All you need to know about Bentonite in Cement Slurries

JUNE 1, 2019 BY BIKOUYI LEKOMBAGNI 10 COMMENTS

https://better-cementing-for-all.org/all-you-need-to-know-about-bentonite-in-cement-slurries

Let’s just have a quick overview regarding the bentonite. It is easy to find references online
regarding bentonite as a cement extender, the way it works or I should say reacts and why
additional water is required when using it as an extender. Here I will try to be simply explain.

First of all, Use the right additive:

I should precise that not all types of bentonite are good to be used in cement slurry as an
extender. There are mainly two types, the Wyoming bentonite, and the beneficiated bentonite.
The Wyoming Bentonite is the approved one by API as an extender for cement slurry. At least
this is the one that should be used, it is specified as “non-treated” bentonite (API Spec 13A,
Sect.5 – Can be found in google). The other Beneficiated Bentonite or peptized bentonite, to
which polymers have been added to artificially improve hydration is not recommended for well
cementing. This one is forbidden because it can interfere with other additives. So first make
sure to order the good one.

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Additive concentration:

Table 3-3. Effect of Bentonite on Cement-Slurry Properties

Water Slurry Density Yield
% Bentonite
(gal/sk) (lbm/gal) (h3/sk)
0 4.97 15.8 1.14
2 6.17 15.0 1.31
4 7.36 14.4 1.48
6 8.56 13.9 1.65
8 9.76 13.5 1.82
10 10.95 12.1 1.95
12 12.15 12.7 2.16
16 14.55 12.3 2.51
20 16.54 11.5 2.85
From Well cementing II edition

The typical bentonite concentrations used is generally from 1 to 20% BWOC, there are some
references stating that concentrations up to 25% BWOC (or even higher in DOBC plugs – gunk
plug – for lost circulation/Water Influxes) have been used (I never used up to 25% BWOC for
primary cementing). This depends on the cement slurry density and properties you are looking
for. In general, with bentonite cement slurry densities are from 11.5 to 15.0 ppg.

Bentonite can be mixed in two ways. It can be directly mixed with cement (dry-blended) and
later the blend is mixed with water/mix water/mix fluid or it can be mixed in mix water (pre-
hydrated) and later cement is added in the mixed fluid.

It should be kept in mind the following parameters

 1% BWOC pre-hydrated bentonite = 4% BWOC Dry Blend bentonite,

 The lower the bentonite extended cement slurry density is, cement mechanical
properties will be poor (Table 3-3 and 3-4 taken from Well cementing II edition) and,
 The addition of bentonite to a cement slurry requires additional mix water. A rule of
thumb is for each 1 % bentonite additional 5.3 % of water is required.

Table 3-4. Comparison of Prehydrated and Dry-Blended Bentonite Slurry Properties

Slurry Density Slurry Yield
Prehydrated Dry Dry-Blended Fresh Water
(lbm/gal) (h3/sk)
Bentonite (%) Bentonite (%) (gal/sk)
Prehydrated Dry Blend Prehydrated Dry Blend
0 0 5.2 – 15.6 – 1.18
0.5 2 6.4 14.8 14.8 1.34 1.35
1.0 4 7.6 14.1 14.2 1.50 1.52
1.5 6 8.8 13.5 13.7 1.66 1.69
2.0 8 10.0 13.1 13.3 1.83 1.86
2.5 10 11.2 12.7 12.9 1.99 2.03
3.0 12 12.4 12.4 12.6 2.16 2.20
4.0 16 14.8 11.9 12.2 2.48 2.55
5.0 20 17.2 11.5 11.8 2.81 2.89
From Well cementing II edition

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It is recommended to pre-hydrate the bentonite and properly hydrated prior to mixing the
cement slurry. Compare to dry-blended, when mixed with mix water (bentonite will hydrate
totally in 30 min) properties of bentonite are boosted because it absorbs an important volume of
water. But, when it is dry-blended with cement and then added to mix water, it does not hydrate
completely (Hydration inhibited by Ca2+ ions in the slurry).

What is the best procedure of mixing the slurry in the laboratory?

The recommended procedure for mixing and testing cement slurry in the laboratory can be
found in the API RP 10B-2 sect. 5. It highlights all the requirements (equipment, calculations
etc.) and recommendations for testing cement slurries and related material as per simulated
well conditions.

As mentioned earlier, for dry-blended bentonite, the mixing procedure in the laboratory is the
same as per any cement or blended cement (described in the referenced document). For pre-
hydrated bentonite, the bentonite has to be completely hydrated (30 min is required), as any
solid additive, in mix water prior to adding cement. Then testing of cement slurry can be
performed and completed normally.

Cement slurry preparation or Mixing procedure (general)

 Place the required amount (mass) of mixing Water and liquid in the mixing jar or the
blender container.
 Start the mixer at 4000 RPM, then add the required additives following the proper mixing
order sequence. The additives should be added to the mix water while mixing at low
speed. For pre-hydrated bentonite, allow 30 min to ensure that the additive is completely
hydrated.
 at 4000 RPM, add the blended cement (cement + dry additive) or cement at a uniform
rate in not more than 15 sec.
 place the cover on the mixing container and continue mixing at 12,000 RPM for 35 sec.
 Measure the cement slurry density using the pressurized fluid density balance

Secondly what about the water requirement as we increase the percentage of bentonite
in the slurry?

I add above some tables (taken from the Well Cementing II edition) that can be used as a
reference to having an idea regarding water requirement and bentonite’s concentration. This is
only as a reference because when designing a bentonite extended cement slurry it is common
to add some additional additives as well, such as FL, Dispersant, retarder, etc. So, the water
requirement will change accordingly.

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Calculations:

To determine the water requirement vs bentonite concentration, if you don’t have lab sheet or
an excel sheet or any other means, you need to do some simple math. The bases are quite
simple, I think. You have to know how to determine cement slurry density, slurry yield, the
weight of additives and cement sack (94 lb in general, you can find 110 lb too like in Mexico)
and parameters like additives absolute volume. You can have a look in the Well Cementing
book II edition in appendix C – Cementing calculations to have a better idea, here is an example
of calculation provided as a reference.

For a slurry consisting of Class G cement plus 8% bentonite, howe much water is necessary for
a density of 13.0 lbm/gal?

Weight Absolute Volume Volume

Component
(lbm) (gal/lbm) (gal)
Cement 94 0.0382 3.59
Bentonite 7.52 0.0452 0.34
Water 9.34x x
Total (101.52 + 8.34x) 13.9 1.65
101.52 8.34𝑥 𝑙𝑏𝑚
𝑃 13.0 𝑙𝑏𝑚/𝑔𝑎𝑙
3.93 𝑥 𝑔𝑎𝑙
𝑥 10.82 𝑔𝑎𝑙

Thus, 10.82 gal of water are required for each sack of cement.
Well Cementing book II edition in appendix C – Cementing calculations

Software:

Another way to do that could be, this is probably the simple one, is to use some ‘’free software’’
like eRebookTM (Halliburton) and I-handbook (Schlumberger). Both are free and can be
downloaded online.

I am sure that there are cementing calculations’ sheets online that can be used too, probably
some additional online researches are required. However, the recommendation will always be to
go back to the book (mentioned above) to understand the basics calculations and concepts
before using the software. Remember, the software will give outputs based on the inputs
provided. There some pictures presented below as references.

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eRebookTM (Halliburton)

Print screens from eRedbook

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 I-
Handbook (Schlumberger)

Print screens from I-handbook

I hope that this summary has provided some answers to your questions. Feel free to contact me
if any additional information is required. I will be more that happy to help if I can.

Best regards

L. Bikouyi

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