WELL CEMENTING

PRESENTED BY S. CHANDA DY. CED

TECHNOLOGY

PRIMARY CEMENTING

PRIMARY CEMENTING

PRIMARY CEMENTING
Primary cementing is the first cementing operation performed after the casing has been run in the hole. This is accomplished by pumping cement slurry down inside casing and displaced it out into the annular space between the casing and the borehole. The cement is then allowed to set before drilling is resumed or the well is completed. The main function of primary cementation are :(1) To bond and support the casing. (2) To isolate the drinking water zone (3) To keep the well safe for drilling oil & gas zones (4) Protecting the casing from corrosion. (5) To restrict fluid movements between formations. (6) Protecting the casing from shock loads during drilling deeper. (7) Sealing-off problematic zones. (8) Last and the most important is Complete and durable zonal isolation for oil and gas production

PRIMARY CEMENTING TECHNIQUES

No. of techniques are used for primary cementing. Following are the three most commonly used techniques :1.Single stage cementation 2.Multi stage cementation 3.Liner cementation

API & ISO Classification system

The requirement for well cements(WC) are more rigorous than construction cements(CC) .WC must perform over a wide range of temp and pressures and are exposed to subterranean conditions that CC do not encounter . Oil well cement s are compositions variable concntrations of C3S2,C2S,C3A and C4AF There are 8 classes of API-ISO Portland cement designated A-H Class-A-ordinary Portland Cement Class-B-medium(MSR) to high (HSR) sulphate resistance Portland Cement Class-C- Portland Cement wit high early strength in O ,MSR & HSR property Class-D/E/F-known as retarded cements by reducing fast hydrated phases(C3S and C3A) with increase in particle size-rarely used Class-G/H- for use as basic Oil well Cement developed in response improved technology in slurry acc /returd by chem means

SINGLE STAGE CEMENTING

Single stage cementing is most commonly used for primary cementing, where there is no complication or lost circulation and where cement rise in the annulus can be attained in one stage. The single stage primary cementing is normally accomplished by pumping one batch of cement down the casing between two rubber plugs. The bottom plug is placed in the casing, followed by cement slurry. When the batch of cement has been pumped into the casing, a top plug is released The top plug is pumped down until it lands on the top of float collar. Thus completing the cement job.

ZONAL ISOLATION
Complete and durable zonal isolation is the foremost goal of the

cement job During the life of a producing oil or gas well, quality of the cement job has a direct impact on the economic longevity of the well. From starting of production to abandon the well ,slurry design and placement technique will effect the well productivity, both physically & economically If allowed to set undisturbed Portland cement system with 16 ppg density usually exhibit very matrix permeability. During the production phase cement is subject to various severe conditions that effect the longevity of the matrix permeability-termed called cracking /Debonding is caused by thermal & pressure fluctuations- subsequently cement integrity is lost resulting secondary cement job for isolation repair

STAGE CEMENTING
Stage cementing consist of placement of cement slurry first around the lower portion of a casing string using conventional primary cementing technique and then cementing the successive upper stages through ports in the stage collar. Most stage cementing is in two stages, although additional stages are possible. Cementation is required to be done in two or more stages because of the following reasons:-

Down hole formation unable to support hydrostatic pressure exerted by a long column of cement.
Cement not required between widely separated intervals. When the volumes of cement cannot be handled with the limited cementing equipment. To cement deep wells with high bottom hole temp, where cement slurries of different thickening time for different stages can be used.

For cementing of high pressure gas zones and water producing horizons.

STAGE COLLAR

Fig. Showing two-stage cementing of a casing string.

The sequence of operation for two stage cementation is shown in the figure above. After first stage cementing has been performed in a conventional manner, an opening bomb is dropped to land in the lower seat of the stage collar. By pressuring up (1200 to 1500 psi). The retaining pins are sheared, the sleeve moves down and the ports are opened. The well is then circulated to clear the ports and condition the mud. For cementing the second stage, spacers and slurries are mixed as in any single stage job. The closing plug is dropped after the slurry pumping and is displaced till it seat on the upper sleeve in stage collar. After the plug has seated, a minimum of 1200-1500 psi above the second stage displacing pressure is required to close the collar ports. And thus completing the two stage cementing job.

