Deviated Wellbore Cementing:

Part 2-Solutions
R.J. Crook. SPE, Halliburton Services
S.R. Kener. SPE, Exxon Production Research Co.
M.A. Wilson. Halliburton Services Center

Summary. Field experience suggests and full-scale laboratory test results confirm that mud displacement in
high-angle wellbores can be complicated by a channel of hard-to-displace mud forming on the low side of the
wellbore. This channel is caused by solids settling while the drilling fluid is circulating. Experimental test
results obtained with full-scale, permeable and impermeable deviated wellbores indicate that this channel of
solids can be prevented with proper rheological control of the drilling fluid. Results reported also demonstrate
the effect of casing centralizers, pipe movement, and preflushes on ~he removal of this low-side channel of
solids. Based on the laboratory results, displacement guidelines to improve deviated-wellbore cementing by
eliminating the low-side solids-settling channel are presented.

Introduction
As part of a continuing investigation of factors affecting
drilling-fluid displacement during primary cementing, a
study has been carried out to identify factors to improve
deviated-wellbore cementing. A previous study identified
several potential problems associated with cementing high-
angle wells, including the occurrence of mud channels on
the low side of the annulus and water channels on the high
side of the annulus. 1 The most serious potential problem
affecting deviated-well cementing appeared to be the depo-
sition of solids caused by settling of weighting agents or
drilled cuttings from the drilling mud. The test data from
the previous study suggested that the rheology of the mud,
specifically the yield point, determined whether solids
would settle. Settling from the drilling mud creates a con-
tinuous uncemented channel along the low side of the
wellbore.
Occurrences of continuous mud channels in the annu-
lus can prevent mud displacement and defeat the purpose
of cementing-i.e., to surround the casing with a complete
sheath of cement that prevents fluid flow in the annulus.
Failure to surround and to protect the casing through in-
complete mud displacement from the downhole environ-
ment can lead to such problems as annular migration of
well fluids, casing corrosion or collapse, loss of well con-
trol, and high remedial cementing costs. 2
Previous studies in vertical wellbores have found that
the highest mud-displacement efficiency could be attained
by lowering the yield point of the mud and maximizing
pumping rates. 3-5 The initial study of deviated-well
cementing 1 suggested, however, that high-yield-point
muds were required to prevent solids settling and that low-
yield-point muds deposited solids to such an extent that
complete mud displacement could not be achieved.
The purposes of this study were to investigate further
(1) the relationship of drilling-mud yield point and the
deposition of drilling mud solids and (2) methods known
Copyright 1987 Society of Petroleum Engineers
Journal of Petroleum Technology. August 1987
to improve drilling-mud-displacement efficiency in ver-
tical wellbores and to examine their effectiveness for
deviated-well conditions.
Factors known to influence displacement in vertical
well bores have previously been identified and studied in
a simulated vertical well bore on a large-scale testing ap-
paratus. 5 These factors were examined on a large-scale
deviated-wellbore model at various deviatipn angles. Fac-
tors studied included use of pre flushes , pipe centralizers,
and pipe movement. Findings reported here suggest
methods of preventing the formation of mud channels by
solids settling from drilling mud, and if mud channeling
does occur, methods of displacing the channel of settled
mud solids from the low side of the wellbore.
Experimental Apparatus and Procedure
The apparatus used in conducting this research was de-
signed and operated to simulate as closely as possible the
actual conditions experienced during the cementing of an
oil well. Fig. I shows the wellhead assembly used to cir-
culate the various fluids under deviated conditions.
A schematic of the simulated well is shown in Fig. 2.
Each test section consists of manmade, permeable, con-
solidated sands enclosed in a perforated pipe 15 ft [4.6
m] long with a 6V2-in. [16.5-cm] ID. During this investi-
gation, two downhole conditions were simulated: (I)
permeable formation, thus allowing for filter-cake build-
up, and (2) completely impermeable formation. For the
impermeable tests, a 6V2-in. [16.5-cm] -ID steel casing
was used as the test section. A 5-in. [12.7-cm] -OD casing
was installed inside the test section. The casing was cen-
tralized at the top and bottom of the test section.
The test section was lowered into the filtrate jacket and
