Reasons for Using Cementing Plugs

Remove mud sheath

Separate cement and Mud
Prevent over displacement
Surface indication
Pressure test casing

Five Wiper Cementing Plugs

Available with:
aluminum inserts
plastic inserts
non-rotating (NR) plastic
inserts

350 psi rupture diaphragm in

bottom plugs
Surface release or subsurface release (SSR)
Compatible with water-based
or oil-based muds

NR Cement Plug System

Reduces drillout time
PDC drillable
350 psi rupture diaphragm

Use with NR float collar

All plastic inserts

Top & Bottom Plugs with NR Float Collar

NR Cement Plugs

Cementing in process

Cementing complete

Ready for drillout

Pumping Cement without Cement Plugs

Displacement
fluid
Cement

Casing

Mud sheath

Drilling mud

Much cement contamination

No surface indication of cement

placement

Pumping Cement with Top Plug Only

Casing

Top plug
Accumulated
mud

Top plug wipes mud sheath from

casing ID

Separates cement from

displacement fluid

Surface indication when cement

placement is complete

Require additional shoe track

length

Mud sheath

Drilling mud

Accumulated Mud Volume Ahead of

Cement Plug
Fill up per 1,000 ft. casing
Mud
sheath
thickness
(Inches)
1/16
1/32
1/64

5-1/2 inch
casing

7 inch
casing

9-5/8 inch
casing

13-3/8 inch
casing

51 ft.
25 ft.
13 ft.

40 ft.
20 ft.
10 ft.

28 ft.
12 ft.
7 ft.

20 ft.
10 ft.
5 ft.

Pumping Cement with Top & Bottom

Plugs
Displacement
fluid
Top plug
Accumulated
mud

Preferred method

Bottom plug wipes mud sheath

from casing ID

Surface indication when cement

placement is complete

Maximum cement/mud
separation

Casing
Cement
Bottom plug

Drilling mud

Polycrystalline Diamond Compact Bits

(PDC)
Soft medium formations
Improves rate of penetrate (ROP)
Longer service life

Concave PDC Bit

Illustrates aggressive nature of PDC bits