– An 

Approach for Prevention
of SCP Problem

‐ BK Gupta
 Presentation Outline
ƒ WHAT IS SCP
ƒ ORIGINS OF SCP
ƒ WORLDWIDE SCENARIO
ƒ LONGTERM CEMENT INTEGRITY TO PREVENT SCP
ƒ WELL EVENTS CAUSING STRESSES IN CEMENT SHEATH
ƒ TYPES OF WELL SUBJECTED TO MAXIMUM STRESSES
ƒ TRADITIONAL CEMENT DESIGN
ƒ FACTORS EFFECTING CEMENT SHEATH ANNULAR SEAL
ƒ CONCEPT FOR DURABLE CEMENT DESIGN
ƒ CASE HISTORY
Origins of Sustained Casing Pressure
mud cake
casing
leak

well-head leak

Tensile crack in cement
caused by tubing leak
temperature cycles

low pressure sand

high pressure sand

sand Channel caused by

flow after cementing

Micro‐annulus caused by
casing contraction
 SCP  STATISTICS

**A REVIEW OF SUSTAINED CASING PRESSURE OCCURRING ON THE OCS

ADAM T. BOURGOYNE, JR., LSU STUART L. SCOTT, LSU WOJCIECH MANOWSKI, DOWELL-
SCHLUMBERGER
SCP  STATISTICS
 WHY NEED FOR DURABLE
CEMENT

ƒSustained casing pressure observed on a

number of wells around the globe emphasizes
the need of zonal isolation failure from well
events.
ƒSeepage between the conductor and surface
casing in deepwater wells after put on
production

Main cause: Cement sheath failure due to

stresses induced by well events.
 CASING CEMENTATION OBJECTIVE
TO PREVENT SCP

¾Effective zonal isolation for life of well

Objective achieved if

9Drilling fluid removed from the wide and narrow

side, filling the entire annulus with competent
cement system.

9The set cement withstand the stresses induced by

the well events and maintain its integrity during the
life of the well.
 STRESSES INDUCED BY
WELL EVENTS

LARGE INCREASE OF WELLBORE PRESSURE

ƒ Increase of mud weight

ƒ Pressure integrity test

ƒ Casing perforation

ƒ Stimulation

ƒ Gas production
 STRESSES INDUCED BY
WELL EVENTS

LARGE INCREASE OF WELLBORE TEMPERATURE

ƒ Geothermal production

ƒ Steam injection

ƒ HT/HP wells

ƒ Deepwater wells
 WELLS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CEMENT
SHEATH STRESS FAILURE

ƒDeep water wells

ƒHPHT wells

ƒWells completed in weak unconsolidated

formations

ƒSteam injection wells

ƒISC wells

ƒProducing wells converted to injectors

ƒCBM/Shale gas wells

 TRADITIONAL DESIGN

Traditionally cementing operations carried out

by suitable design of

ƒThe short term slurry properties

9Historically focused on compressive
strength
9Effects of events during the well’s life not
considered

ƒProper slurry placement

CONCEPT FOR DURABLE CEMENT

Even if the slurry properly placed during the

cementing job, and initially fulfills its isolation
role

¾Changes in down hole conditions induces

sufficient stresses to destroy the integrity of
the cement sheath

¾Flexural and tensile strength more

important form zonal prospective than
compressive strength.
 FACTORS EFFECTING CEMENT
SHEATH LONG TERM DURABILITY

‰Formation Type

‰Set Cement Mechanical Properties

‰Casing Physical Properties

 ANNULAR SEAL TEST

Plastisol
Sleeve

Simulated Hard or
Simulated Soft Formation
Intermediate Formation
ANNULAR SEAL TEST MODEL
N2 Out

Seal for
Confining
Pressure

Confining
Pressure

Rubber
Sleeve

N2 In
ANNULAR SEAL FAILURE FOR PRESSURE ‐ CYCLED
ANNULAR SEAL FAILURE FOR TEMPERATURE ‐ CYCLED
 BEST DURABLE CEMENTS

ƒCements with high tensile strength to young’s

modulus ratio

ƒLow young’s modulus value compared to that of

rock

ƒHigher value of poison's ratio of set cement

ƒYoung’s modulus and tensile strength greatly

affect cement sheath’s ability to withstand cyclic
stresses loading during the life of the well
 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Tensile Young’s
Slurry
Strength(psi) Modulus
Type I 394/213 19.15 E 4
Type I with
1071 9.6 E 4
Fibers
Latex 539 5.32 E 4
Latex with
902 4.5 E 4
Fibers
 DESIGN CRITERIA

Cement designs to maintain seal in the wellbore

throughout the life of the well.

ƒDecision Support System to predict the cement’s

mechanical properties requirement to withstand
the stresses in the well throughout the full
productive life
ƒCement designs custom fit to individual wellbore
stress environments that changes during the life
time of the well
 Cementing – ISC Wells
Conventional
Completion

Charged
Aquifer

Injector Well Producer Well

Thermal Cycling

Ignition Air Injection

Effect of Thermal Cycling
(On Portland mt slurry with Silica)

Moulds No-1, 2, 3 Thermal cycled upto 300 deg C

Moulds No-4, 5, 6 Thermal cycled upto 400 deg C
 Slurry Properties:
• High temperature resistant Tail slurry

Composition: Portland Cement along with

Metakaolin and Carbon fiber

Parameters: S.G. - 1.78,Thickening time - 210 min,

Free fluid - Nil, API Fluid loss - 230ml/ 30 min,

Resistant to Thermal cycling upto 650 Deg C.

Liquid permeability is retained

 Thermal Properties of Tail
Slurry
Temp Duration of Cumulative Comp. Liquid Remarks
(Deg C) Curing Duration Strength Permeability
(hrs) of Curing (psi) ( md)
(days)
70 24 1 2945 -- --
70 96 4 3125 0.03 --
70Æ350Æ70 72 7 -- -- Thermal
(3 cycle) cycling
70Æ650Æ70 72 10 2930 0.06 Thermal
(3 cycle) cycling
 Cementing – ISC Wells
Ideal
Completion

Injector Well Producer Well

SHORT AND LONG-TERM PROPERTIES

CEMENT SLURRY: CEMENT SHEATH:

Short-term properties Long-term properties
ƒDesired density ƒThermally stable
ƒMixable at the surface ƒResists down hole
ƒStable at bottom hole chemicals
ƒDesired free water ƒMechanical properties
ƒDesired thickening time to withstand stresses
ƒDesired fluid loss from various well events
and provide zonal
ƒDesired comp.strength
isolation during entire
ƒ100% placement life of the well
ƒResists fluid influx
 CHALLENGES IN DEEPWATER
•Unconsolidated Formation over a few
thousand feet below the mud line

•The weaker the formation,the worst the

condition as formation unable to support
cement deformation

•Reservoir temperature several times

higher than the sea bed temperature

•Temperature differential becomes even

higher in ultra deepwater and ultra high
temperature environments