16 Oileld Review

Solutions for Long-Term Zonal Isolation

Raafat Abbas
Erick Cunningham
Trevor Munk
Clamart, France
Bente Bjelland
Norsk Hydro
Bergen, Norway
Vincent Chukwueke
Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij B.V.
Assen, The Netherlands
Alain Ferri
Aberdeen, Scotland
Greg Garrison
Houston, Texas, USA
Doug Hollies
EnCana Corporation
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Chris Labat
ChevronTexaco
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Omar Moussa
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
For help in preparation of this article, thanks to Mario
Bellabarba, The Hague, The Netherlands; Leo Burdylo,
Roger Keese, Bill Miller, Erik Nelson and Don Williamson,
Sugar Land, Texas, USA; Ryan Cammarata, Bill Dacres,
Laurent Delabroy, J ames J ackson and Randy Tercero,
Houston, Texas; Youssef El Marsafawi, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia; Simon J ames, Clamart, France; Brian Koons,
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Christian Mueller, Stavanger,
Norway; Ron Schreuder, Coevorden, The Netherlands; and
David Stiles, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
CBT (Cement Bond Tool), CemCADE, CemCRETE,
CemSTONE, DeepCEM, DeepCRETE, DuraSTONE,
FlexSTONE, GASBLOK, GeoMarket, LiteCRETE, MUDPUSH,
SCMT (SlimCement Mapping Tool), USI (UltraSonic
Imager), Variable Density, VDN (VISION Density Neutron)
and WELLCLEAN II are marks of Schlumberger.
Improving long-term wellbore integrity is a growing priority. Exploration and
production companies recognize that achieving excellent zonal isolation requires
superior mud removal and proper cement-system design. New simulation software,
environmentally friendly primary cementing systems and worldwide eld support
help companies achieve well-construction goals from the outset while enhancing
environmental protection.
Exploration and production (E&P) companies
have been striving for perfect zonal isolation
since the earliest days of wellbore cementing.
The complex relationships between the geology,
chemistry and physics of each oil- or gas-well
completion present unique challenges that
decades of experience alone may not solve.
These challenges manifest themselves in both
new and existing wells.
The scope of existing zonal-isolation problems
is enormous. Worldwide drilling during 2001 led
to 74,000 new wells, of which 48,000 were
drilled in North America.
1
A major concern is that
many existing wells are now experiencing
sustained casing pressure, an indication that a
path exists between a pressure source and an
annulus. In the offshore Gulf of Mexico alone,
11,500 casing annuli in 8000 wells may suffer
sustained casing pressure.
2
Remediation costs
could be as high as US $1 million per well,
including the costs of workover rigs and nding
and xing leaks. In Canada, sustained casing pres-
sure aficts a wide variety of onshore wells, from
shallow gas wells to heavy-oil wells. Correcting
these problems worldwide may cost as much as
US $2.75 billion over 10 years. Clearly, avoiding
these remediation expenses is preferable.
Sustained casing pressure may result from
many causes, such as poor primary cementing,
inadequate requirements in effect when older
wells were cemented or deterioration of the
cement matrix with time. Regardless of the
cause, industry and regulatory bodies recognize
the need to protect the environment from leaking
reservoir uids. Poor zonal isolation may result in
a loss of well control or contamination of water
1. World Trends: Industry Pace Should Quicken, World
Oil 223, no. 8 (August 2002): 3337.
For more on 2001 drilling data:
http://www.worldoil.com/magazine/magazine_link.asp?A
RT_LINK=02-08_world-abraham_T2.htm#top.
2. Bourgoyne AT J r, Scott SL and Manowski W: A Review
of Sustained Casing Pressure Occurring on the OCS,
LSU study funded by the Minerals Management Service,
US Department of the Interior, Washington, DC, under
Contract Number 14-35-001-30749.
3. For more on remediating existing wellbores: Barclay I,
Pellenbarg J , Tettero F, Pfeiffer J , Slater H, Staal T,
Stiles D, Tilling G and Whitney C: The Beginning
of the End: A Review of Abandonment and
Decommissioning Practices, Oileld Review 13,
no. 4 (Winter 2001/2002): 2841.
Boisnault J M, Guillot D, Bourahla A, Tirlia T, Dahl T,
Holmes C, Raiturkar AM, Maroy P, Moffett C,
Prez Meja G, Ramrez Martnez I, Revil P and
Roemer R: Concrete Developments in Cementing
Technology, Oileld Review 11, no. 1 (Spring 1999): 1629.
