Part 2 Lec 3 Casing and Cementing

Casing and Cementing

❖ The purpose of using Casing
1. To prevent the hole from caving in
2. Onshore - to prevent contamination of fresh water sands
3. To prevent water migration to producing formation
4. To confine production to the wellbore
5. To control pressures during drilling
6. To provide an acceptable environment for subsurface equipment in producing
wells
7. To enhance the probability of drilling to total depth (TD)

 Example Hole and String Sizes (in)

OR

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 Types of Casing
CONDUCTOR (1 or 2) (40’ – 300’)
• Prevent eroding surface sediments and rig foundation by circulating the
drilling fluid to the shale shaker.
• Protects subsequent casing strings from corrosion.
• Install director system on it.
SURFACE (300' - 5000')
• Control caving and washing out of poorly consolidated surface beds.
• Protect fresh water sands from possible contamination by drilling fluid
mud, oil or gas and or salt water from lower zone.
• Install BOP on it.
INTERMEDIATE CSG (1 or 2)
It depends on well depth and geology in specific area.
Primary Purpose: To seal off troublesome zones which:
• Contaminate drilling fluid.
• Jeopardize drilling progress with possible pipe sticking, excessive hole
enlargement.
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Part 2 Lec 3 Casing and Cementing
Contain abnormal pressure fluids, protect formation below the surface casing
from higher pressure credited by mud.
PRODUCTION CSG
1. It is set through productive interval to;
2. Segregate pay zone.
3. Can be used to produce fluid instead of tubing.
DRILLING LINER
1. Lower in cost.
2. Functions like intermediate.
PRODUCTION LINER
1. Lower in cost
2. Functions like production.
API: American Petroleum Institute Standards.
❑ Range of length
❑ Outside diameter
❑ Wt/ft.
❑ Type of coupling
❑ Steel grade

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Part 2 Lec 3 Casing and Cementing

Well cementing
Well cementing refers to the process of placing cement in the annular space
between the casing and the wellbore wall during the drilling and completion
of oil and gas wells. The primary functions of well cementing include:
1. Zonal isolation: Well cementing is primarily performed to provide zonal isolation,
which means creating a barrier between different formations or zones encountered
during drilling. It prevents the unwanted migration of fluids between formations, such
as the movement of oil, gas, or water from one zone to another. Zonal isolation helps
maintain well integrity, prevents cross-contamination, and enhances well productivity
and safety.
2. Wellbore stability: Cement provides mechanical support to the wellbore, preventing
its collapse or deformation. It helps maintain the integrity of the wellbore during
drilling, completion, and production operations. Well cementing stabilizes the
formations penetrated by the well, preventing the intrusion of loose or unconsolidated
materials and maintaining a stable wellbore environment.
3. Casing support and centralization: The cement sheath formed around the casing
provides support and centralization to the casing string. It helps distribute the axial and
radial loads imposed on the casing during drilling, completion, and production
operations. Proper centralization ensures that the casing is concentrically positioned
within the wellbore, optimizing well performance and reducing the risk of casing
damage.
4. Fluid control: Well cementing helps control the flow of fluids within the wellbore.
By isolating different formations and sealing off permeable zones, it prevents the
unwanted influx or migration of fluids. Well cementing also helps prevent the flow of
formation fluids into the wellbore during production, reducing the risk of wellbore
damage, fluid loss, or well control issues.
5. Casing corrosion protection: Cement acts as a protective barrier that shields the
casing from corrosive substances present in the formation fluids. It helps prevent the
direct contact of corrosive fluids with the casing, extending its service life and
minimizing the risk of casing failure or leakage.
6. Well abandonment and plug placement: During well abandonment or temporary
suspension of production, cement is used to permanently seal the wellbore. It provides
a barrier that isolates the well from the surrounding environment, preventing the
migration of fluids or gases. Cement plugs are also placed within the wellbore to isolate
specific zones or to facilitate future well interventions or workovers.

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Considerations of cementing operation :-

1. cementing job process
1.1- mud removal
Good cementing job is to displace all of drilling fluid from annulus section to be
cemented , drilling fluid design to drill and transport cuttings but may be not
suitable to get high displacement efficiency ,therefore , drilling mud should be
conditioned , before pull out BHA circulate hole clean of formation cutting and
gas , It is recommended to circulate at least 2 1/2 hole volumes before cementing
job .
for many cementing operation planned to the maximum pump rate during the
cementing operations , the period between mud conditions and cementing job
should begin as soon as possible at least after 15 min because increase static time
caused high mud gel and difficult to remove it from annulus .

1.2- pip movement

Pipe movement, either rotation or reciprocation is important during cementing
job to break gelled mud and help offset the negative effects from poorly
centralized pipe , also pipe movement keep mud moving around all hole and
scrape mud from wellbore . For cementing highly deviated or horizontal liners,
pipe movement can be used one of two ways. The first option is to use a rotation
liner hanger and set it before conditioning the drilling fluid. The pipe can then
be rotated before and, if needed, during the pumping and displacement of the
cement slurry. The other option is to move the pipe, either through rotation or
reciprocation, before settling the liner hanger.

