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Societ of Petrtdeum Engineers of AIME PAPER

6300 ~orth Central Expressway ., NUMBER SPE 75’> ~
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Dallas 6, Texas

THIS IS A PREPRINT ——-– SUBJECT TO CORRECTION

REMEDIAL CEMENTING OF PLUGGED PERFORATIONS I

By

L. G. CARTER, F. N. HARRIS, D, K, SMl~fi ~

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Publication kights Reserved
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This paper is to be presented at the California Regional Meeting to be held Octobe~ 23.25, 1963 in ,Santa Barbara,
California, and is considered the property” of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Permission to publish is hereby restricted (
to an abstract of not mom than 300 ;verds, with no ill~strations, unless the ‘paper is specifically released to the press by the
Editor of the Journal of Petroleum Technolo.~ or the Executive Secretary. Such abstract should contain conspicuous
acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in Journal of
Petroleum Technology or S~ciet y of Petroleum Engineers Journal is granted on request: providi;l y proper credit is given
.,. .
that publication and the original presentation of the paper.

Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers
office, Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and considered for publication in one of the two SPE n]aga-
zines -with the paper. I

IBSTRACT they become active and produce to relieve formation pressures

after the more permeable zones have berm, cemented. These
The- development of efficient low water loss additives condhions sometimes require multiple squeeze stages to obtain
las greatly improved the effectiveness of squeeze cementin a colnplete seal of all perforations.
‘Q selective perforating using non.plugging perforating
dso has aided the success of squeeze cementing.
flul“f’s
The intent of this paper is to present data obtained in a
series of laboratory investigations of the practices associated
However, specialized mud systems, such as those treated with spotting a. flush “across’ a perforated interval prior to
with ferrochrome Iignosulfonatesi. inverted oil emulsions, an,d squeezing. Results of these tests indicate a much better chance
~il base fluids pose problems in squeezing perforations. T~M for the Cenlent to seal perforatio]ls which are void of con-
a er describes. laboratory model studies of squeeiiing per- lamination. The qbility of various solutions to chemically react
~o~ations blocked with these types of mud systems. Effective with drilling muds or other contaminating materials blocking
removal of these drilling fluids from the per fo~atinns by the ,Perforatioll, thu5 allowing slurry to enter all perforations,
use of chemical washes ahead of the cement system is de. enhances the possibility of a successful squeeze job. ‘l%e suc-
pitted. cess of these solutions on multiple perforations \vill depend
INTRODUCTION upon the competence of the flush to chemically attack the par.
titular mud system, This resulti in partial equalization of the
Chemical washes to remov~ the drilling mud ahead of a rate and pressure at which some fluid can enter each per fora-
cement slurry on primary cementing jobs have been success- tion prior to placement yf the cement slurry. Even though
fully used for many years, though riot universally accepted. the less permeable perforations accept a very small quantity
However, the use of these materials in conjunction with of the treating solution compared trr the more open sections:
squeeze cementing is relatively uncommon. Wlt4 the develop. it is still adequate to aid in forcing the dormant perforations
ment of specialized mud systems the number of squeem jobs to accept the ‘cement slurry. ; t
required to seal off a set of perforations has generally in.
creased. Concurrently, the introduction of low fluid loss The use of low- filtration rate cement slurries t~ obtain
cements has decreased the number of s ueeze jobs necessary better s ueeze jobs has been relatively common for several
for successful shut-off of perforations.. 1?evertheIess, remedial years. T1. IS type of slurry tends to prolong dehydration of
results in many areas of the country still leave something to cement inside the pipe — a condition which can occur acres
be desired. perforations in more permeable zones. This control of deh~
dration tends to keep the cement in a fluid state allowing it
In most instances when a formation is perforated with to move across, and into, all perforations during a squeeze
something other than a non-damaging perforating fhnd, onI job. Also, a low fluid loss cement minimizes the node build-up
a part of the erforations will produce fluid. This fluid WI6 at the perforation as compared to a h@ filtration rate slurry.
-. -... be--produced t rorn.the most-permeable-sections. ‘As .a. result, .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . ... . . . .. .
these perforations would be more likel to accept cement The authors do not Ian to discuss the different methods
during a squeezing o eration. Other per [ orations being dor - of squee~e techniques; i“owever, previous work by Beach,
0- mant during the pro r!ucing phase could be contaminated
some manner or have reduced permeability. Even though no
in O’Brien and Go;ns(l) indicates that excessive pressure during
a squeeze job may cause fracturing of the formation and allow
fluid was produced prior to the initial squeezing of cement, cement displacement into this fracture.