Autumn 2002 17
sources, which can be catastrophic for the environ-
ment and the local population. Improving primary
cementing in new wells and repairing leaking
wells are logical steps toward improving zonal
isolation and protecting the environment.
3
In this article, we discuss solutions that
improve zonal isolation in primary cementing,
beginning with mud-removal technology.
Examples from operations demonstrate the
impact of new techniques and uids. Innovative
simulation software and a worldwide network of
eld-support laboratories help engineers opti-
mize cement-job designs.
Optimizing Mud Removal
Effective drilling-uid removal is a prerequisite for
primary cementing success. As the cement slurry
sets, mud left in the wellbore can prevent develop-
ment of a hydraulic seal, which can result in
such adverse phenomena as the production
of unwanted uids, loss of hydrocarbons to
low-pressure zones, sustained casing pressure,
underground blowouts or accelerated casing
corrosion. These can lead to additional, and usually
unexpected, expenses to solve these problems. In
addition to the general condition and quality of the
wellbore, factors inuencing mud removal include
mud conditioning, displacement procedures, well
geometry and centralization of the casing.
In preparing to cement a casing string, a
cementing crew pumps a series of uids down
the casing to displace the drilling uid from the
interior of the casing and the casing-formation
annulus. The rst uid pumped usually is a chem-
ical wash or spacer that separates the drilling
uid from the cement slurry.
Chemical washes have a density and viscos-
ity close to that of water or oil; water, diesel or
oil may be used as base uids for chemical
washes. When pumped ahead of the cement
slurry, they promote mud removal by diluting,
thinning and dispersing the mud. Chemical
washes can be formulated to remove both
water- and oil-base drilling uids. Ultimately,
chemical washes improve the quality of the bond
between the casing and the cement, and
between the cement and the formation. Because
chemical washes tend to have a low viscosity,
they are pumped in turbulent flow (right).
Chemical washes are available for a wide variety
of applications.
Spacer uids also provide a buffer that is
chemically compatible with both the drilling uid
and the cement slurry during displacement.
Complete displacement of drilling uid by the
spacer is critical to the establishment of zonal
isolation; incomplete displacement may result in
a continuous mud channel across the zone of
interest, creating communication paths between
zones. Such communication results in the pro-
duction of unwanted uids, loss of hydrocarbons
and even migration of uids to surface. For oil-
base muds, the surfactants used in chemical
washes and spacers change the wettability of
the casing and the formation near the wellbore
from oil-wet to water-wet. This contributes to
improved cement bonding.
MUDPUSH II spacers are compatible with
cement slurries, water- and oil-base mud, and
fresh water, seawater or brackish water. These
spacers can be designed at densities from 10 to
20 lbm/gal [1200 to 2400 kg/m
3
], and at temper-
atures up to 300F [149C]. The spacers have
demonstrated excellent reproducibility between
laboratory design and eld performance, and are
easy to mix at the wellsite.
The MUDPUSH II spacer properties are
adjusted to minimize environmental impact,
including lower toxicity, improved biodegradation
and lower bioaccumulation.
4
A smaller quantity
of chemicals than that required with other
spacers produces the desired performance char-
acteristics. Fewer chemicals are discharged or
handled as uids return to surface, less storage
space is required and less waste is generated.
Optimizing the rheological properties of a
spacer uid improves zonal isolation and mud dis-
placement. Rapid selection and adjustment of
additive concentrations in spacer uids now are
possible with the WELLCLEAN II Engineering
Solution Advisor software. This software reduces
the time and effort required to optimize uid prop-
erties, whether the uids are designed for turbu-
lent or laminar ow. Simulation results from
CemCADE cementing design and evaluation soft-
ware, which are based on actual data, can be
imported into WELLCLEAN II Advisor software.
5
When used to design the cementing job, the output
from the WELLCLEAN II Advisor software reduces
the risk of error and improves the efciency.
When designing a MUDPUSH II spacer for
removing mud in turbulent ow, the WELLCLEAN II
Advisor software indicates the optimal additive
concentration to stabilize the spacer so that
weighting agents do not settle out and the rheo-
logical properties do not change. At the same
time, the software sets uid properties at the
best level to achieve turbulent ow at low pump
rates. In some cases, pumping-rate restrictions
require a laminar ow regime; turbulent ow
generally involves higher pumping rates. If the
strategy species design of the spacer for lami-
nar ow, the software provides optimized spacer
properties and additive concentrations at the
required density and temperature. The degree of
mud removal and the presence of mud channels
are more commonly linked to wellbore geometry,
rugosity, washouts, uid viscosity and density
than to ow regime. Multiple simulations demon-
strate the consequences of various additive
concentrations on spacer properties. Spacer prop-
erties for a particular job are always designed for
compatibility with the mud and cement.
In addition to a comprehensive database
of laboratory tests, the WELLCLEAN II Advisor
software provides mathematical models and a
reasoning engine that can derive spacer prop-
erties by interpolating results at various
temperatures, densities and additive concentra-
tions (next page). The software incorporates the
Bingham plastic, power-law and Herschel-
Bulkley rheological models.
6
Field measurements of spacer properties
designed using the WELLCLEAN II Advisor soft-
ware have proved to closely match predicted
design data. For example, on a high-pressure
well in the Middle East, the mud density required
to kill the well was 18.7 lbm/gal [2240 kg/m
3
].
A fracture gradient close to the pore pressure
resulted in drilling-uid losses across the weaker
zones. The operator decided to run and cement
18 Oileld Review
4. Bioaccumulation is the enrichment of a substance
in an organism, such as bioconcentration fromexposure
to the substance in the environment or uptake fromthe
food chain.
5. For more on CemCADE software: Fraser L, Stanger B,
Grifn T, J abri M, Sones G, Steelman M and Valk P:
Seamless Fluids Programs: A Key to Better Well
Construction, Oileld Review 8, no. 2 (Summer
1996): 4256.
6. A Binghamplastic model is a two-parameter rheological
model widely used in the drilling-uids industry to
describe ow characteristics of many types of uids.
Fluids obeying this model exhibit a linear shear-stress,
shear-rate behavior after an initial shear-stress threshold
has been reached. A Herschel-Bulkley uid can be
described mathematically by a three-parameter rheologi-
cal model. The Herschel-Bulkley equation is preferred
to power-law or Binghamrelationships because it results
in more accurate models of rheological behavior when
adequate experimental data are available. A power-law
uid is described by a two-parameter rheological model
of a pseudoplastic uid, or a uid whose viscosity
decreases as shear rate increases. Water-base polymer
muds, especially those made with XC polymer, t the
power-law mathematical equation better than the
Binghamplastic or other two-parameter models.
7. Primary cementing operations may involve as many
as four slurries, but jobs with two slurries, known
as the lead slurry and the tail slurry, are more common.
Lead refers to the rst slurry pumped during primary
cementing operations. Tail refers to the last slurry
pumped during primary cementing operations. Typically,
the tail slurry covers the pay zone and is denser than
the lead slurry.
8. Bonett A and Patis D: Getting to the Root of Gas
Migration, Oileld Review 8, no. 1 (Spring 1996): 3649.
9. For more on the Tampen operations: Bjelland B,
Hansen K and Abbas R: Tampen Planning Gets Concrete
Results, Harts E&P 75, no. 8 (August 2002): 7072.
Static mud
layer
Flowing
fluid
Laminar Flow Turbulent Flow
>
Mud-removal ow dynamics. In laminar ow
(left), ow lines are parallel and individual parti-
cles move in parallel paths. Mud particles tend
to accumulate near the borehole wall, making
complete mud removal difcult. In turbulent ow
(right), the energetic, swirling eddies entrain
more mud particles than laminar owpaths
before becoming saturated. The turbulent eddies
also move surfactants or dispersants in the
chemical wash or spacer uid throughout the
borehole to deform and remove the static mud
layer at the borehole wall.
Autumn 2002 19
a liner, and required an optimized spacer uid
on short notice.
Typically, designing the spacer for this situa-
tion would require a lengthy laboratory process.
However, the WELLCLEAN II Advisor software
quickly optimized the spacer design using actual
well conditions and uid properties. The liner
was cemented successfully, and the operator
beneted from the efcient process to design an
effective spacer for such difcult conditions.
There were no indications that any cement was
lost during operations.
In ordinary cementing operations, the spacer
may be followed by multiple cement slurries.
7
The preush-spacer-cement series must displace
all uids from the annulus to prevent develop-
ment of mud or spacer channels within the
cement sheath.
8
Such channels may allow unde-
sirable formation-uid migration. The presence
of mud also can induce shrinkage cracks, reduce
compressive strength or increase permeability,
any of which can negatively affect set-cement
properties. Once the slurry is pumped, a mechan-
ical plug is launched into the casing and
displaced to the bottom of the well by another
uid, usually the drilling uid needed to drill the
next section of hole. At the end of the operation,
cement occupies the annular space between the
casing and the penetrated formation from the
bottom of the hole up to the desired level.