allowed to become saturated with water. Fluid loss to the
permeable formation was monitored through an outlet
fixed on the filtrate jacket.
The filtrate jacket was enclosed in a hot-water heating
jacket. The temperature for the circulating period was held
at 180°F [82°C], and for the mud static and cement curing
961
 Reciprocation/Rotation
Apparatus
Returns
Fig. 1-Schematlc of reciprocation/rotation and wellhead
assembly.
Returns
f the permeable. formation. Temperature of the heating
Borehole
Cement
'----
1-----------_____________
.
Mud
Casing
221t~
Fig. 2-Schematic of simulated well and heating jacket.
periods, 200°F [93°C]. These temperatures were chosen
to simulate as realistically as possible the conditions en-
countered in many well cementing operations.
Drilling muds used were water-based, laboratory-
prepared muds with a density of about 12 Ibm/gal [1438
kg/m3]. All properties of the drilling mud (fluid loss,
density, and rheology) were measured for each test at
nOF [22°C].
Cement slurries used were designed to have a density
of about 16.8 Ibm/gal [2013 kg/m3]. During the displace-
ment tests, the cement slurry was mixed with a
recirculating-type mixer and was held in a batch holding
tank before it was pumped downhole. During this holding
period, the rheology of the slurry was measured at tem-
perature with a Fann Model 35™ viscometer. The slurry
yield point typically ranged from 20 to 60 IbfllOO ft2 [9.6
to 2.9 Pal. Haut and Crook 5 determined previously that
cement rheology does not play a significant role in the
displacement process. Displacement pumping rates were
standardized at 4 bbl/min [0.01 m 3Is] to eliminate the
variable of different pumping rates. This corresponded
to a mean annular velocity of about 4 ft/sec [1.2 m/s].
At this velocity, the cement slurry was in laminar flow, .
which is believed to simulate field conditions in which
the majority of cement jobs are pumped.
In a typical well, the mud is circulated during drilling,
circulation is stopped while the well is logged and casing
is run, then mud is circulated again just before cementing.
The tests were designed to simulate these flow and static
periods.
The displacement test was begun by circulating the drill-
ing fluid at 3 bbl/min [0.008 m3/s] for 1 hour at 180°F
962
j
Filtrate
Fig. 3-Definition of casing standoff and displacement ef-
ficiency.
[82°C] and recording the amount of filtrate loss through
water was then raised to 200°F [93°C] and the mud was
left static for 24 hours. A differential pressure of 100 psi
[689 kPa] was maintained to allow for filtrate loss and
thus the buildup of filter cake along the permeable for-
mation. The amount of filtrate was also recorded for this
period.
After the mud static period, the mud was once again
circulated at 3 bbl/min [0.008 m3/s] for 1 hour at 180°F
[82°C], and the filtrate loss for this period was also
recorded.
The drilling mud was then displaced with a predeter-
mined volume of spacer and cement slurry pumped at 4
bbl/min [0.01 m 3/ s] at the circulating temperature of
180°F [82°C]. Filtrate loss was also measured during this
displacement period. The volume of cement ranged from
10 to 30 bbl [1.6 to 4.8 m 3].
After the cement had been pumped into place, the tem-
perature was raised to 200 ° F [93 °C], and the cement was
cured for 24 hours. The test sample was then cooled and
disassembled. The sample was cut into wafers, thus al-
lowing the average casing standoff and average mud-
displacement efficiency (equal to cemented annular area
divided by total annular area) as defined in Fig. 3 to be
measured. Because the casing was centered at the top and
the bottom, the average casing standoff was close to one
for all tests. The displacement efficiency was determined
for both the top half and bottom half of the annular area.
Variation of the Mud Yield Point
A series of mud-yield-point tests was conducted to deter-
mine the effect that the rheology of the drilling mud had
on the displacement efficiency achievable in an imperme-
able annulus when mud was displaced with only cement.
Results of this testing are arranged in Table 1 according
to increasing mud yield points at 85 and 60° [1.5- and
I-rad] deviation from vertical.
Ten of these tests were conducted at an 85° [1.5-rad]
deviation. In the first seven tests, a continuous solids chan-
nel occurred along the bottom side of the annulus. How-
ever, when the mud yield point was high enough, the
channel no longer appeared. This occurred in Tests 8
through 10 where the yield point was ~28 Ibf/lOO ft2
at nOF [~I3.4 Pa at 22°C].
The same trend can be seen in the five tests conducted
at a 60° [I-rad] deviation from vertical. In Test 11, a con-
Journal of Petroleum Technology, August 1987
 TABLE 1-VARIATION OF MUD YIELD POINT UNDER DEVIATED CONDITIONS