1.3- centralization
Centralizers Tool are run on the outside of the casing to keep the casing in the
center of the hole. The number of centralizers depends upon the depth and the
cementing program. Casing centralization necessary to prevent restriction of
cementing flow through annulus during cementing operations , If the pipe is not
mechanically centralized, the pipe will lay on the low side of the hole, making it
impossible to obtain a cement sheath that completely encircles the casing.
Centralization of the casing helps provide a uniform flow path around the entire
circumference of the casing so that the mud can be more readily displaced.

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Part 2 Lec 3 Casing and Cementing
1.4- Fluid velocity and regime flow .
The velocity at which the various fluids are pumped during the conditioning of
the drilling fluid and the actual job is a major factor in achieving good mud
displacement. Fluids can be pumped in one of three flow regimes listed below
in order of flow speed: a. Turbulent flow , b. Laminar flow , c. Plug flow.
Turbulent flow is the fastest of the three. In the oil industry it is generally agreed
that turbulent flow is the best flow regime for optimum mud displacement.
Because of the viscous nature of most cement slurries, it is usually impossible
to conduct a cement job by pumping the cement in turbulent flow without
breaking down a formation.

1. 5 Spacer .
Spacers are pumped to separate drilling fluid and cement , the three main
functions of spacers are to (a) serve as a barrier between the drilling fluid and
the cement slurry , thus eliminating contamination between two (b)Clean the
casing and the formation of drilling mud that could prevent good adhesion (c)Act
as a wetting agent that wets the casing and the formations
For a spacer to be effective , it must fall within certain guidelines for density and
compatibility . The spacer must be more dense than the mud , but not as dense
as the cement slurry . The margin should be 1 to 1.5 lb/gal each way . This range
allows the spacer to separate the two fluids (the slurry and the mud) and prevent
them from contaminating each other .

2. Cement Lab. Testing

2.1 Thickening Time .
Thickening Time is the amount of time acement slurry to become "too thick to
pump " , thickening Time is measure in a HPHT consistometer at BHCT and
BHP . A slurry is considered " too thick to pumpwhen it reach to consistency of
70 Bc (Bearden unit ).
Thickening time tests should be performed at the maximum anticipated bottom
hole circulating temperature for the hole depth under consideration .
2.2Compressive Strength :
Compressive Strength is the compressional force per unit area when set cement
sails. It can be measured by physically crushing a cement cube or cylinder, or
through non-destructive means with an ultrasonic Cement Analysis (UCA)
Compressive strength tests should be conducted as per API RP 10B procedures.
In some cases it may be beneficial to precondition cement slurries at BHCT
prior to the compressive strength test.

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2.3Set time :
Set time is the time it takes for cement to gain 50 psi compressive strength,
becoming a hard solid. Early set time is one of the most important properties in
an oil well cement.

2.4Fluid Loss:
Fluid loss is the amount of water pressed from a cement slurry under a
differential pressure. In the Laboratory , It is measured at measured at BHCT
by pressurized the cement across a 325 mesh screen at 1000psi differential for
30 minutes.

2.5Cement density :
The density of the drilling fluid is imposed by well conditions, and is denoted
by dmud
(a) The spacer density dspaceris such that dspacer = dmud +0.1
(b) The slurry density dslurry is such that at least dslurry= dmud + 0.4.

2.6Rheological Properties:

Rheological Properties of the cement are to be specified to ensure that the slurry
is as thin as possible without violating free water requirements , for the three
fluids, the following relating of the YP/PV ratios should be obtained :
(YP/PV)mud < ( YP/PV )spacer <( YP/PV )slurry
The value of YP and PV are calculated by means of measurements taken with
the Fann viscometer, usually from reading made with rotational speeds of 100
and 300 rpm.as following
PV = 3/2(ϴ300-ϴ100)
YP = ϴ100 – 1/3 PV

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Question of drilling fluids Rheology

According to Daily mud report the reading of viscometer show Ɵ600= 78,
Ɵ300= 49 Estimate yield point (Yp) , plastic viscosity (𝜇p) and Apparent
viscosity (𝜇a)?

Solution :
𝜇p = (ϴ600-ϴ300) = 78-49 = 29 cp
Yp = ϴ300 - 𝜇p = 49 - 29 = 20 Ib/100ft2
𝜇a = ϴ600/2 = 78/2 = 39 cp

Question of cementing slurry Rheology

Measurements of the Fann viscometer of cementing slurry Ɵ300= 55,
Ɵ100= 33 Estimate yield point (Yp) and plastic viscosity (𝜇p) of sluury ?

Solution :
𝜇p = 3/2 * (ϴ300-ϴ100) = 1.5 * (55 – 33) = 33
Yp = ϴ100 -1/3* 𝜇p = 33 – (1/3*33) = 22 Ib/100ft2

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