certain temperature. 3, This constant temperature need not be the same as the ‘one at which PV reaches a constant value, and this we refer to a equilibrium temperature of slurry for YP calculations. 4, The YP vs. temperature data can be correlated by a quadratic equation of the form shown below. Yeas bxT+ ext o where a, b and ¢ are constants to be determined, T is the temperature in °F, and YP is the yield point in Ibf/100 sq ft. YP vs. Temperature Correlations ‘The YP vs. temperature data for all the slurries are correlated by an equation of the form shown in Eq. 4, and Constants a, b, and ¢ are calculated. After analyzing Constants a, b, and c for convenience, Constant ¢ in Eq. 4 was set equal to 0.002 for all slurries. Equation 4 is then rewritten as YP - 0002xI* = a+ bxT © ‘The regression coefficient was greater than 0.985 for all the slurries. Constants a and b, in Eq. 5, for all the slurries are ‘given in Table 4, From Eqs. 4 and 5, the equilibrium temperature T, beyond which the YP value does not decrease is given by T, Gort = -b/ xe) = -b/0004 © For the slurries tested, by following Step 5 in the experimental procedure, there was no effect of stirring on theology measurements. Rheology vs. Pressure Rheology was tested up to 5,000 psi on Slurry 10. Figure 10 shows that pressure does not have as much effect as temperature on rheology. This is observed from Kellingray’s, ‘work also. This is based on limited data from which a general conclusion can not be made and more work needs to be done in this area. Recommendations for Field Use This work shows that rheological properties PV and YP can be ‘expressed as a quadratic function of temperature. To be able 10 use these correlations in the field, the Constants a and b in Eqs. 2 and 5 must be known. This can be done by conducting theological tests in the laboratory at either three different temperatures or at one temperature. Both procedures are briefly described. Lab Tests at Three Temperatures 1. Using Fann 35 viscometer conduct rheology tests at 80°F, 130°F, and 180°F. 2. Calculate PV and YP from the data obtained at the three temperatures. 3. Calculate a and b in Eq, 2 for PV and Eq. 5 for YP. A correlation for PV and YP for the slurry as a function of temperature is now complete. 4, Calculate the equilibriuin temperatures T, for PV and YP from Eqs. 3 and 6. 5. Calculate PV and YP from the correlation obtained in Step 3 at the desired temperature T if T < T,, at temperature T.ifT > T, Lab Test at One Temperature A procedure is described here to determine the Constants a ‘and b in Eqs. 2 and 5, for PV and YP, from rheological data at ‘one temperature. A plot of Constant a vs. PV at 80°F is shown in Figure 11, This shows that for the slurries studied, Constant a varies linearly as a function of PV at 80°F. Constanta is correlated as follows. @ YorPY) = 65.0729 +13054 x PYO BOF A plot of Constant b vs PV at 80°F is shown in Figure 12, For the slurries studied, Constant b is correlated as follows. 2 (orPY) = -1.0734 ~ 0.00381 «PV @ 80°F ® “sr4 NEW RHEOLOGICAL CORRELATION FOR CEMENT SLURRTES AS A FUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE SPE 20449, ‘The correlation between Constant b and PV at 80°F is not as good as between Constant a and PV at 80°F, however this gives a simple procedure to calculate b. Equation 2 can then be used to calculate PV. ‘A plot of Constants a and b for YP vs YP at 80°F is shown in Figures 13 and 14, ‘The correlations for a, b are given by 4 (ord) » 36.651 + 14047 x YP ORF 2 b Yor¥®) » -061813 - 0.00505 x YP @ 80°F Ina strict sense, Eqs. 7 to 10 are valid only for the slurries that were studied in this work. ‘The main advantage of these ‘correlations is that they depend only on the rheological data at 80°F. As with any correlation that is based on a single parameter, Eqs. 7 t0 10 must be used with caution, ‘The procedure using rheological data at three temperatures is recommended for slurries that do not fall in the categories shown in Table 2. Advantages of Equilibrium Temperature Equations 2 and $ correlate PV and YP with temperature through Constants a and b. Equilibrium temperature T, is given by Eqs. 3 and 6. PV and YP are calculated at the desired temperature T if T < T., and at the equilibrium temperature T, if T > T,. This guards against underestimating PV and YP when Eqs. 2 and 5 are extrapolated to elevated temperatures. CONCLUSIONS 1. A high-temperature, high-pressure rheometer in which the slurry can be circulated and conditioned while heating and pressurizing has been successfully constructed and tested. 