Mud-to-cement technology converts industry practices

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Petroleum Engineer International; (United States)

OSTI ID:6121882

Bell, S

Zonal isolation in the annulus of a producing well is the driving force behind the search for new cementing technology. A new process uses hydraulic blast furnace slag (BFS) to convert water-based drilling fluid into a cement, improving complete well bore isolation potential. In the past, Portland well cements have been one of the primary methods for establishing zonal isolation. Casing and cementing a well has been the most consistently effective way of negating communication between permeable reservoir sections. Zonal isolation is critical for fracture stimulating multiple reservoir zones and allows shut-off of unwanted migration from a gas cap or water zone. A weakness of conventional cementing, however, is obtaining a reliable seal at the borehole wall. Cementing jobs often are ineffective due to contamination of the cement by drilling fluids used earlier in the well. The development of mud-to-cement(MTC) techniques improved traditional methods. BFS combines fluid and solid properties to improve zonal isolation and casing support. The material also is low in cost, widely available, and simple to design and handle. Achieving a proper level of activation with slag material is fairly easy. Previous MTC processes used additives to adjust properties, and performance varied depending on well conditions.

• OSTI ID: 6121882
• Journal Information: Petroleum Engineer International; (United States), Vol. 65:9; ISSN 0164-8322
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
CEMENTS
PERFORMANCE
NATURAL GAS WELLS
WELL COMPLETION
OIL WELLS
WELL CASINGS
CEMENTING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DRILLING FLUIDS
SLAGS
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
BUILDING MATERIALS
EVALUATION
FLUIDS
MATERIALS
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing