You Cannot

Cementing
Neglect any of
these in the Job
Designing

Well Parameters

Cementing


Techniques
Job Design

Additives
Primary


Cementing
Groups

Plug Cementing
Slurry Design

Squeeze


Cementing
Casing
Hardware


Mud Removal

Primary Cementing

Cementing Additives

Groups

Cem. Additives Groups

• Accelerators
• Retarders
• Extenders
• Weighting Agents
• Dispersants
• Fluid Loss Control Agents
• Lost Circulation Control Agent
• Special Additives

 Accelerator

Pervious CSH



Silicate
• C013-CaCl2, C505-NaCl (<18%)

• C013-CaCl2 used at 1-4% BWOC (mixed in water or
Dry Blended)

• 2% C013, reduces TT by 50% and increases ECS by 50
to 75%

• C505-NaCl2 used in Salt Saturated Systems

• Used for Shallow Conductors & Casings, Lost Circulation
curing

 C013 Calcium Chloride

• C013-CaCl2 used at 1-4%
BWOC (mixed in water or Dry
Blended)

calcium chloride increase the

• 2% C013, reduces TT by 50% permeability of the C-S-H gel

building around each silicate
and increases ECS by 50 to 75%
grain and therefore give water

• May cause Flash Set

ready access to the grain’s
anhydrous surface. This

• Increases slurry temperature

would shorten the induction
period

• 10% to 50% Shrinkage

• Increses Slurry Rheology

 Retarders

CSH Gel

Impervious Layer of Retader
Silicate

• Retarders inhibit hydration and delay setting

• Retarders are adsorbed onto the initial layer
of C-S-H gel, rendering it hydrophobic and
prolonging the induction period

• Comprise of sodium and calcium salts of
lignosulfonic acids such as C100/C101

 Retarders Cont.

• When treated with other chemicals such as borax,
lignosulfonates can be used up to 315 degC (600 degF) such
as C102, C103, C104)

• Hydroxycarboxylic acids C105 retard hydration but are not
used when the bottomhole temperature is below 200 degF.
Otherwise, thickening times become excessively long.

• Cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl
cellulose (CMHEC) (C305) have been used as retarders up to
250 degF CMHEC have secondary effects such as improved
fluid-loss control, which may be desirable, and higher slurry
viscosity, which may be undesirable

 Retarders Cont.

• organophosphonates, are effective at

bottomhole circulating temperatures as high as
204 degC (400 degF). They tend to tolerate
variations in cement composition and can
lower the viscosity of high-density cement
slurries

 Extenders

• Cement extenders reduce slurry density and lower
hydrostatic pressure during cementing operations.

• They also reduce the amount of cement needed for the
cementing operation. Because they are less expensive
than cement, they bring considerable savings.

• Three types of extenders are:

• water extenders,

• low-density aggregates

• gas

 Extenders Cont.

• Water extenders allow the addition of water to

the slurry while ensuring that solids remain in
suspension.

• Water Extenders are:

• C501 Bentonite, C511 Attapulgite

• C400 Sodium Silicates

 Extenders Cont.

• C501 Bentonite, C511 Attapulgite

• a clay mineral that has the unusual property of
expanding several times its original volume when
placed in water.

• This increases the slurry’s viscosity and its ability to
suspend solids.

• Bentonite C501 is added in concentrations as high as
20 % BWOC. Slurry density quickly decreases with
bentonite concentration. However, there is a price to
be paid in terms of compressive strength. calcium

 Extenders Cont.

CSH Gel

+ NaSiO2

Silicate

• Soduim Silicates C400

• Sodium silicate C400 reacts with the
calcium hydroxide in the cement slurry to
produce a viscous C-S-H gel allowing
large volumes of water to be added to
the slurry.

 Extenders Cont.

• Low-density aggregates are materials of density less than that of Portland
cement, which is 3.15 g/cm3.