Effective mud removal, a crucial part of any
cementing operation, cannot be achieved
without considering the effects of all relevant
parameters. WELLCLEAN II Engineering Solution
technology makes use of innovative products and
tools to improve cement placement. Together,
these optimized chemical-wash systems, custom
spacers, innovative software and a testing
methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of
preushes in displacing drilling uids all enhance
mud removal and zonal isolation.
Mud Removal in Action
In the mature offshore region of Tampen,
Norway, Norsk Hydro engineers are increasing oil
production by improving zonal isolation with
WELLCLEAN II technology.
9
Although the subsi-
dence, compaction and high downhole stresses
that are common in this area could cause cement
failure, engineers suspected that uid channels
within the cement were their most signicant
problems. These uid channels probably were
caused by poor cement placement in wells that
were highly deviated to horizontal. WELLCLEAN II
simulator results agreed with the cement logs,
indicating intermixing of fluids throughout
the liner length and poor cement coverage of
the annulus.
The WELLCLEAN II simulator software is a
powerful, two-dimensional numerical-simulation
tool for showing critical results such as the
percentage of cement coverage, the uid concen-
trations, the risk of having a mud lm or channel
at the end of the cement job, and the turbulent
contact timeall as a function of depth and
time. The simulator accounts for such parameters
as well geometry and trajectory, downhole uid
properties and volumes, pump rates and casing
centralization. The simulator then predicts the
efciency of mud removal and assesses the
likelihood of a mud channel being left in the
cement. The simulations are presented as two-
dimensional maps that show uid positions and
concentrations, uid velocity and ow regime.
Animations of the simulations show the entire
uid-displacement process for a job.
>
Optimizing spacer designs. WELLCLEAN II Engineering Solution Advisor software simplies and
speeds spacer design.
WELLCLEAN II simulator predictions have
been validated both by physical laboratory
experiments and eld performance. Cementing
engineers may use these simulations to alter
their designs to optimize zonal isolation. For
example, the simulator helps engineers choose
between turbulent or laminar ow regimes, or
decide how to avoid detrimental contact
between drilling mud and cement during pump-
ing operations.
To improve zonal isolation in a Tampen area
well during 2001, Norsk Hydro engineers selected
an innovative preush system with low-toxicity
spacers, more complete biodegradation and
lower bioaccumulation than other systems. The
new well was horizontal, similar to previous prob-
lematic wells. Additional centralizers were placed
to improve standoff and cement distribution
around the casing. Output from the CemCADE
software showed that the additional centralizers
would not lead to excessive running forces,
which are an indication of the potential for the
casing to become stuck as it is run into
the wellbore.
Norsk Hydro also wanted to improve the
mechanical properties of the cement system.
Norsk Hydro engineers selected CemCRETE
concrete-based oilwell cementing technology
a system with a high solid-fraction, high plastic
viscosity, low permeability and low porosity.
10
Simulations indicated that no formations would
be fractured using a 14-lbm/gal [1679-kg/m
3
]
CemCRETE slurry-system blend. Also, 300 bbl
[48 m
3
] of fresh mud at a relatively lower density
and viscosity would be pumped to dilute the mud
in the hole and reduce its gel strength.
Prior to the operation, simulations predicted
that the modied design would improve mud
removal signicantly. In addition to predicting
cement coverage of greater than 95% over the
majority of the production-liner length, simulator
data indicated no risk of leaving mud behind the
cement. The cementing operation was executed
successfully. Cement-bond logs of the 7-in. liner
demonstrated that the results were superior to
20 Oileld Review
Raw Acoustic Impedance Cement Map with Impedance Classification
Minimum of Acoustic
Impedance
Mrayl 10 0
Average of Acoustic
Impedance
Mrayl 10 0
Maximum of Acoustic
Impedance
Liquid
Bonded
Microdebonding
Mrayl 10 0
-500.0000
0.3125
0.6250
0.9375
1.2500
1.5625
1.8750
2.1875
2.5000
2.8125
3.1250
3.4375
4.0625
4.3750
4.6875
5.0000
-500.0000
0.3125
0.6250
0.9375
1.2500
1.5625
1.8750
2.1875
2.5000
2.8125
3.1250
3.4375
4.0625
4.3750
4.6875
5.0000
Liquid
Gas or Dry
Microannulus
Gas or Dry
Microannulus
Bonded
Raw Acoustic
Impedance
Cement Map
with Impedance
Classification
Microdebonding
-1000.0
-500.0
0.3
2.6
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
-1000.0
-500.0
0.3
2.6
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
>
Improving bonding in horizontal wells in Norway. Ordinary spacer designs resulted in inadequate cement bonding, as shown in the cement-evaluation log
at left. In particular, there is a dearth of yellow, or bonded, section in Track 2. More effective cement-job designs, including more complete mud removal
using MUDPUSH II spacers, resulted in improved bond, as shown in the abundant yellow section in Track 3 (right).