Following are some of the points to be considered before primary cementing job. Hole condition a) Well bore shall be preferably 3 larger than casing diameter (absolute minimum 1.5) inch. b)It shall be as near gauge as possible without washouts and severe dog legs. c) It shall be stabilize and properly conditioned, free from lost circulation, tight pull, caving and activity. d)Tally the casing and total depth such that the casing can be landed within 1.5 m (5 ft.) of the bottom (floor). e) Caliper logs must be taken to determine hole volume to achieve desired cement rise.

Mud conditioning.
a. Adjust Plastic Viscosity (Pv) and Yield Point (Y ) to the lowest possible values without dropping Solids.
p

b. Condition hole with good surface conditioned mud at a rate anticipated for cement pumping rate for 1.5 to 2 cycles (minimum).
c. Use carbide pills, oats or other fluids caliper that indicate at least 90% of the hole mud is being circulated.

Cement slurry design

a)Determine the maximum allowable down hole density to prevent fracturing. The density of cement should be at least 1 ppg (preferable 2 to 3 ppg) heavier than the drilling mud. b) Determine BHCT from logs and API temperature data/tables.

d)Water separation: For:- 1) Normal slurries ------- 1.0% or less 2) Prevention of gas channeling Nil e) Determine cement slurry thickening time at BHCT and BHP. Minimum thickening time should be job time plus one hour thickening time to a consistency of 50 Bc. f) Use 33% to 40% silica at static temperature above 110 degree C

g) For cement slurries to be placed across salt formations, use 20% to 37%(saturation) sodium chloride. h)Use the same mix water in lab as that will be used on the location. I) Analyze water on the location prior to mixing j) Check slurry consistency in lab mixed 0.5 ppg heavier. Slurry consistency(Initial) For:- 1) Turbulent flow : 10 Bc or less 2) Plug flow : 30 Bc (approx) 3) other slurries : 2o Bc or less 4) Scavenger slurries : No measurement applicable

Preflush/Spacer
Check compatibility of preflush/spacer, drilling mud and cement slurry at room temperature and BHCT.
Design preflush/spacer to be displaced ahead of cement slurry in turbulent flow (if not possible, then in plug flow) with minimum 10 minutes contact time.

Compressive strength
The minimum compressive strength required to hold the

casing and to seal the formation is 500 psi. compressive strength of cement stone increases with time and temperature. API recommends a maximum pressure of 3000 psi. For the increase of compressive strength, the water cement ratio of cement slurry is reduced or accelerators, like CaCI2 are used at low temperature and silica flour above 110 degree C.

CEMENT ADDITIVES
ACCELERATORS Accelerating a slurry means shortening the Thickening Time or reducing the time required to gain Compressive Strength or both. In general an in-organic material will act as an accelerator. Examples: Calcium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Sea water, potassium Chloride, Sodium Silicate, Gypsum etc

RETARDERS
A material that allows sufficient time for slurry placement by delaying the set of the cement is called a retarder.

In general, any organic material will retard the setting time of a cement slurry.

Examples: Calcium Lignosulfonates, Calcium Lignosulfonates, Organic acids etc.

sodium

FLUID LOSS ADDITIVES

Reduces the rate at which filtrate is lost to a permeable formation.

Works by viscosifying the mix water or by plugging the pore throat in the filtrate cake with long polymer chains.
Examples: Organic polymers (Cellulose) Organic polymers (Dispersants) CMHEC.

DISPERSANTS
Also called friction reducers, these materials make cement slurries easier to mix and pump.
Act on surface charges of the cement grains. Secondary retardation Enhances fluid loss control. Examples; Polynapthalene sulfonate(PNS), Non lignosulfonate.

EXTENDERS
Additives that reduce slurry density and increase slurry yield are called extenders.

Cement may be lightened to protect the weak formations or slurry yield may be increased to reduce the cost.

Examples: water, Bentonite, Pozzolan, Gilsonite etc.

Heavy weight Additives

These are required to counter high formation pressures. Common high density materials are:a) Haematite b) Ilmenite c) Barytes

Thank You For your time.