16.8-lbm/gal Cement Drilling Fluid Displacement

Deviation at 180 o F* at 72°F* * Efficiency
Angle Volume /PV Yield Point PV Yield Point (%)
Test (degrees) ~ (cp) (lbf/100 ft2) (cp) (lbf/100 ft2) Overall Top Half Bottom Half
-- ---
1 85 10 21 29 34 4 65 99 23
2 85 10 20 30 31 6 51 92 14
3 85 10 15 29 31 9 80 93 50
4 85 20 32 22 63 17 92 100 79
5 85 20 25 27 63 23 86 100 58
6 85 10 19 31 65 23 80 99 59
7 85 10 14 29 72 25 84 99 67
8 85 20 35 33 85 28 99 97 99
9 85 20 27 34 104 36 100 100 100
10 85 10 20 28 78 47 99 99 99
11 60 20 25 31 73 15 83 94 70
12 60 20 63 37 47 17 95 100 90
13 60 20 18 37 61 20 100 100 99
14 60 20 55 42 48 24 99 100 97
15 60 20 22 30 62 29 100 100 100
'Displacement rate = 4 bbl/min.
"12·lbm/gal water·based mud.

tinuous bottom-side channel occurred. Again, however,
as the yield point increased sufficiently (Tests 13 through
15), this channel no longer appeared. The minimum yield-
point value to prevent this channel at 60° [1-rad] deviation
was about 20 Ibf/lOO ft2 at nOF [9.6 Pa at 22°C].
Results of these tests have led to two major conclusions:
(l) there appears to be a threshold value of the mud yield
point below which a continuous solids channel will occur;
and (2) the yield-point value required to prevent this chan-
nel from forming decreases with a decrease in deviation
angle.
Effect of Preflushes
A series of preflush-fluid tests was performed to determine
the effect that preflushes, either thin or viscous, have on
the displacement efficiency of the drilling fluid in a well-
bore deviated 80° [1.4 rad] from vertical. preflush volume
was also investigated with this testing. Tests were per-
formed under both impermeable and permeable con-
ditions.
The first area of investigation involved determining
whether the preflushes would remove the solids channel
caused by a mud designed so that settling would occur
during periods of circulation. These tests were performed
under impermeable conditions. Tests 16,23, and 24 used
no preflush; Tests 17 through 19 used water; Tests 20
and 21 used a viscous chemical preflush (A); and Test
22 used a nonviscous chemical preflush (B). Tests 16,23,
and 24 were run as control tests because of a slight varia-
tion in the mud formulation used for the preflush series.
These tests confirmed the occurrence of the low-side mud
channel for low mud yield point that was observed in the
yield-point series. Results obtained for the tests using a
preflush, listed in Table 2, indicate that neither the thick
preflush (A) nor the thin preflushes (water and B) were
able to remove the solids channel completely. However,
the results of Test 19 suggest that when a settling mud
is used, pumping large amounts of thin preflushes will
increase the percentage of mud removed.
The second area of investigation involved determining
whether preflushes would improve the displacement ef-
ficiency of a nonsettling drilling mud under permeable
conditions. Five tests were performed: Test 25 used no
preflush; Tests 26 and 27 used water; and Tests 28 and