Autumn 2002 21
those from previous cementing jobsexcellent
bonding and no indication of any uid channels
(previous page). Since then, additional wells
have been completed successfully in Tampen
using this improved methodology, and more are
planned during 2002.
In the Gulf of Mexico, achieving effective
zonal isolation was crucial for five costly
extended-reach wells with an oil-water contact in
the hydrocarbon-bearing zone. Adequate cement-
to-casing and cement-to-formation bonding
within these pay sands had proven challenging;
good bonding existed only across shale sections.
Any new cement-job designs would have to
accommodate well deviations up to 77 degrees,
synthetic-base drilling mud and gas inux from
the formation. Failure to isolate the water zones
within the pay sand resulted in lower oil produc-
tion and additional disposal costs for produced
water. ChevronTexaco spent as much as $200,000
per well for squeeze-cementing operations and
rig time to repair awed primary cement jobs in
three of the ve wells.
With the aid of the WELLCLEAN II simulator
package, CemCADE software and the while-
drilling acquisition of caliper logs using the VDN
VISION Density Neutron tool, Schlumberger
engineers were able to alter design parameters
to improve mud removal.
11
The engineers consid-
ered the acquisition of caliper data particularly
important because previous job designs
depended on assumptions about hole shape and
volumeparameters that signicantly inuence
mud removal and predictions of the required
slurry volume. CemCADE results led to changes
in centralizer placement, spacer uids, cement-
slurry properties, uid volumes and pumping rates.
The cement slurry incorporated the GASBLOK
gas migration control cement system and an
expanding agent. These additives eliminate gas
influx from the formation, control fluid loss
to the formation and minimize bulk-volume
reduction during cement placement and setting.
The upgraded job designs and uids greatly
improved zonal isolation in the next three wells.
Outputs from the WELLCLEAN II simulator pro-
gram were in complete agreement with the
cement-evaluation logs (right). The three new
wells did not produce water and did not require
remedial cementing operations. Elsewhere in the
10. For an introduction to CemCRETE technology: Boisnault
et al, reference 3.
11. The VDN device provides compensated neutron and
azimuthal lithodensity measurements while drilling. The
resulting density image also enables structural analysis.
Discriminated
CCL
0 3 100 -1 API V
Gamma Ray
0 360 degrees
SCMT Relative Bearing
0 100 mV 200
1
.
2
5
2
.
5
0
3
.
7
5
5
.
0
0
6
.
2
5
7
.
5
0
8
.
7
5
1
0
.
0
0
1
1
.
2
5
1
2
.
5
0
1
3
.
7
5
1
5
.
0
0
1
6
.
2
5
1
7
.
5
0
1
8
.
7
5
2
0
.
0
0
1200 s Cement Map Image
Min Max Amplitude
CBT 5-ft Variable Density CBT 3-ft Amplitude
0 10 mV
Amplified CBT 3-ft Amplitude
0 100 API
CBT 3-ft Transit Time
11,800
11,900
12,000
12,100
12,200
12,300
D
e
p
t
h
,

f
t
12,400
12,500
W
i
d
e
Mud
Tail
CW100
MUDPUSH WHTO
N
a
r
r
o
w
W
i
d
e
12,600
12,700
12,800
12,900
11,800
11,900
12,000
12,100
12,200
12,300
D
e
p
t
h
,

f
t
12,400
12,500
W
i
d
e
High
Medium
Low
None
N
a
r
r
o
w
W
i
d
e
12,600
12,700
12,800
12,900
Fluids Concentration Map Risk of Mud on the Wall
12,000
12,100
>
Improving mud removal in the Gulf of Mexico. WELLCLEAN II simulator results (top) indicated that
changes in centralizer placement, spacer uids, cement-slurry properties, uid volumes and pumping
rates would improve mud removal and primary cementing. The simulated cement map at left indicates
a high concentration of cement (gray) around the wellbore; the green area in the simulation indicates
complete mud removal. The cement map in Track 5 of the SCMT Slim Cement Mapping Tool log (bottom)
conrms excellent cement placement around the casing. The Variable Density display in Track 4 shows
good cement bonding.
