Problems in Cementing
Horizontal Wells
Fred L. Sabins, SPE, Halliburton Services
Introduction
Horizontal wells are completed by one of
four methods: (I) open hole, (2) casing
packers, (3) slotted or perforated liner, or
(4) cemented casing or liner. Completion
Methods 1 through 3 generally are known
as "drainhole" completions. Method 4,
commonly called a "cased-hole" or "stimu-
lated" completion, is the focus of this paper.
Formations that ordinarily would require
stimulation in a vertical well should be com-
pleted as a cased-hole, or stimulated, com-
pletion. Obtaining a successful cement job
is essential in this type of completion. Pa-
rameters that could affect the overall cement
job are similar to those for vertical comple-
tions, with an emphasis on displacement
mechanics and cement slurry design.
Fig. 1 represents a horizontal wellbore
and the parameters that affect the cement
job. A settled-solids channel is observed' on
the lower side of the annulus and a fIlter cake
"Any casing and gelled drilling fluid are found around
eccentricity becomes the circumference. Removal of solids, filter
cake, and gelled drilling fluid from these two
critical In horizontal problem areas is critical to ensure proper ce-
wells because of Its menting results. Decentralized casing com-
effect on flow velocity pounds the problem of displacement because
cement slurry and spacers tend to follow the
distributions In the path of least resistance and bypass the nar-
wellbore." rower side (bottom) of the annulus. There-
fore, using the casing equipment necessary
to provide maximum centralization is es-
sential.
Cement composition is also important to
achieve a successful cement job. The cement
composition shown in Fig. 1 has permitted
a top-side channel of free water to form that
could prevent the necessary confinement of
a stimulation treatment.
Finally, to confirm the success of cement-
ing or to determine requirements for remedi-
al work if problems occur, the horizontal
cement job must be evaluated with acoustic
tools. Proper logging and log evaluation
techniques must be considered.
This paper addresses the following major
areas of concern: hole-cleaning problems
and displacement mechanics, pipe centrali-
zation, cement slurry design, and evaluation
of the cement job through acoustic tools.
Copyright 1990 SOCiety of Petroleum Engineers
398
Hole·Cleanlng Problems and
Displacement Mechanics
Displacement of drilling fluid from high-
angle and horizontal wellbores is complicat-
ed by additional factors present under these
conditions.
A low-side solids channel may form by
deposition and settling of drilled solids and
drilling-fluid weighting material. A channel
filled with solids will not seal the annulus
for the life of the well. Also, solids chan-
nels could cause problems with communica-
tion and confinement of stimulation treat-
ments. These channels should be prevented
from forming if possible; however, once
formed, they can be removed. Thin flush-
es, maximum pump rates, hole-cleaning
casing attachments, and pipe movement can
help remove solids. Drilling-fluid proper-
ties must be controlled within specific
ranges, particularly in highly deviated and
horizontal wells. Besides the conventional
parameters of yield point, plastic viscosity,
fluid loss, and gel strength, the dynamic
settling characteristics of the drilling fluid
must also be considered. Several authors 1-3
indicate that drilling-fluid yield point is the
critical parameter that must be controlled to
very specific ranges. One author 4 suggests
that the drilling fluid should have a yield-
point/plastic-viscosity ratio greater than one
(with yield point in IbfllOO ft2 and plastic
viscosity in centipoise). The drilling-fluid
settling characteristic must be controlled by
some means to prevent solids settling and
thus to allow an adequate flow path for
placement of the cement slurry.
Also, in horizontal wells, an increased
possibility of a narrow casing-to-wellbore
clearance on one side exists because of pipe
eccentricity combined with gravitational
forces. Inadequate clearance on the narrow
side of these wellbores can lead to un-
cemented portions of casing circumference
because of the excessive forces needed to
move any material (solids or gelled drilling
fluids) in this area. Any casing eccentricity
becomes critical in horizontal wells because
of its effect on flow velocity distributions
in the wellbore. The fastest velocities are in
the center of the wide side of the annulus,
while no fluid movement may occur on the
April 1990 • JPT

Fig. i-Parameters that affect cementing of horizontal wellbores.
narrow side, which is normally the lower
side. Tops of cement on different sides of
the annulus can be separated by hundreds
of feet as a result of these effects .