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, REMEDIALCEMENTINGOF PLUGGEDPERFORATIONS
Since a cement e.hrrry consists of solid particles dis.
)ersed in water? it is not a true solution; therefore, it cannot
te displaced into formation permeability.. It is possible, IIOW-
iver, to force a slurry into formation fracture+:, Therefore,
vhen a slurry reaches a formation, filtrate is lost to the fornla-
ion resulting in a concentration of solid particles being de-
)osited ‘at the threshold of the more permeable, uncontami-
Iated, perforations. When enough cement solids have accu.
redated at these particular points, a bridge will occur within
hese intervals resulting in a permanent seal when the cement
ets, However, a seal cannot be obtained when drilling mud
)r other contaminants hamper the acceptance of fluid cement,
IES:RIP’ITON OF TESTING PROCEDURE ,
Prior to squeezing mrdtiple perforations, preliminary tests
vere made by building a mud cake on a 325 mesh screen
Ising a high pressureW— temperature fluid loss cell.i~l This
vas accomplished by placing mud in the ce~ and applying a
differential pressure of 1,000 psig for one hour at temperatures
)f 80°F. and 150°F,, after which the ~xcess fluid mud was
~arefully removed from the cell. The muds used in these tests
vere ferroehrmne, inv~rted oil emulsion and oil base obtained
‘rem field jobs. Various chemical washes were then placed
lgainst the Illud cake and subjected to diffc’rential pressures
)f 100, 500 and 1,Of10 psig at the above temperatures, Pres.
wre was alJpIied for one hour, ,or until the mud filter cake
,vas destroyed in which case the time required was recorded,
rhis evaluation indicated the type of chemical wash that
;hmdd be considered for use ahead of cement to help remove
he drilling lpud cake which might be plugging perforations.
. shrir~kage of the clay particles allowing fluid peuctratinn “into
Subsequent tests were then conduc~ecl on Berea sandstone
md. Indiana limestone cores mounted and sealed in 2 inch
pipe nipples 9 inches in length. Particular care was taken to
prevent sealant contaminatil:g the end of the core exposed to
,est bath conditions. A simulated perforation was made in t~e
>pposite eod of the. core by drilling a 9/16 inch hole, 4. incbhs
long through the nonpermeable cap and intc) the forma~ion.
I’hese sandstone and limestone specimens were than aherniitely
inserted in the test apparatus as shown in figure 1, and low.
wed into the test bath ( ~lgure 2), All tests shmvn herein were
,-. ——— —.. ..— ..
conducted at 1.50°F.
The reservoir above the test perforations was filled with
salt water and a squeeze pressure of 1,000 psig w s applied for
5 minutes to saturate the core. These perforat “i?
I ns were “then
treated until plugged by placing drilling mud in the rescrvnir
and squeezing for one hour at a pressure of 1,000 psig. I’his
resulted in plugging of the center of the perforation with a
hard mud cake being deposited on, the face of the specimen.
“A chemical ~~ash was then placed, in the test, --chamber
and squeezed ‘frrr 30 minutes at 1,000 psig. During this tim e’ “
it was possible. for certain acid washes to create a channel
through the limestone cores resulting in a decrease in squeeze
pressure to around 100 to 200 psig after 5 minutes, Afte r
sqneezing with the selected wash the reservoir was then filled
with cement slurry and squeezed for one hour at a pressure
of 1,000 psig. Gilsonite was added in a“ ratio of 5 pounds per
sack -of .eement to- function. as .a bridging’ agent .wherl. th e. .2.2 .Ya$lk –1?:– ~Y!l!bi!ed. -hYd!oc&@
initial slurry would not seal off an acid channel io the lime-
stone cores. Upon completion of each squeeze series the cemen t
