Lecture #9 PET ENG 4210

Cementing 1

Covered in Lecture 9

Learning objectives
Explain main reasons for cementing wells
Difference between primary and remedial cementing
Know which slurry properties that must be controlled
Know the function of cement additives

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 density of drilling mud
Assume perfect mixing. (This will not be correct for chemical additives
that will dissolve in the water.)

m 1 + m2 + m3
ρmud = Calculates density of mud
V1 + V2 + V3

Volume of drilling mud

mb New mudweight (V2) from an original
V2 = V1 + Vb = V1 + mud (V1) with added weight material
ρb
(Vb)
mb is mass of weight material ρ b is
density of weight material

ρ2 V2 = ρ1 V1 + m b ρ2 is density of V2 and ρ1 is density of

V1

ρb - ρ1 Density of mud when final volume is

V2 = V1 * not limited
ρb - ρ2

m b = (V2 -V1) ρb

ρb - ρ2 Density of mud when final volume is

V1 = V2 * limited
ρb - ρ1

m b = (V2 -V1) ρb

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 Example

• It is desired to increase the density of 200 bbl of

11 ppg mud to 11.5 ppg. Using barite (density
4.2 g/cc x 8.347 = 35 ppg).

ρb - ρ1
V2 = V1 *
ρb - ρ2

m b = (V2 -V1) ρb

Cementing
1. Objectives for cementing a well

2. Types of cementing operations

3. Cementing practices

4. Cement Slurry properties

5. Cement components

6. Calculating cement properties

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 Primary Cement Objectives
Objectives

1. Protect and support casing

A cement slurry is placed in

2. Prevent the movement of fluid through
the well by mixing powdered
the annular space outside the casing
cement and water at the
surface and pumping it by
3. Stop the movement of fluid into vugular hydraulic displacement to the
or fractured formations desired location. The
hardened cement slurry
4. Close or abandoned portion of the well becomes “set” cement a rigid
solid that has favorable
strength characteristics

Primary cementing practices

Primary cementing Description

Conventional placement A plug with the cement behind it down

the annulus.
Or spacer followed by cement.

Multiple stage cementing A bottom plug before the cement and a

top plug after the cement.

Annulus Cementing / Cement is pumped down the annulus

Reverse circulation and returns are taken up the casing.
Minimize pressure on the bottom of
casing string.
Bull heading the cement slurry down
the annulus.

Delayed Set Cementing Commonly called a “puddle job”

Delayed set cement slurry is pumped
into the wellbore and the casing is
lowered into the unset cement

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 Methods to improve cementing job
• Centralizers: Used to keep casing from contacting
the wellbore wall.

• Scratches: Used for cleaning the mud and mud

cake of the wellbore to ensure good bonding
between cement and formation

• Rotation of casing

• Moving the casing up and down (reciprocation)

Primary cementing steps (normal circulation)

Primary cementing Purpose

Spacer pumped down the Clean out the wellbore with a spacer
0.5 lb/gal denser than the mud

Bottom plug Hollow plug that prevent mixing of mud

and cement (optional)

Lead Slurry The lead slurry is cementing the upper

portion of the casing string. It is
cheaper cement and less dense than
the tail cement (but at least 0.5 lb/gal
denser than the spacer)

Tail cement Denser and higher quality cement which

is the primary cement seal to prevent
fluid leakage outside the casing

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 Oil & Gas Well Cementing

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYaXeAX
Cv3E

Secondary cementing
Applications:
Plug cementing Squeeze cementing
- Abandonment
- Directional Drilling /Side
tracking
- Lost Circulation
- Well control
- Zonal isolation

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 Casing and cement examples

Well leakage

Source: EUB

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 Causes of leakage

Cement slurry properties

Cement properties Method

Slurry density Mud balance (pressurized)

Filtration rate Mud filter press

Rheological parameters Fann viscometer

Thickening rate consistometer

Permeability Cement permeameter

Strength Tests tensile and compressional strength

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 Calculate pressure in mixed column

Viewing the Well as a U-Tube

Ppump = ?

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 Cement types
Class A to H cements based on depth (temperature and pressure
range)
•e.g. A from surface to 6,000 ft F for use from 10,000 to 16,000 ft

Composition of Portland cement is;

•At least two-thirds of calcium silicates (3CaOSiO2 and
2CaOSiO2),
•Aluminum and iron- oxides (Al2O3, Fe2O3)
•clinker phases and other compounds.
•The ratio of CaO to SiO2 shall not be less than 2.0.
•The magnesium content (MgO) shall not exceed 5.0% by mass

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 Cement additives
Cement type Examples Purpose
Density reduction Bentonite Reduce cement density to prevent fracturing of formation.
material Solid hydrocarbons
Nitrogen
Weight material Barite Increase slurry density.
Hematite
Ilmenite
Sand
Viscosity Control Sodium chloride Mainly to reduce viscosity of the slurry.
Calcium
lignosulfonate
Polymers
Deflocculants

Filtration control Caustic soda (NaOH) Prevent leakage of cement into porous formations
Calcium hydroxide
Ca(OH)2
Accelerators Calcium chloride Setting time control by reducing setting time, reduce the time
Sodium chloride before the cement develops strength and seals off fluid
Gypsum movements

Retarders Organic material used Setting time control by increasing setting time, increase the
in drilling mud time before the cement develops strength and seals off fluid
Drilling mud thinners movements

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