• The most commonly used are

• pozzolans, which also increase its compressive strength by

reacting with the calcium hydroxide in the slurry.

• finely-divided siliceous and aluminous materials. They are obtained

from volcanic ash,

• diatomaceous earth and fly ash from coal-burning power stations.

• C402 microspheres, small gas-filled beads with specific gravities as

low as 0.2. Since they are lighter than water, slurry density is
substantially reduced without adding large quantities of water. As
a result, compressive strength is preserved

 Extenders Cont.

• Gases such as nitrogen
or sometimes air, are
used to prepare foamed
cement with
exceptionally low
density.

• Similar to microspheres,
using air as an extender
requires no additional
water

 Weighting Agents

• In high-pressure gas wells or in physically unstable wellbores,
high-density fluids are required to maintain control.

• Mud Density can go up to 18 lbm/gal and cement slurries of
equal or higher density become necessary.

• To increasing cement density the water in the slurry can be
reduced. However, this can make the slurry difficult to pump.

• Alternatively, materials of high specific gravity can be added.
These must have a particle size similar to that of the cement.
The most commonly used weighting agents are C500
hematite (Fe2O3) and C504 barite (BaSO4) with densities of
41.2 lbm/gal and 36 lbm/gal respectively.

 Dispersants

• Dispersants control slurry rheology and help induce
turbulence at low pumping rates.

• Dispersants also allow the water content of the cement
to be lowered without making it difficult to pump.

• Dispersants neutralize positive charges on cement
particles which would otherwise make them mutually
attractive. They effectively break up aggregates into
individual particles.

• Dispersants improve cement homogeneity and lower its
permeability

 Dispersants Cont.

• An overdose of dispersants can produce a phase separation
in the cement slurry. That results in cement particles settling
out of solution and the development of free water.

• The most common dispersants are sulfonates containing
highly branched polymers.

• Polynapthalene sulfonate PNS C200 and Polymelamine
Sulfonate (PMS) C201 as liquid form are the most widely
used.

• Hydroxy Carboxylic Acid
has a mix of dispersant and
retarder effect.

• Dispersants has also some retarding effect on the setting of
the cement slurry

 Dispersant Cont.

Dispersant is negatively charged, fixes on Ca++

Cement
Text
grain surfaces become uniformly negatively charged

Like signs repel – disperses particles

Too much dispersant (overdispersion) > Phase separation

 Dispersant Cont.



Cement grain

PNS

Adsorption of polymers able to induce ‘steric’ repulsion

Can Text
be a
dual effect with electrostatic repulsion (i.e. PNS/PMS)
C200/C201

Has been shown to be a much stronger repulsive mechanism

 FLAC

• When cement is placed across a permeable formation
under pressure, a filtration process is created.

• Water from the slurry escapes into the formation and
the cement particles are left behind. If this fluid loss is
not controlled, the rheology, thickening time and
density of the slurry will change and the cementing job
could fail.

• To prevent water loss and maintain slurry
characteristics, FLAC agents are added to the cement
slurry.

• FLACs reduce the permeability of the
cement filter cake that is deposited on
the formation surface when fluid loss
starts.

• Some FLAC agents also increase the

viscosity of the aqueous phase of the
cement slurry, thus reducing the rate
of filtration.

• Two types of FLAC agents are used:

• finely-divided materials and

• water-soluble polymers.

Particle
Plugging

Polymer
Plugging

 FLAC Cont.

• Finely-divided materials, such as C501
bentonite, enter the filter cake, lodge between
the particles and lower permeability.

• More commonly used are C303 emulsion
polymers made of latex particles that act the
same way as bentonite.

• C303 Latex cements have excellent fluid-loss
characteristics and can be used to 176 degC
(350 degF).

 FLAC Cont.

• Water-soluble polymers such as C300 operate by increasing
the viscosity of the aqueous phase and/or lowering the filter
cake permeability.

