Cementing in oil & gas wells 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Functions of cement Cement slurry chemistry & use of addictive Displacement mechanics & rheology consideration Primary cementing Liner cementing; techniques, problem, how to evaluate Special cementing Job evaluation

Function of cement Supporting the formation and protecting the casing from various kind of damages; fault shear, perforating deformation & joint loss while drilling Primary cementing used: o To support the axial load. Factor affecting axial load are cement strength cement strength Casing collar Oil based mud wetting Low water/cement ratio Mill varnish on the exterior of the casing Radial loads imposed on cement and casing by formation increased Cement contamination by mud friction between pipe-cement Roughness of exterioe casing surface ( rust or special resin-sand coatings) o o o o Raw cement characteristics: fineness of grind) Displacemnet mechanics & efficiency Pressure/temperature

Zonal isolation to support borehole Seal intended production/injection intervals from overlaying & underlying permeable sections Protect the casing from damage or failure Support borehole

Basic cement properties Soundness = measure of the expensive properties of a cement, fineness is the particle size to which a clinker is ground. Will affect: o setting time o early strength o water addition API cement classification o 9 classes Depth rating based on o Thickening time = time required to reach the approximate upper limit of pumpable consistency

o o

Minimum compressive strength development Specified after 8 hrs or 24 hours curing times for samples Depth rating extended if temp gradient is low and vice versa (gradient high, depth rating lower)

o Water content differs upon o Finess of grind o Cement class o Free water content is usually higher at increased temperature due to thinning. Free water can minimized by: Limiting the amount of mix water Add bentonite in small quantities Selecting & control quantity of other slurry o Yield cost calculation

Cement additives Thickening time- Accelerator: Calcium chloride, sodium silicate, sodium chloride, seawater, gypsum ammonium chloride Thickening time - Retarder: calcium lignosulfonate, organic blends, carboxy methyl hydroxyl ethyl cellulose, borax, sdium chloride, fluid loss agents Slurry density reducer: Bentonite, sodium meta-silicate, pozzolan etc. o Low density frequently desired to decrease likelihood of breaking down the formation & lost circulation o Less cost/ cuft as yield /sack increase o Density decrease o Strength decrease Bentonite o filler type cement o Reduces API fluid loss o Permeable and les sulphate resistance Friction reduction: alkyl aryl sulfonate,salt & organic acid o Tend to cause settling & excessive free water Fluid loss (filtrate) o Preventing gas leakage o In squeeze cement o Maintain pumpability in primary casing & liner casing Lost circulation o Drilling fluids & cement usually lost to either natural or induced formation fractures o Treatment is during drilling by add bridging material in higher concentration o Blocky granular material: walnuts, shell, gilstone o Fibrous material: nylon fibers Cement plug o Quick gelling o Low density (high yield)

o o o

Rapid set Fluid loss (filtrate) Cement plug drillout rate

Properties of set cement Function of P & T Strength retrogression (loss strength) o Affecting: Temp, pressure composition & time o Strength at downhole condition Strength increase & more or less comparable to rock at that condition o Expansion suggestion for mitigation is by eliminating microannulus at the cement/casing surface

Special cement Salt cement High temperature cement- calcium aluminate cement Permafrost cement: Gypsum-Portland cement

Flow, displacement principles 2 forces in fluid displacement & these determine the flow regime & pressure drop: o Differential pressure o Cement on mud (fluid on fluid) drag forces resisting drag forces influences by: o gel strength o viscosity o borehole-casing distance Newtonian (water) & non-newtonian (cement) How to improve mud displacement o Centering pipe in the borehole o Rotating vs. reciprocal casing movement & the effects o Pressure velocity surges o Pipe moving technique o Standoff rings o Scratcher o Mud condition