Gulf of Mexico, WELLCLEAN II Engineering
Solution results have improved primary cement-
ing (right).
The Role of Advanced
Cementing Technology
Mud removal plays a crucial role in the success
of cementing operations, but the selection of an
appropriate type of cement also is critical. Since
the rst primary cementing operation in 1903,
service companies have developed many types of
oil- and gas-well cements to address the
extremes of subsurface conditions.
12
Cement sys-
tems must withstand the effects of subsurface
pressures, temperatures and formation uids to
provide lasting zonal isolation.
Even when a conventional slurry is properly
placed and initially provides adequate zonal iso-
lation, changes in downhole conditions can
induce stresses that compromise the integrity of
the cement sheath. Tectonic stresses and large
increases in wellbore pressure or temperature
can crack the sheath, and can even reduce it to
rubble. Radial displacement of casing, caused by
cement bulk shrinkage or temperature or pres-
sure decreases, can cause the cement to debond
from the casing or formation and create a
microannulus.
13
Decreases in uid weight during
drilling and completion also cause debonding.
Routine well-completion operations, including
perforating and hydraulic fracturing, negatively
affect the cement sheath.
14
The most recent advance, CemSTONE
advanced cementing technology systems, pro-
vides reliable, long-term zonal isolation despite
changing downhole conditions. These systems
have predictable set-cement properties, such as
exibility, expansion and impact resistance after
setting, so they can be designed to withstand
stresses that would destroy ordinary cements.
Proprietary additives and proven, engineered-
particle blends in CemSTONE systems meet
specic mechanical-property requirements, such
as elasticity, expandability, compressive and ten-
sile strength, durability and impact resistance.
Like CemCRETE slurries, the particle-size distri-
butions of CemSTONE systems make them easy
to mix and pump.
The cement integrity achieved routinely with
CemSTONE systems helps cut maintenance
costs, ensures isolation for stimulation treatments,
reduces the possibility of annular pressure during
the producing life of gas wells, and extends the
productive life of steamood wells and wells in
tectonically active areas. This high degree of
cement integrity also improves isolation for
multilateral junctions, saves time and reduces
22 Oileld Review
56
Cement coverage, %
60 64 68 72 76
Original Job Without Optimization
Wide Narrow Wide
Fluids
concentration
map
Mud
Spacer
Cement
22,000
23,000
24,000
D
e
p
t
h
,

f
t
D
e
p
t
h
,

f
t
Wide Narrow Wide
Risk of mud
on the wall
High
None
70
Cement coverage, %
80 90 100
22,000
23,000
24,000
Wide Narrow Wide
High
None
Optimized Job Using WELLCLEAN II Simulator Software
Wide Narrow Wide
Mud
Spacer
Cement
Fluids
concentration
map
Risk of mud
on the wall
Cement coverage, %
60 80 100
Fluids
concentration
map CBT log
Variable
Density log
Wide Narrow Wide
D
e
p
t
h
,

f
t
23,600
23,540
23,480
23,420
Diesel
Chemical wash
Spacer
Cement
>
More mud-removal success in the Gulf of Mexico. In another part of the Gulf of Mexico, simulation
of initial design plans with the WELLCLEAN II simulator package indicated a mud channel was likely to
form in the cement sheath (top). After optimizing centralizer placement, spacer and slurry properties,
and displacement rates and volumes, the simulator demonstrated that the new job design would avoid
channel formation (middle). Cement-evaluation logs conrm improved zonal isolation (bottom).
Autumn 2002 23
difculty in setting mechanical whipstocks, and
eliminates cement sloughing behind casing when
opening windows and drilling out in incompetent
formations (see New Aspects of Multilateral
Well Construction, page 52).
There are two types of CemSTONE technol-
ogy in use now, DuraSTONE advanced durable
cement technology and FlexSTONE advanced
exible cement technology systems. Each system
combines specially sized particles with special
material, resulting in a cement system that offers
enhanced flexibility and durability. As of
September 2002, more than 90 FlexSTONE sys-
tems and 25 DuraSTONE systems have been
pumped worldwide to combat a wide variety of
operational challenges.
Designed for multilateral junctions, kickoff
plugs and wells requiring impact-resistant
cement, DuraSTONE systems blend engineered
particles of different sizes with high-strength
metallic microribbon technology. The result is a
set cement that is two to three times tougher and
has impact resistance up to 20 times higher than
ordinary Portland cements. In Abu Dhabi, UAE,
DuraSTONE cement plugs have substantially
improved kickoff success rates in more than
20 jobs to date.