• Water-soluble cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyethyl
cellulose (HEC) such as C305 and Non-ionic synthetic
polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are also used.
However, these can make the slurry more viscous and difficult
to mix. Their efficiency also decreases with increasing
temperature.

• At high well temperatures, cationic polymers, such as
polyethylene imine (PEI) such as C304, are frequently adopted.
These can control fluid loss at temperatures up to 225 degC
(437 degF) , but they also encourage slurry sedimentation.



Disperse cement grains and improve packing --> reduced permeability

Filter Cake

Without Dispersant
With Dispersant

RANDOM PACKING
ORDERED PACKING




HIGH PERMEABILITY
LOW PERMEABILITY

 Lost Circulation Control
Agents

• If circulation is lost during a primary
cement job, expensive remedial
cementing will usually be needed.

• Circulation loss can occur in fractured,
vuggy or cavernous formations.
Generally, drilling parameters tell the
operator when to expect lost
circulation problems.

• Circulation losses are normally
prevented by adding materials that
bridge fractures and block weak zones

Lost Circulation Control
Agents Cont.

• Granular materials, such as gilsonite, granular coal ground walnut
or pecan shells, coarse bentonite or even ground corn cobs are
sometimes used.

• C080 Polypropylene, Cellophane, Plyester and Fiberglass flakes
are important bridging agent. The flakes form a mat that seals the
face of the fracture and prevents cement from entering the
formation.

• If vugs or caverns in the formation are so large that bridging
agents do not work, thixotropic cements C515/C509 can be
used. When thixotropic cement enters the formation and slows
down, it experiences less shear force and begins to gel, becoming
self-supporting and eventually plugging the cavern or vug.

 Anti/Defoamer

• Antifoaming agents prevent foaming that often arises
when additives are mixed into the cement slurry.

• Excessive foaming can cause a loss in hydraulic
pressure possibly wrecking the cementing operation.

• Polyethylene glycol C010 is the cheapest and most
commonly used antifoaming agent. To work
properly, it is mixed with the water before slurry
preparation.

• The more expensive silicone emulsions C011 will
defeat a foam regardless of when they are added.

 Special Additives

• Fibrous C080 and Strengthening Agents C081:

• Fibrous materials are mixed with cement to
increase its resistance to stresses that
develop around drill collars or during
perforating.

• Nylon fibers C080 and particulate rubber
C081 are the two most popular
strengthening agents.

 Special Additives Cont.

• GASTIGHT C303/C020

• Gas wells present special problems. During drilling and while
the cement is being pumped, the hydrostatic pressure of the
borehole fluid prevents gas from entering the wellbore.

• As soon as the slurry begins setting, it loses its ability to
transmit hydrostatic pressure and gas can migrate into the
wellbore.

• Additives have been developed to prevent gas migration.
Among the most successful are special latices, such as
GASTIGHT that coagulate at the gas-cement interface
forming a membrane impermeable to gas.

Special Additives Cont.

• Silica Flour C030 and Silica Sand C031

• Above 110 degC (230 degF), the behavior of
Portland cement changes, not only during
hydration but also after setting.

• Depending on the temperature and the
cement’s C/S ratio, the set cement converts
to a variety of calcium silicate phases. Some
of these reduce compressive strength and
increase permeability.

Special Additives Cont.

• One such phase is alpha-dicalcium-silicate-hydrate (α-C2SH)
that forms from C-S-H gel and calcium hydroxide, which
jointly have a C/S ratio of 1.5 to 2.0.

• Formation of α-C2SH can be prevented by adding about
35% BWOC of silica to the cement,which alters the C/S
ratio to about 0.8.

• The C-S-H gel then produces different calcium silicate
phases tobermorite (C5S6H5) and xonotlite (C6S6H) that
are stable.

• Other calcium silicate phases have been extensively studied,
and some like truscottite and a sodium substituted calcium
silicate, pectolite, have been found stable.