Flow rate should be controlled at the
highest displacement rate possible, so that
breakdown of the critical horizontal portion
of the wellbore does not occur during the
cementing process.
Spacer composition and type also need to
be considered very carefully . In the case of
weighted turbulent-flow spacer systems, the
design chosen should have minimal settling
at high deviation angles. This settling should
be studied for velocity profiles expected in
the casing and in both the narrow- and wide-
side annular regions. Unremoved low-side
solids channels and cement slurry channel-
ing will probably result if the design is not
correct.
Pipe movement, either rotation or recipro-
cation, has been shown to be beneficial in
breaking up or dislodging pockets of gelled
drilling fluid for better displacement effici-
ency .5 When used with wall cleaners, pipe
movement is especially helpful in removing
low-side solids in horizontal sections .
JPT • April 1990
Pipe Centralization
Higher well-deviation angles generally make
drilling-fluid removal more difficult and thus
require greater attention to ensure that me-
chanical cementing aids function properly.
Because pipe centralization is critical to good
cement-job performance, design considera-
tions, usage, and common problems with
centralizers should be addressed .
The primary purpose of centralizers is to
prevent channeling during the drilling-fluid
displacement process by keeping the pipe
centered in the hole. In addition, centralizers
can be useful in preventing sticking in highly
permeable formations and in reducing casing
wear.
The most common problem associated
with centralizers is that an insufficient num-
ber of them are used. Another problem is
that centralizers cause an excessive amount
of drag. Spacing between centralizers should
be calculated with a computer model to
achieve the best performance and to mini-
mize drag while maintaining a given stand-
off.6 A common misconception is that the
minimum standoff occurs at the centralizer
instead of at the midpoint between centraliz-
sPETechlWlogy
Today SERIES
"Spacing between
centralizers should be
calculated with a
compllter model· to
achieve the best
performance an~ to
minimize drag while
maintaining a given
standoff."
ers . Casing sag generally determines the
spacing between centralizers in a horizontal
hole.
Centralizer designs can be divided into
two types on the basis of how they provide
their centering ability. Bow-spring centraliz-
ers rely on elliptical leaf springs to obtain
a centering force that is directed radially in-
ward· toward the casing centerline. Rigid
(positive) centralizers support the casing by
means of solid spacers. .,
Additional casing attachments often used
witb centralizers include stop collars ana
wall cleaners . Stop collars (limit · clamps)
keep otner attachments in place on the
casing. Wall cleaners remove ftlter cake and
gelled drilling fluid to allow better bonding
of the cement between the formation face
and the casing . Wall cleaners function by
pipe reciprocation and/or rotation, which
move the cleaner elements past tbe forma-
tion. Wall cleaners incorporate either wire
spikes (scratchers) or looped cable to contact
the casing. Using wall cleaners in h9rizontal
holes is somewhat controversial. The casing
would need to be well-centralized to allow
the cleaners to function correctly. Poor pipe
399
 centralization when wall cleaners are used
Author
is believed to be the major cause of wall
Fred L. Sabins Is cleaner failure. Improper installation is also
supervisor of the a cause of many failures.
Engineering Re-
search Group of Optimal Cement Slurry Design
the Cement Sec-
tion at Halliburton Certain cement slurry properties take on
added importance when cement designs are
Services. He heads
research In mud considered for use in horizontal wells. For
displacement, gas- example, throughout the industry, 0% free
flow problems, water is considered necessary. 1,7 If free
geothermal ce-
water is present in a cement slurry used in
ments, bulk blending and sampling, and
design of cement laboratory equipment.
a horizontal well, a water channel can form
He holds a BS degree In chemical engi- through the cemented interval, allowing
neering from New Mexico State U. and communication of fracturing or reservoir
Is coauthor of 13 papers on cementing fluids. The industry disagrees, however, on
topics. Sabins Is a Forum Series chair- the exact method to simulate downhole con-
man and member of the Editorial Review
ditions for testing free water content. Be-
Committee and Speakers Bureau. low are suggested testing methods and slurry
types for achieving good cementing results
under these conditions.