node formed outside the simulated perforation was remove d
and the test samples were placed in an 80”F. constant tempera -
ture water bath and allo~+ed to cure.
SPE ’759
The,two types of cementing compositions used in”each
test series were API Class A Cemtn : with and without a low
iluid loss additive. In preparing the cement for each test
series, slurries were yii~xedon a large Waring Blendor for one
minute aticordiog to API RP 10B.{2) “
●
After setting, ctiredsamples?ere rem[)verf from the bath
and crcJss-sectioned to visually observe the effectiveness of
the wash and the amount of cement pehdtratk)n into the per-
forations. Cross-sections from sandstone and limestone sam-
pies from each test series were photographed to visually depict
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the results obtained.
1.
THE l)12S!&N OF CHEMICAL WASHES TO
AID SQLU2EZE CEMENTING
?revious work[’}I has shown ~that complete cement pene.
trati{J1l occurs into a dean perforation in either sandstone or
linwstonc cores using a high or low fihrat ion rate cement
slurry. However, the cement node build-up on the face of the
perforation Mill vary from 0.5 ,inches to 12 inches for a low
and a high filtration rate slurry, rcspectivdy. Verv little dif-
ference in cement penetration was noted when squetizing mud
plugged perforations using ti hjgh filtration rate shirry for
time intervals lunger than 1 hour as nuted herein, Similar
tests using a low fihration rate slurry did hlclicate’ an increase
in cement deposit!(Jn with an increase in squeeze time.
Earlier wurki ‘J alsti illustrated tlJat th~ chemical wash is
dependent upon the mud type. Systems etnploying swelling
da}s can be effectively. treated by spotting a il ash that causes
the pcrforatifJns, thus allowing cement to enter al[ perforations,
In brief, the effectiveness of a chemical ~vasb depends ]?ri-
marily uptm its chemical ability to destroy ‘fluid control n-op- ●
erties ,of the mud. Muds used in this evaluation were 1erro-
&’fJOle lignosulfonate, inverted oi] emulsion and oil base
muds. These ivcrc taken from acttral field j ohs. The iuverted
oil &tlsion and oil base muds were similar in physical prop-
erties; however, as it is well known the chemiciil make-up
of the two systems are entirely different. The ability of various
solutions to enter non-producing perforations rmntaioi ng these
...three tyyes
. .. —.. of muds
. —..—. .-.— .,naturally is clependcnt upon the efficiency
m chemically attackl ng the deposited tnu(l-ctifiti. Iii so d~ii~i~
all the desirahlc properties that a systc:!i had clofiog drlllmg
bccrrrnes pttrtially destroyed with the use of a proper wash,
%metimes the mo:t’ effective mi,xturcs are those possessing
✎
low surface and interracial tension qualities, this facilitates
penetration” through mud barriers. But, in cerbain mud sys,
terns, solutions that chtimically attack the mud solids as well
as having pettetrating qualities, are more effective than threw
materials which depend solely on low surface tension propep
ties for their effectiveness, ✎✌
After a series of screening tests the following chemical
washiw were found t~J be the most effective on the abow
mcnt ioned mud systems. The four types of chemical washes
found to he effective on these mud systems and used in each
test series ,Vere.
1. Wash C — Inhibited a~etic’ acid with surfactant. ,
factant,
-q4~!.- .!@h - ?Y Yr ✍✎
3. Wash H —- Acetic acid ili petroleum solvents.
.4. Wash 1 — Acetic aciil in petroleum solvents with sur
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factant.
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sPl? 759 ,
‘ L. G. CARTER,F. N. HARRIS, D. K, SMITH .