2. Correlations have been developed between rheological properties, PV and YP, and temperature. 3. When extrapolating to higher temperatures, these correlations will guard against underestimating rheological properties. 4. The effect of pressure on rheology was found to be less significant than that of temperature; further testing is needed in this are 5. Simple procedures have been developed to apply these correlations for field use. NOMENCLATURE a,b,c constants N "rotational speed of sleeve, RPM PV plastic viscosity, ep T_ temperature of slurry, °F YP —_yield point, 1bf/100 sq ft SUBSCRIPTS © equilibrium ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ‘The authors wish to express their appreciation to all technical personnel involved in gathering laboratory data. We wish to thank the management of Halliburton Services for permission to publish this work. REFERENCES ; 1. Shab, SN. and D.L. Sutton: "New Friction Correlations for ‘Cements from’Pipe and Rotational Viscometer Data," paper SPE 19539 presented at the 1989 Annual Fall Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Oct. 8-11. 2. APL Specification 10, "Specification for Materials and ‘Testing for Well Cements," Fourth Edition, (August 1988). 3. Kellingray, D.S, C. Greaves, and RP, Dallimer: "High ‘Temperature and High Pressure Rheology of Oil Well Cement Slurries." a paper presented at the 1990 British Society of| Rheology International Conference on Rheology of Fresh Cement and Concrete, Liverpool, March 26-29.“A Goipran of Veconly of Cabrini tom Fara 3 nd Rome nee ‘Siomber il "gh Temp | Polmate | Course Enon | Fdtoe | ‘Sex| _conant sary | waa |_ tr Fer_| otpesoet | wanstie Figure 1: Schematic of Bob ond Sleeve of Conse sand I [-_ Connaoted to Electronic Aasembiy Ly — sieove B00 it3 pe Broo 5 E é $ 8 ¥ 200. g § « é £ ze & > 20. ° o: SOOT 0 Ca a PV from Fann 35 YP from Fann 35. Fe 2 Ne ane Reaomete Fase 3. A cores ana Reema se 0 gee? a 3 SEEN fe +00: fe aks try 28 3 H gx EG 8 : a 7 eee, Peo 2 3 8200 $0 $ a B00 8 00: 8 @ a of °: SS TT RSS Bo a Temperature, °F Temperature, °F Face 4 Vjation of Pllc Yaganty tn Temp rt 8, Vttion of nie Yacosy wih Tene ae 4 Warclre Far‘OPteren Sinaert Paw Wer eD far Slaven Sse seo 280 = a a 200 3 2 8 $ > 8, > 3” gi = : / & 8: 2 we Ee SB Feo WTS SS eB So Temperature, °F Temperature, °F Figa 6. Vrain of flac Macon iy Tor Fame 7 Vstion ef Yi Pit ity Tono= rae Seat sick Bie star100. 0 20 Yield point, Ibf/100 sq ft WT TE BSE Bo Temperature, °F Figure 8. vovaton of Yt it ih Teme 250 SS 2p SEE BB SE 38 fe om TIE 330 os & Brso. § S100 8 50 a ° Ea ae ae le a) Temperature, F Fre 1. Pet of Pest i on 0 function Lino tare Se Biren’ Basten es : sas fom Bb dete Siw wre S180 8 13-200 S220 2 -20 § 2-280 5 8 ear A UR A PV for the slurry ot 80°F Poste Fgze 12. Plot of Content & in Ea, 2 ‘Veceeiy of one Sry St Yield point, Ibf/100 sq ft pation, (2) : q Constant a in E BS WTS eS Bo Temperature, °F Fae 9, Voraten of Yi rave 9 ature fer 8 307 WS SEBS BSE 38S SS PV of the slurry ot 80°F Figure 11. Pet of Constont ¢ in f6, 2 ve. Poste i ‘Vacoxly of ne Slurry ot BOF a g Constant a in Equation (5) 8 Be SS Teo YP of the slurry at 80°F fom ea Sem hag-0.40 -0.60 quation (5) -1.00 -1.20 Constant b in -1.60 -1.40 4 from lab dato best fit oa ao BO BO 00, YP of the slurry at 80°F Figure 14. Plot of Constant b in Eq. 5 vs. Yield Point of the Slurry at 80°F 120HALLIBURTON SERVICES A Ralipurion Company c-1367 Litho US.A. 1024,