1. Measure cement-slurry free water
inside a 45° -to-horizontal deviated cylinder
after conditioning slurry for placement simu-
lation to bottornhole circulating temperature
(BHCT) and bottornhole pressure. Zero per-
cent free water after a 2-hour static period
is highly recommended. 8
2. Measure slurry settling characteristics
in a vertical cylinder after the precondition-
ing mentioned in Step 1. Density differences
between the top, middle, and bottom of the
cylinder after 2 hours should not be greater
than 0.5 Ibm/gal [59.8 kg/m3].
3. Fluid-loss values measured at BHCT
and 1,000 psi [6.9 MPa] should be < 100
cm 3/30 min (assuming that the horizontal
portion of the hole will accept fluid).
4. Standard cementing compositions are
applicable to horizontal wells. Where frac-
ture gradients are low, however, two-stage
cement jobs can be avoided through the use
of lightweight slurries containing foam,
rnicrospheres, or other low-density materi-
als. Expansive cements (gas-generating or'
chemical) can be used to improve bonding
with the casing.
Any cementing system currently used in
vertical and deviated wells can be used in
horizontal applications, but only if the prop-
erties are designed appropriately for the
horizontal environment. The literature 7 in-
dicates that specialty cements (foam cement
and rnicrospheres) have been used with
some success in horizontal wells.
Evaluating Cements
With Acoustic Tools
After the cement is placed in a horizontal
well and sufficient waiting-on-cement time
has elapsed, the quality of the cement job
should be determined. Parameters consid-
ered in evaluating the job quality are bond
to the pipe, annular fill, and presence of
channels.
The capability of acoustic tools to predict
these parameters has been the subject of
much discussion in the industry. In horizon-
tal wells, one of the biggest problems is cen-
tralization of the acoustic tools to obtain
accurate data. Parcevaux 7 suggested that
400
good interpretation is unlikely because of de-
centralization of both the casing and the tool
inside the casing. Moritis 9 indicated that a
number of wells have been evaluated, but
that the results of the logs have not been pub-
lished. Each author describes the procedures
used but reports only marginal results. The
intrinsic problem associated with acoustic
bond tools and tools that use pulse-echo
technology in conventional wells are out-
lined by Beirute et at. 10 These parameters
added to other considerations involving
horizontal centralization make cement eval-
uation a difficult task.
Review
The major problems associated with obtain-
ing a good cement job in horizontal wells
can be categorized into four areas: hole
cleaning and drilling-fluid displacement,
centralization of pipe, optimizing cement
slurry designs, and evaluation with acoustic
tools. Each area has specific problems
that must be addressed if a horizontal well
is to be cemented correctly and evaluated
properly.
References
1. Markle, R.D.: "Drilling Engineering Con-
siderations in Designing a Shallow, Horizon-
tal Well at Nonnal Wells, N.W.T., Canada,"
paper SPE 16148 presented at the 1987
SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, New
Orleans, March 15-18.
2. Spreux, A., Georges, C., and Lessi, J.:
"Horizontal Well Operations-6, Most Prob-
lems in Horizontal Completions Are Re-
solved," Oil & Gas J. (June 13, 1988) 48-52.
3. Crook, R.J., Keller, S.R., and Wilson, M.A.:
"Deviated Wellbore Cementing: Part 2: So-
lutions," JPT(Aug. 1987) 961-66; Trans.,
AIME,283.
4. Zurdo, C., Georges, C., and Martin, M.:
"Mud and Cement for Horizontal Wells,"
paper SPE 15464 presented at the 1986 SPE
Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition,
New Orleans, Oct. 5-8.
5. Wenande, B.: "A Review of the First
Horizontal Well-Denmark," paper present-
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London, Dec. 2-3.
6. Austin, C. et al.: "Fundamentals of Horizon-
tal Well Completions," Drilling (May/June
1988) 28-31.
7. Parcevaux, P.: "Guides Emerge for Cement-
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19, 1987) 35-41.
8. Wilson, M.A. and Sabins, F.L.: "A Labo-
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tal Wells," SPEDE (Sept. 1988) 275-80.
9. Moritis, G.: "More Infonnation from
Horizontal Well Survey," Oil & Gas J.
(March 13, 1989) 63-65.
10. Beirute, R.M., Wilson, M.A., and Sabins,
F.L.: "Attenuation of Casing Cemented With
Conventional and Expanding Cements Across
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nual Technical Conference and Exhibition,
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This paper is SPE 20005. Technology Today Series arti-
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JPT • April 1990