TABLE 2-EFFECT OF PREFLUSHES ON DISPLACEMENT OF A SETTLING MUD UNDER 80° DEVIATED CONDITIONS

16.8-lbm/gal Cement* Drilling Fluid Displacement

at 180°F Preflush* at 72°F** Efficiency t
Volume PV Yield Point Volume PV Yield Point (%)
Test ~ (cp) (lbf/100 ft 2) Type ~ (cp) (lbf/100 ft 2) Overall Top Half Bottom Half
- - 4
16 20 32 29 30 88 95 80
17 20 31 34 Water 10 34 3 78 99 36
18 20 28 14 Water 10 45 9 84 97 69
19 20 25 34 Water 40 48 18 95 96 94
20 20 27 56 At 10 50 21 76 93 34
21 20 29 31 At 40 43 4 85 99 71
22 20 23 29 a* 40 31 12 77 83 74
23 20 26 30 50 15 73 91 25
24 20 24 31 51 8 91 99 83
'Displacement rate = 4 bbl/min.
'; 12·lbm/gal water·based mud.
Water·based viscous spacer.
* Water·based turbulent flow spacer.

Journal of Petroleum Technology, August 1987 963

 TABLE 3-EFFECT OF PRE FLUSHES ON DISPLACEMENT OF A NONSETTLING MUD UNDER
80° PERMEABLE, DEVIATED CONDITIONS

16.8·lbm/gal Cement' Drilling Fluid Mud Mobility Factors

at 180°F Preflush' at 72°F" Displacement Filtrate
Volume PV Yield Point Volume PV Yield Point Efficiency t 10·Minute Volume
Test ~ (cp) (lbf/100 ft )
2
Type ~ (cp) (lbf/100 ft 2 ) (%) Gel Strength (cm 3 )
--
25 30 74 12 61 30 82 4 6,150
26 30 44 41 Water 10 66 34 67 4 8,700
27 30 50 39 Water 40 74 39 78 7 11,200
28 30 51 64 At 10 67 36 80 5 3,250
29 30 55 66 At 40 72 34 68 23 44,280

"Displacement rate z 4 bbl/mln,

" "1 2-lbm/gal water-based mud,
t Reported as overall/top half/bottom half.

29 used a viscous preflush (A). Observations (Table 3)
indicate results similar to those achieved when a settling
mud was pumped. Neither the thin (water) nor thick (A)
preflush was able to increase the displacement efficiency
significantly above that reached with no preflush. In this
case, however, the problems encountered were caused by
filter-cake buildup instead of solids settling.
Effect of Centralizers
A series of tests was conducted at an 80° [l.4-rad] devi-
ation from vertical under impermeable conditions to study
the effect that conventional centralizers have on mud dis-
placement efficiency. For these tests, the mud rheology
was again designed so that a bottom-side solids channel
would be expected. Also, the cement in these tests was
preceded by a 'preflush. In Test 30, a centralizer was
placed in the central section of the pipe. In Test 31, cen-
tralizers were placed one-third and two-thirds the way up
from the end of the casing. In Tests 32 through 34, a cen-
tralizer was placed one-third the way up from the end of
the casing.
Results of these tests are listed in Table 4. It can be
seen that bottom-side displacement efficiencies were great-
er in these tests than in previous tests in which similar
mud conditions existed and no centralizers were used.
Upon examination of the individual segments from each
test, it was determined that the centralizers had indeed
helped somewhat in the mud removal process. In all cases,
mud removal was improved in the regions of both ends
of the centralizer. Figs. 4A and 4B show this trend graphi-
cally. The bows of the centralizers apparently disturbed
the flow pattern to the point that better mud removal was
attained. This effect, however, appeared to be localized
to within a few feet of the centralizer under the conditions
studied.
Effect of Pipe Movement and
Wall Cleaners
Pipe movement and wall cleaner tests were all conducted
at an 80° [1.4-rad] deviation from vertical. Tests were
carried out with both impermeable and permeable forma-
tions. The goals of the tests were (1) to determine whether
pipe reciprocation and/or rotation under impermeable con-
ditions would increase the removal of the solids channel
formed when a settling drilling mud was circulated and
(2) to determine (under permeable conditions) the effec-
tiveness of pipe movement, with and without casing wall
scratchers, in removing filter-cake buildup encountered
when a nonsettiing mud was used. In all cases, pipe move-
ment began at the start of the second mud circulation peri-
od and continued until the cement had displaced the
drilling fluid.
Four tests were run to determine the effectiveness of
pipe movement on the removal of the channel of solids
from a settling-type mud on the bottom side of the im-
permeable annulus. In Test 35, no pipe movement was
used. In Test 36, the pipe was rotated at 40 rev/min. Dur-
ing Test 37, the pipe was reciprocated at 10 cycles/min
with a 20-in. [51-cm] stroke (which created linear pipe
velocities typical of pipe reciprocation during cementing
operations). The pipe was both rotated and reciprocated
in Test 38. A preflush of 10 bbl [1.6 m 3 ] of water was
used in each of these tests. Results (Table 5) indicated
that pipe movement helped improve mud removal in these