15
The improvements included
reduced time required to achieve kickoff and an
increase in the success rate of kickoff plugs
because DuraSTONE plugs are so difcult to drill.
FlexSTONE systems combine the engineered
particle-size distribution of CemCRETE systems
with exible particles that accommodate wide
ranges of temperature, pressure and uid den-
sity. These special particles lower the Youngs
modulus, increasing the exibility of the set
cement (right).
16
When expansion is desirable,
these systems can be designed to produce as
much as 3% linear expansion after full cement
hydration; ordinary expanding cement systems
allow less than 1% linear expansion. Improved
mechanical properties make FlexSTONE systems
ideal for wells in steamoods and tectonically
active regions.
Formation properties play a critical role in the
performance of wellbore cements. Optimizing the
relationship between the mechanical properties
of the formation and the mechanical properties
of the cement sheath is a requirement for long-
term cement integrity during pressure changes,
temperature changes or cement expansion.
Because it is not possible to alter the properties
of the formation, engineers instead must manipu-
late the mechanical properties of the set cement
to achieve the correct combination of exibility
and expansion. FlexSTONE technology and care-
ful cement-job design make this possible.
A new two-dimensional modeling package
helps engineers simulate the behavior of the
cement sheath in different pressure and tem-
perature regimes and wellbore congurations.
The software inputs include well conguration,
points of interest, cement properties, formation
properties and casing properties. The software
combines this information with a database of
cement properties to generate an optimized
cement design. Known as the Stress Analysis
Model (SAM), the software calculates the
properties necessary for the cement to main-
tain integrity and detects risks of cracking in
tension, rupture in compression or formation
of a microannulus.
12. Smith RC: Preface, in Nelson EB: Well Cementing.
Sugar Land, Texas, USA: Schlumberger Dowell
(1990): 16.
13. For more on cement bulk shrinkage: Thiercelin M,
Baumgarte C and Guillot D: A Soil Mechanics Approach
to Predict Cement Sheath Behavior, paper SPE/ISRM
47375, presented at the 1998 SPE/ISRM Eurock,
Trondheim, Norway, J uly 810, 1998.
14. For more on cement mechanical response to downhole
stress: Thiercelin MJ , Dargaud B, Baret J F and
Rodriguez WJ : Cement Design Based on Cement
Mechanical Response, paper SPE 38598, presented
at the 1997 SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, USA, October 58, 1997.
15. For more on DuraSTONE kickoff plugs: Al-Suwaidi A,
Hun C, Babasheikh A and CunninghamE: Cement Aids
Challenging Sidetracks, Harts E&P 75, no. 2 (February
2002): 5153.
16. Le Roy-Delage S, Baumgarte C, Thiercelin M and Vidick B:
New Cement Systems for Durable Zonal Isolation,
paper IADC/SPE 59132, presented at the 2000 IADC/SPE
Drilling Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA,
February 2325, 2000.
F
F
F
F
r
l
l
r
l
l
Poissons ratio v =
l
r
A
x
i
a
l

s
t
r
e
s
s

F

(
t
e
n
s
i
o
n
)
Axial strain l (tension)
Youngs modulus (e)
Tensile strength
Axial strain
Axial stress
e =
>
Cement properties. Youngs modulus describes the relationship between
stress and strain in a uniaxial stress test (top). For cement, the lower the
Youngs modulus, the more exible the cement is. Poissons ratio is the ratio
of transverse strain (r) to axial strain (l) (bottom). Tensile deformation is
considered positive, and compressive deformation is considered negative. The
denition of Poissons ratio contains a minus sign so that ordinary materials
have a positive ratio, ordinarily between 0.15 and 0.25 for cement. Tensile
strength refers to the ability of material to be stretched before rupturing.
Isolating Depleted from
Productive Formations
Isolating formations with widely varying pres-
sures is challenging but imperative. In The
Netherlands, Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij
B.V. (NAM, a joint venture of Shell and Exxon)
wrestled with the difficulty of isolating the
depleted Zechstein 2 carbonate formation
from the producing Limburg formation. Fracture
stimulation of the Limburg presents an additional
challenge to maintaining the integrity of the
cement sheath.
The Coevorden-57 well, located onshore in
the northeastern Netherlands, deviates as much
as 64 degrees from vertical on its way to a mea-
sured depth of 3998 m [13,117 ft] in the Limburg
sandstone (below left). Critical elements for suc-
cessful cementing of the 4
1
2-in. liner included
complete mud removal and a cement system that
would withstand the pressure increase during a
hydraulic-fracturing operation while maintaining
long-term isolation of formations with distinct
reservoir pressures.