None of these solutions are considered harmful to casing base mucf. However, it may b~ observed from figures 11
rom a corrosion standpoint, because of their normally short through 14 that Wash H and Wash D do attack this type of

● :ontact time on a s oewze cementing job. However, Wash D

:ould be detriments 1 to squeeze tools if the sti-ong mineral
)cid happens to get “trap~ed” and remain in contact with
he, heat treated steel tdloys for an extended period of time.
railures of this type are caused; by hydrogen e’mlmitdement
md stress ‘cracking of the metal. This becomes more frequent
n deep, hot wells. Providing measures can be initiated lo
n-otect against such occurances, Wash D shows to be effective
igtiinst ferrochromc muds. Also, as shown in previous inves-
mud system.
,
Tests also followed the “trend that a low filtration rate
cement slurry will give better cement penetration than a high
filtration rate slurry. This is shown when conlpmin~ figures
1 I with 12 and 13 with 14.
Little variation existed between sandstone and limestone
cores indicating that the low fluid loss properties of the oil
base mud plugged both types of formations to almot the same

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tigations, u I it performs well against fresh water and salt water extent. ‘This is illustrated in comparin~ figures 11 to 13 Cnd
nud systems. ~’-- 12 to 14.
Hydr&en embrittlement or stress cracking tendencies’are The wash that performwl best on an oil base mudl was
lot as ~reat with \Vash C as compared to \Vash D.lfiJ Both \Vash Hi followed hy Wash I and \Vash 1), The effectiveness
IVash C and Wash D cause clay shrinkage of the nmd par. of the drganic acid washes would p@abl~ be improved if
.icles. Wash C should possibly be left m contact with the the contact time were lengthened. However, tjme did ROJ
~erforatious for a longer period of time because it is a weaker permit establishing the optimom time a wash shmdd be in
~cid. cent act witl? a perforated interval coots in iog oil base mud
prior to squeezing with cement.
Washes H tind I were found effective on inverted oil 1
:mulsion and oil bsse muds. These washps may be left in
~ontact with heat’ treated scIueeze tools for extended lengths CONCLUSIONS - ..-
)f time,:without deleterious effe~t,
1. A low filtration rate cement slurry can l’esuh in better
cement pen etration into perforations on a sq uerze j oh.
2. Ferrochrome lignosu]fouale mud and inverted oil etnu]sion
Fewocltrome hguosuljotta~e Treated Muds mud formed a softer mud cake in the less perlneable lime.
stone formation. This resulted in hcttcr Inucl removal and
It may be noted by comparing figures 4 and 6 to figures
greater cement penetration.
3 and 5 that a low filtration rate cement slurry will penetrate
further iuto a perforation than a high filtration rate slurry, 3, Little difference was noted J>etwcrm inhihitml hydroclduric
\Vash D hppears to he the most effective Jvith this type of acid and inhibited acetic acid in ,thcir effectiveness ill
mud, however; the >thcr washes used in these tests dicl illus. cleaning perforations plugged Mith fertwr,hrome Iiguosul
trate a certain degree of effwiency. fo@e muds.
It is apparent that cement penetra[ioo into the perforation
4, The’ use of a wash in conjunction with cemlml ~vas C(JU
,. is greatm in limestone than in sandstone. This is true for any
siderably better than on ‘squeeiie tests wilhout a wash.
.4 wash or cement comparison, pnd is due to the permeability of
the limestone cores being considerably lower. When squeezi-
ng drilling mud into the perforation, the mud cake formed ACKNQWL1!L ‘.—.
“il;il’~
was not as hard either in the center or on the walls of the
The authors .wisb io express their nplwrriation to the
perforation, Therefore, when squewzing cement against the
management of Hallihurt{)n (hm}pany ft)r pmmlissi[)n to pre-
nucl filled perforations, the ,softer the mud cakc~ the grcatei’
pare and puhlisl~-lhis -paperr Appreciation is also rxten(lrd to
:tie penetration when comparing the same cenient with or
(hck Dibre]l and Don Hannnollrls for their assistnnrr in oh-
without washes spotted aheacl of the squeem.
taining the clata presented.
~nverted Oil Emulsion MzMl
Test results of squeeziqg cement against perforations REFERENCES
plugged with this type of mud again indicates that bqt-ter
;emeot penetration is rcdizcd when using a low “Flltratl~n 1. Beachj H. J.. 0V3ricn, T. 13., and G~ins. \\’. C. Jr,: “The
rate slurry. This is denxmstratecl when comparing figures 7 Role of Filtration in Cwnent Squeezing:”” Spring Meeting
with 8 and 9 with 10, slid the same conditiun exists for any of API %utheim District, Division of Productiuo. SImeve.
individual wash. . port, i961,
Conlparing figures 7 with 9 aucl 8 i~-ith 10 show cement 2, API RP 10I3, “Rec{)llllltc))(lccl lJracLil’e for ‘1’esting Oil-\Vell
penetration to be greater. in the limestone cores than in the Cements and (kmcilt Adclitives,” Mlitiotl No. 12. March,
sandstone cores as would be expected. This is due to a softer 19630
mud cake hei hg formed in the m’ore itnpermetrble Ii me stone
cores. 3. Harris, F. N. and Carter, L. G.: “Kffectivenms of Chemical
Washes Ahead o{ S(iuecr.e Cementing,.’ Spring Meeting oi
‘iVhen squeezing with a_l?w filtration rate cement slurry,
results indicate that Wash I is ihe best. Next in order of effec- API Mid-Contineot ~istrict, Division of Production, Area.
rillo, Texas, 1963.
tiveness t? penetrate this t pe of mud was Wash H. ‘Wash D
appearw to ‘be the most ef {ective -on an -inverted oil--emulsion -4. -Hamis, F,-N.:+’Cl~etllical Treatment- fr)r-\\/elLStinl ulation~’
system yhen using a high filtration rate cement slurry. The Petrolcam Engineer, April, 1~~1.
Oil Ike Mud 5. Harris, F. N.: “Applications of Acetic Acitf to Well Cool.
. I It was more difficult to design a chemical that ~iould pletion, Stimulation aod Reconditioning,” Journal of PC.
effectively remove or penetrate a perforation plugged with oil troleum Technology, JuIY, 1~~1. #
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SPE 759
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