TEST TEST
FLOW- --sz 30 FLOW- s;:;;;t 33

FLOW

FLOW-
-~
s;:;;;t

-
h£
- 31

32
FLOW-

FLOW-
_

-~
s;:;?

-
34

32

FLOW- 18 FLOW- 18

i I ! ! I iii I ! i ! I I ! i i I [ j j ! i j 1 t iii t t ! I I
o S' 10' IS' o S' 10' IS'

Fig. 4A-Effect of centralizers in deviated-well bore tests. Fig. 4B-Effect of centralizers In devlated·wellbore tests.

964 Journal of Petroleum Technology, August 1987

 TABLE 4-EFFECT OF CONVENTIONAL CENTRALIZERS ON DISPLACEMENT OF
A SETTLING MUD UNDER 80° DEVIATED CONDITIONS

16.8-lbm/gal Cement' Drilling Fluid Displacement

at 180°F Preflush' at 72°F" Efficiency
Volume PV Yield Point Volume PV Yield Point (%)
Test ~ (cp) (lbfl100 ft 2) Type ~ (cp) (lbf/100 ft 2) Overall Top Half Bottom Half
-- Water 10 54 13
---
92 84 97
30 20 23 30
31 20 32 28 Water 10 45 8 97 98 91
32 20 22 24 Water 10 54 13 96 100 94
33 20 63 37 Water 40 44 14 93 98 86
34 20 53 58 Bt 5/10/5* 44 12 96 95 98

'Displacement rate = 4 bbl/min.

"12-lbm/gal water-based mud.
; Water-based turbulent flow spacer.
5 bbl water/10 bbl 8/5 bbl water.

TABLE 5-EFFECT OF PIPE MOVEMENT ON DISPLACEMENT OF A SETTLING MUD

UNDER 80° DEVIATED CONDITIONS

16.8-lbm/gal Cement' Drilling Fluid Displacement

at 180°F Preflush' at 72°F" Efficiency
Type of Volume PV Yield Point Volume PV Yield Point (%)
Test Movement ~ (cp) (lbf/100 ft 2) Type ~ (cp) (lbf/100 ft2) Overall Top Half Bottom Half
---
35 None 30 40 32 Water 10 44 20 89 99 81
36 Rotation 30 60 15 Water 10 43 8 96 93 100
37 Reciprocation 30 48 14 Water 10 53 9 99 98 99
38 Rotation and 30 52 28 Water 10 46 11 99 99 100
reciprocation
'Displacement rate. 4 bbl/min.
"12-lbm/gal water-based mud.

