SMALL PARTICLE SIZE CEMENT

D.P. EWERT S.W. ALMOND W.M. BIERHAUS

this article begins on the next page

PETROLEUM SOCIETY OF CIM/SOCAETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS PAPER NO. CIM/SPE 90-117 THIS IS A PREPRINT - SUBJECT TO CORRECNON SMALL PARTICLE SIZE CEMENT BY Davld P. Ewert Stephen W. Almond W.PL
Bierhous H@Wburton Serv@ PUBUCA71ON RIGHTS RESERVED
THIS PAPER IS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL MEETING JOINTLY HOSTED BY THE PETROLEUM SOCIETY OF CIM AND THE SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS IN CALGARY, JUNE 10 TO 13,1990. DISCUSSION OF TMS PAPER IS INVITED. SUCH DISCUSSION MAY BE PRESENTED AT THE MEENNG AND WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR PUBLICATION IN CM AND SPE JOURNALS IF FILED IN
WRITING WITH THE TECHNICAL PROGRAM CHAIRMAN PRIOR TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING. ABSTRACT
The particle size of Class G oilwell cement has been responsible for limiting its use
in
specific
remedial
cementing operations. E;ince the largest particles in a typical Cla-c;s G cement are in the 100-150 micron range, cement slurries will not penetrate fractures narrower than about 0.4 millimeters (400 microns) or sand packs finer than abc)ut 10/20 mesh.
Simply reducing the particle size of conventional 4@lass G cement was initially attempted to solve this problem.
The chemical and physical properties of Class G
clinker made
it
impossible
to significantly lower the 'Particle size of the cement. HoweNrer, by modifying the clinker chemistry and the resultant physical characteristics of the material, a new small particle size cement (SPSC) has been produced. The SPSC material has particle sizes many times smaller than Class G cement, which allow it to penetrate into areas inaccessible to conventionally sized cements. References and illustrations at end of paper I 117-1
Some of the new applications areas which can now be specif
ically addressed are: 1.
Sealing off vertical communication
in a
gravel
packed
completion
by penetrating the pack sand up to
the formation face.
If placed
properly, steam migration, unwanted water f low and low pressured,
desaturated
zones can be isolated or eliminated. 2.
Squeeze cementing into narrow channels, microannuli, or narrow mud channels. 3.
Depending
on
formation
permeability, actual penetration into the
formation itself. Laboratory development,
slurry
design, placement techniques, and field case histories are presented to illustrate the practical nature of SPSC. INTRODUCTION
Squeeze cementing consists of many job types; squeezing off perforations, slotted liners or wire wrapped screens, liner laps or holes in casing. Usually, conventional cements can be designed to attain a successful squeeze, however, the squeezing of liners or wire wrapped screens has proven

PETROLEUM SOCIETY OF CIM/SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS

PAPER NO. CIMISPE 90-117

THIS IS A PREPRINT - SUBJECT TO CORRECTION

SMALL PARTICLE SIZE

CEMENT
.,':

:~
BY

.,

David P. Ewert
Slephen W. Almond
W.M. Blerhaus
HaJllburfon SGll'\llca

PUBUCATION RIGHTS RESERVED

THIS PAPEII IS TO BE PIIESENTED AT THE INTEIINATIONAL TECHNICAL MEETING JOINTLY HOSTED BY THE
PETROLEUM SOCIETY OF CIM AND THE SOCIETY OF PETIIOLEUM ENGINEERS IN CALGARY, JUNE 10 TO 13, 1990.
DISCUSSION OF THIS PAPEII IS INVITED. SUCH DISCUSSION MAY BE PIIESENTED AT THE MEETING AND WILL BE
CONSIDEIIED FOil PUBUCAnON IN CIM AND SPE JOUIINALS IF FILED IN WRITING WITH THE TECHNICAL PIIOGIIAM
CHAIIIMAN PIIIOIl TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING.

".

Some of the neW' applications areas

which can now be specifically addressed are:

ABSTRACT
The particle size of Class G oilwell
cement has been responsible for limiting its

use

in

specific

remedial

1.

operations. since the largest particles in

a typical Class G cement are in the 100-150

micron range, cement slurries will not

penetrate fractures narrower than about 0.4
millimeters (400 microns) or
finer than about 10/20 mesh.

sand

packs
2.

Squeeze cementing into narrow channels,

microannuli, or narrow mud channels.

J.

Depending on formation permeabi 1 i ty ,

actual penetration into the formation
itself.

Simply reducing the particle size of

conventional Class G cement was initially

attempted

to

solve

this

problem.

The

chemical and physical properties of Class

G
clinker
made
it
impossible
to
significantly lower the particle size of the
cement. However, by modifying tne clinker
chemistry
and
the
resul tant
physical
characteristics of the material, a new small
particle size cement
(SPSC)
has
been
produced.
The SPSC material has particle
sizes many times smaller than Class G
cement, which allow it to penetrate into
areas inaccessible to conventionally sized
cements.

