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Remedial cementing is undertaken to correct issues with the primary cement job of a well. Remedial
cementing requires as much technical, engineering, and operational experience, as primary cementing but is
often done when wellbore conditions are unknown or out of control, and when wasted rig time and
escalating costs have the potential to force poor decisions and high risk. Good planning and risk assessment
is the key to successful remedial cementing.
1 SQUEEZE CEMENTING
Squeeze cementing is a “correction” process that is usually only necessary to correct a problem in the
wellbore. Before using a squeeze application, a series of decisions must be made to determine
1. If a problem exists
2. The magnitude of the problem
3. If squeeze cementing will correct it
4. The risk factors present
5. If economics will support it.
Most squeeze applications are unnecessary because they result from poor primary-cement-job evaluations
or job diagnostics.
Squeeze cementing is a dehydration process. A cement slurry is prepared and pumped down a wellbore to
the problem area or squeeze target. The area is isolated, and pressure is applied from the surface to
effectively force the slurry into all voids. The slurry is designed specifically to fill the type of void in the
wellbore, whether it is a small crack or micro-annuli, casing split or large vug, formation rock or another kind
of cavity. Thus, the slurry design and rate of dehydration or fluid loss designed into the slurry is critical, and a
poor design may not provide a complete fill and seal of the voids.
As running-squeeze pressure builds, the pump rate should be reduced, creating a walking squeeze. Running
squeezes may be applied whenever the wellbore can be circulated at a reasonable pump rate
(approximately 2 bbl. /min). When applied correctly, most running squeezes are low-pressure applications;
however, they often turn into high-pressure applications because of:
During a hesitation squeeze, the pumping sequence is started and stopped repeatedly, while the pressure is
closely monitored on the surface. Cement is deposited in waves into the squeeze interval, and the slurry is
designed to increase resistance (gel-strength development and fluid-leakoff rate) until the final squeeze
pressure is reached. Operators must thoroughly design and test the cement slurry to understand how its
properties will change with frequent shutdowns and to safely approximate the shutdown period between
pumping cycles. The slurry volume should be clear of all downhole tools before the hesitation cycles begin.
For many otherwise large and expensive conventional squeeze applications, a hesitation squeeze can be a
safer, less expensive, and effective technique.
“Block” squeezing is the process of squeezing off permeable sections above and below a production zone,
which requires isolation of the zone with a packer and retainer, using high pressure to force cement slurry
(fracture) into the zone. Cement slurry will not invade a formation unless it is fractured away, creating a
large crack to accommodate the entire slurry. Otherwise, dehydration occurs and only the filtrate enters the
zone. High pressure is usually required to force all wellbore fluids into the formations ahead of the cement
slurry. This technique is often referred to as “bullheading.”
Cement volumes
Squeeze pressures
Squeeze targets
Whether during drilling or completion, a Bradenhead is performed by circulating cement slurry down to the
squeeze interval, then pulling the workstring above the top of the cement column. The backside of the
wellbore is closed in, and pressure is applied through the workstring to force cement into the squeeze
interval. A hesitation squeeze is sometimes used to more effectively pack off the cement into all voids.
Most coiled-tubing (CT) squeeze applications are performed using this technique.
2 PLUG CEMENTING
In oil-gas-well construction, a plug must prevent fluid flow in a wellbore, either between formations or
between a formation and the surface. As such, a competent plug must provide a hydraulic and mechanical
seal.
Displacement efficiency
Slurry stability
Fluid compatibilities
2.2.1 Abandonment
To seal off selected intervals of a dry hole or a depleted well, operators can place a cement plug at the
required depth to help prevent zonal communication and migration of any fluids that might infiltrate
underground freshwater sources.
Drilling-induced fractures
Chemically induced formation instability
Natural fractures
Vugs
High permeability
In a well with two or more producing intervals, abandoning a depleted or unprofitable producing zone may
be beneficial. A permanent cement plug is used to isolate the zone, helping to prevent possible production
Barite
Sand
Polymers