TABLE 6-EFFECT OF PIPE MOVEMENT ON DISPLACEMENT OF A NONSETTLING MUD'

UNDER 80° PERMEABLE, DEVIATED CONDITIONS
Displacement Mud Mobility
16.8-lbm/gal Cement' Drilling Fluid Elliciency Factors
at 180°F Preflush' at 72°F" (%) Filtrate
Type 01 Volume PV Yield Point Volume PV Yield Point Top Bottom 10-Minute Volume
Test Movement ~ (cp) (lbf/100 ft2) Type ~ (cp) (lbf/100 ft2) Overall 5 It 5 It Gel Strength (cm 3 )
---
39 None 30 50 55 Water 20 76 38 65 67 63 14 15,900
40 Reciprocation 30 55 22 Water 20 63 29 71 70 72 3 10,350
41 Rotation 30 47 56 Water 20 64 29 62 81 43 6 5,100
42 Rotation and 30 59 40 Water 20 68 34 78 75 80 10 7,900
reciprocation
43 Rotation, 30 62 46 Water 20 77 41 78 69 86 8 16,200
wipers t
44 Reciprocation, 30 44 41 Water 20 59 32 83 67 98 30 5,900
wipers t
45 Reciprocation, 30 60 48 Water 20 75 35 96 92 99 22 8,200
rotation, and
wipers t
'Displacement rate = 4 bbl/min.
't 12-lbm/gal water-based mud.
Across bottom 5 It only.