References and illustrations at end of paper

1171

Sealing off vertical communication in

a
gravel
packed
completion
by
penetrating the pack sand up to the
formation face.
If placed properly,
stearn migration, unwanted water flow
and low pressured, desaturated zones
can be isolated or eliminated.

cementing

. !.

Laboratory development, slurry design,

placement
techniques,
and
field
case
histories are presented to illustrate the
practical nature of SPSC.
INTRODUCTION
Squeeze cementing consists of many job
types; squeezing off perforations, slotted
liners or wire wrapped screens, liner laps
or holes in casing. Usually, conventional
cements
can be designed to attain a
SUccessful squeeze, however, the squeezing
of 1 iners or wire wrapped screens has proven

:',

d.l f f icul t .
The primary reason for this
difficulty
has
been
that conventional
ailwell cements will nat penetrate out into
the gravel pack and significantly reduce
either vertical or horizontal permeability.
Because of th.ls, problems such as unwanted
water production, desaturated intervals, and
steam
breakthrough
have
gone
largely
untreated_
L

conventional oilwell cements can not

penetrate into gravel packs because of the
size distribution of the cement particles.
since the largest particles are in the 100150 micron range,
bridging and cement
dehydration will occur when the slurry
attempts to penetrate fractures narrower
than about 0.4 mIn (4QO microns) or sand
packs finer than about 10/20 mesh.
Since
cement
penetration
using
conventional
cements was
50
difficult
previous attempts to squeeze liners or
screens required perforating the liner or
screen and squeezing cement out the holes.'
Although this method proved acceptable, it
required not only perforating, but placement
of viscous polymer pills prior to the
treatment.

Plow Tests - Pressure

A colUmn of sand approximately q in.

high was prepared by plaCing 20/40 or 40/60
mesh sand into a 60cc syringe (diameter
approximately 1.0 in.).
A 2.0 in. column
of cement slurry was poured into the tube,
the plunger 'Was placed onto the syringe, the
pressure was applied by hand, and the
slurry's
capability
to
penetrate
the
sandpack ~as monitored. All tests were run
at room temperature (approximately 70"F).
Slurry Preparation and Testing
slurries evaluated for this study were
mixed in a Waring Blender, following Section
5 of API Spec 10.'
Procedures used to obtain thickening
times, fluid loss, free water, compressive
s~rength, and rheology data were obtained
from API Spec 10, also_

RESULTS AND

DISCUSSION

Laboratory Testing
SPSC was developed to solve the problem
of
inadequate
cement
penetration
by
combining small particle size and proper
dispers ion.
This combination alloWS the
cement to penetrate the pack by either
placement of a plug (using a dump bailer)
or by squeezing through a tool.
PROCEDURE
As a slurry design was being developed,
the following tests were conducted.
Particle Size Distribution
Particle size analyses were performed
with a Malvern "Particle SiZer 3600E Ir by
first collecting a background spectrum of
suspending fluid.
Cement was added by
stirring to an appropriate level; the
resultant suspension was subjected to a 30
second ultrasonic treatment, then circulated
through the measuring cell for 30 seconds.
Data collection and reduction functions were
started and results were recorded and
transmitted to a printer/plotter.
Flow Tests - Gravity
A column of sand approximately 6 in.
high was prepared by placing either 20/40
or 40/60 mesh sand into a 1.25 in. diameter
glass tube. The tube was tapped on its side
until a constant height of sand was
obtained.
An equivalent height of cement
slurry was poured into the tube and the
slurry's
capability
to
penetrate
the
sandpack was monitored. All tests were run
at room temperature (approximately 70~F).

117-2

Three of the most commonly used

criteria for determining plugging efficiency
are
particle
size,
particle
size
distribution, and number of particles per
unit
volume
(concentration).
These
parameters were therefore used as the
crlterla for developing a cement with
penetrating efficiency.
For example, if a
cement slurry did not pass through a
particular sandpack, the particle size could
be reduced, the particle size distribution
could be narrowed, or more water could be
added to aid in slurry penetration of the
sandpack.
The cement samples obtained for this
project were quite varied in nature as to
both source and composition.
The Class G
sample ~as obtained from a delivery truck
as the cement was being off loaded into a
storage silo. This sample ~as believed to
be representative of a typical Class G
cement. Sample A was obtained from a cement
supplier after a class G clinker was ground
in a jarmill in the laboratory to the
smallest size possible.
Sample Band C
cements were ground from a cl inker with
different chemical makeup than Class G
cement. Chemical composition determines the
resul tant phys ical characteristics, or in
this case, its grindabili ty.
For this
reason, a smaller particle size could be
obtained.
Sample D was obtained from an
overseas manufactUrer and was ground as a
mixture of cement and slag to obtain the
extremely small particle size.
sample E
represents a sample of kiln dust obtained
from the manufacture of class G cement.