CemNET
Controls lost circulation to improve
cement returns
Cement can be lost into natural fractures, fissures,
vugs or highly porous zones. CemNET* fiber cement
acts to form a fibrous network across the loss zone,
allowing circulation to be regained.
Losses
Losses
Losses
Circulation
Advanced fiber cement
When cementing casing, some of the cement
can be lost into natural fractures, fissures,
vugs or highly porous zones even when the
fracture pressure is not exceeded. CemNET
advanced fiber cement is composed of an
inert, fibrous material capable of forming
a network across the loss zone, allowing
circulation to be regained. The CemNET
fibers are engineered to an optimal size for
sealing loss zones.
Effectively maintains cement returns
Compatible with most cementing systems
and additives, CemNET fiber is added during
the cementing process. Because the inert
material used in the CemNET additive does
not affect specified cement properties, it can
be added to the slurry at the mixing tub.
This feature allows the CemNET fibers to
be used only in the portion of the slurry
designated to be pumped downhole where
losses are expected to occur. Once dispersed
in the slurry, the CemNET fibers create a
physical network that, when placed across
loss zones, allows the cement to bridge-off
these zones, resulting in resumed circulation
of the cement during treatment.
Reduces disposal costs
CemNET fibers seal areas having potential
for losses during treatment, reducing both
the amount of cement used during treatment
and the cost for disposal during cleanup.
In operations where CemNET fibers are
not used, operators must pump excess
cement downhole in anticipation of losses
to fractures, fissures, vugs or highly porous
zones during treatment. By adding CemNET
fibers to the existing cementing program,
well costs associated with disposal of excess
cement and remedial cementing operations
to repair low cement tops can be eliminated.
Applications
■ To regain lost circulation while
cementing
● Under all temperature
conditions
● For all slurry densities
● In most cement slurry
formulations
Benefits
■ Eliminates losses during cement-
ing operations, reducing the
need for costly remedial squeeze
operations
■ Ensures that designed cement
tops are achieved
■ Helps prevent cement fallback
■ Reduces excess cement returns,
thus decreasing disposal costs
■ Provides immediate coverage of
loss zones during cementing
operations
Features
■ Forms bridging network
■ Can be added to the cement
slurry on the fly
■ Does not affect cement
properties
■ Compatible with most cementing
systems and additives
Case history of the wells in the field. Improved
CemNET advanced fiber cement provides returns allowed the operator to pump
substantial savings for shallow gas operator less excess cement, thereby reducing
in southeastern Alberta. the amount of cement for disposal.
The cost of the cementing operation
Drilling shallow gas wells in areas
was significantly reduced by decreas-
riddled with shallow coal seams
ing costs for cement disposal by an
has caused great difficulty for many
average of 46%. Additionally, the need
operators in southeastern Alberta.
for costly remedial cementing to repair
The aerial extent of the coal seams
low cement tops was eliminated.
is quite erratic, making it virtually
impossible to identify which wells
will encounter losses.
Because surface casing in this area
is typically set above groundwater, Before applying CemNET technology, over 90% of the wells in this field experienced losses ranging
requirements call for cement returns from 25% to 100%. Once CemNET technology was implemented into the cementing program, complete
to be brought back to the surface on returns were achieved on more than 75% of all wells.
all wells. Previously, operators have
chosen to pump large amounts of 80
excess cement and not drop the top 70
plug until cement returns were seen No CemNET fibers
at the surface. This technique was not 60
only unreliable but also resulted in CemNET fibers
50
large disposal costs for the excess
Wells 40
cement being returned to the surface.
(%)
For one operator, losses were 30
encountered on over 90% of the wells. 20
Schlumberger proposed CemNET tech-
10
nology as a solution to this problem.
By simply adding CemNET sealing 0
fibers to the existing cementing pro- 100 75 50 25 0
gram without any other changes, the Loss (%)
operator had full returns on over 75%

CemNET fibers are inert and require no The fibers can be readily dispersed in water- A network structure is formed allowing the
special handling. base fluids such as cement. cement to bridge-off and resume circulation.

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TSL-4265 ©Schlumberger
February 2002 *Mark of Schlumberger