tests; however, no significant difference was seen between
rotation and reciprocation, either individually or in com-
bination.
A comparison of Tests 1 through 3 in Table 1 vs. Tests
36 through 38 in Table 5 demonstrates the effects of pipe
movement. In Table 1, bottom displacement efficiencies
of23, 14, and 50% were seen on an 85° [1.5-rad] devia-
tion angle when pipe movement was not used. These
values can be compared to those in Table 5, where dis-
placement efficiencies of 100, 99, and 100% (Tests 36
through 38) at 80° [l.4-rad] deviation were attained for
Journal of Petroleum Technology, August 1987
drilling muds with comparable yield points. With the pos-
sible effect of the slight difference in deviation angle and
yield point taken into consideration, there is still evidence
that pipe movement was a factor in the difference in dis-
placement efficiency seen in these tests.
Seven tests were run to determine whether pipe move-
ment, alone or in conjunction with cable wall cleaners,
would enhance the removal of filter-cake buildup when
a non settling mud was circulated under permeable con-
ditions. No pipe movement was used in Test 39. In Test
40, the pipe was rotated at 20 rev/min. The pipe in Test
965
41 was reciprocated at 10 cycles/min [60 Hz]. In Test 42, incomplete cement sheath, leaving a potential conduit for
the pipe was both rotated and reciprocated. Conditions the migration of well fluids.
in Tests 43 through 45 matched those in Tests 40 through 2. A threshold value of mud yield point exists above
42 except that cable wall cleaners were used on the casing which mud solids settling is not a significant problem. This
across from the bottom 5 ft [1. 5 m] of permeable forma- yield point varies according to the deviation angle of the
tion. A 20-bbl [3.2-m 3 ] water preflush was used in each well: the lower the deviation angle, the lower the yield
of these tests. Results of these tests are listed in Table 6. point required to prevent settling.
From the results of Tests 39 through 42, it has been 3. Very-low-viscosity pre flushes can improve the dis-
determined that pipe movement alone does not signifi- placement of settling-type muds to some degree.
cantly increase mud removal during cementing across 4. Casing centralizers improve mud-displacement ef-
permeable zones; however, a dramatic improvement was ficiency, particularly in the regions of both ends of the
noticed in results obtained with cable wall cleaners. The centralizers.
most dramatic evidence was provided by Test 44. In this 5. Pipe rotation and pipe reciprocation can significantly
test, the mud removal in the area of the cable wall cleaners improve the displacement of a settling mud in a high-angle
was almost complete (98 %), whereas in the se<;tion with wellbore.
no mechanical cleaners, only 67% mud removal was 6. Wall cleaners, in this case cable wall cleaners, sig-
achieved. nificantly improved the percentage of mud removed in
the permeable zones contacted by the cleaners during pipe
Discussion movement.
The most significant finding of this study was establish-
ment of the ability to reduce or to control solids settling Acknowledgments
from drilling fluids by maintaining at least a minimum We express our appreciation to the management of Exxon
threshold yield-point value. Controlling the mud yield Production Research Co. and Halliburton Services for per-
point, and thus controlling settling, will help eliminate mission to publish this work. Appreciation is also extended
mud channeling along the low side of the annulus. to those Halliburton personnel who helped perform the
Previous vertical-well displacement studies concluded experiments and to those who contributed valuable sug-
that a high-yield-point mud would reduce mud- gestions.
displacement efficiency by reducing fluid mobility and that
mud-displacement efficiency is greatest when pumping References
rates are maximized, regardless of the rheological prop- 1. Keller, S.R. et al.: "Deviated Wellbore Cementing: Part
erties of the cement. 5 Judging from the results of this I-Problems," JPT (Aug. 1987) 955-60.
study, it would appear that in deviated wells, pumping 2. Brice, J.W. Jr. and Holmes, B.c.: "Engineering Casing Cementing
rates are a secondary consideration to the condition of the Programs Using Turbulent Flow Techniques," JPT (May 1964)
503-08.
drilling mud. Turbulent flow rates might help remove a 3. McLean, R.H., Manry, C.W., and Whitaker, W.W.: "Displace-
channel of settled solids; however, the tests that used thin ment Mechanics in Primary Cementing," JPT (Feb. 1967) 251-60;
preflushes, which were pumped in turbulent flow, indi- Trans., AIME, 240.
cated only a marginal improvement. 4. Clark, C.R. and Carter, L.G.: "Mud Displacement with Cement
Slurries," JPT (July 1973) 775-83.
Other factors examined in this study were less important 5. Haut, R.C. and Crook, R.J.: "Primary Cementing: Optimizing for
than yield point in achieving a high mud-displacement ef- Maximum Displacement," World Oil (Nov. 1980) 105-16.
ficiency, but in tests with a nonsettling mud, wall cleaners 6. Howard, G.C. and Clark, J.B.: "Factors to be Considered in
used with pipe movement gave the highest displacement Obtaining Proper Cementing of Casing, " Drill. and Prod. Prac.,
efficiency. This finding is potentially significant because API (1948) 257.
in an actual well, settling of larger-sized drilled cuttings
on the low side of the annulus is likely to occur even if 51 Metric Conversion Factors
other mud solids do not settle out. bbl x 1.589 873 E-Ol = m3
Casing centralization, which has previously been iden- cp x 1.0* E-03 = Pa's
tified as a major factor in vertical displacement studies, 5,6 degree x 1.745329 E-02 = rad
is even more important in deviated holes because the loads ft x 3.048* E-Ol m
acting on the casing tend to force it to the low side of the OF (OP-32)/1.8 °C
wellbore. This work suggests that the centralizers them- in. x 2.54* E+OO cm
selves may create local flow disturbances that are also Ibf/ft 2 x 4.788026 E-02 kPa
beneficial. Ibm/gal x 1.198264 E+02 kg/m3

Conclusions 'Conversion factor is exact. JPT

1. Settling of solids from drilling mud to the low side Original manuscript received in the Society of Petroleum Engineers office Sept. 22,
1985. Paper accepted for publication April 9, 1986. Revised manuscript received Dec.
of the annulus creates a continuous channel of uncemented 16,1986. Paper (SPE 14(98) first presented at the 1985 SPE Annual Technical Con·
material. Formation of such a mud channel results in an ference and Exhibition held in Las Vegas, Sept. 22-25.

966 Journal of Petroleum Technology, August 1987