Casing centralizers were placed such that
there were three centralizers for every two
casing joints from 3386 to 3923 m [11,109 to
12,871 ft] and two centralizers per joint of casing
from 3924 to 3998 m [12,874 to 13,117 ft]. This
centralizer placement ensured that cement
would surround the casing even in highly devi-
ated sections where casing tends to lie on the
low side of the borehole. The cement would
extend from total depth to 150 m [492 ft] above
the top of the liner hanger located at a depth of
3372 m [11,063 ft].
Cementing engineers used the WELLCLEAN II
simulator and CemCADE software to optimize the
job design (next page). At the beginning of the
operation, 20 bbl [3.18 m
3
] of fresh mud would be
pumped to begin cleaning the hole. MUDPUSH
spacer would follow the mud to provide addi-
tional hole cleaning and to prevent the drilling
uid from contaminating the cement slurry. This
displacement train would be followed by 1.63
g/cm
3
[13.6 lbm/gal] FlexSTONE slurry, the rst
application of FlexSTONE technology in Europe.
The SCMT device was used to evaluate the
cement bond following the job and conrmed
excellent cement-casing and cement-formation
bonding (below right). The SCMT device is a mul-
tisensor cement-logging tool that produces a
360 map image of the cement.
24 Oileld Review
Surface Depth, m
North Sea
Group
Chalk Group
Rijnland
Altena
Keuper
Zechstein
Limburg
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
13
3
8-in. casing
9
5
8-in. casing
4
1
2-in. liner
7-in. liner
Coevorden
THE NETHERLANDS
BELGIUM
GERMANY
FRANCE
N
o
r
t
h
S
e
a
0 50 100 150 miles
0 80 160 240 km
>
Location of the Coevorden-57 well, The
Netherlands. The Coevorden-57 well penetrates
depleted Zechstein carbonate rocks and produc-
tive Limburg reservoir, as shown in the cross
section. Permanently isolating these formations
from each other in a deviated, fracture-stimulated
well is challenging.
>
FlexSTONE evaluation in The Netherlands. The SCMT log shows excellent
results, with map amplitudes (long dashes in Track 3) ranging from 3 to 10 mV,
which indicates excellent bonding between the cement and casing. The Vari-
able Density display (Track 4) shows strong formation arrivals, which demon-
strate good bond between the formation and cement.
Amplitude
Variable Density Cement Map Image
mV s
Min Max
200 1200
Minimum Map Amplitude
mV 0 100
Amplitude
Gamma Ray
Discriminated
CCL
V 3 -1 API 0 150
CBT Amplitude
mV 0 100
Relative Bearing
degrees 0 360
Maximum Map Amplitude
mV 0 1000
CBT 3-ft. Transit Time
s 100 600
Average Map Amplitude
mV 0 100
Minimum Map Transit Time
s 100 600
CBT Amplitude
mV 0 10
Maximum Map Transit Time
s 100 600
1
.2
5
2
.5
0
3
.7
5
5
.0
0
6
.2
5
7
.5
0
8
.7
5
1
0
.0
0
1
1
.2
5
1
2
.5
0
1
3
.7
5
1
5
.0
0
1
6
.2
5
1
7
.5
0
1
8
.7
5
2
0
.0
0
Autumn 2002 25
1 2
3 4
5 6
>
Simulation of uid-pumping sequence for the Coevorden-57 well. WELLCLEAN II simulator runs
helped optimize uid selections and the pumping schedule for the Coevorden-57 well. In all illustra-
tions, each pair of illustrations from the simulator shows the effectiveness of mud removal (right) and
predicts cement distribution (left). In all illustrations of uid concentrations, brown represents drilling
uid, blue is chemical wash, green is MUDPUSH spacer and gray is FlexSTONE slurry. In the nal
illustration (6), the simulator predicts that all other drilling uids will have been removed and that
FlexSTONE slurry will completely cover the wellbore wall, results that were conrmed by the well logs.
Cementing Wells for Steamooding
In northeastern Alberta, Canada, EnCana
Corporation is constructing the rst phase of
its Christina Lake Thermal Project (right).
This venture currently is expected to produce
more than 70,000 barrels per day [11,123 m
3
/d]
of bitumen from the Athabasca oil sands in the
Cretaceous-age McMurray formation using
steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). The rst
phase of the project will allow the company to
evaluate SAGD performance and ow barriers
within the reservoir. This information will help
the company optimize well designs, well place-
ment and uid recovery in subsequent phases
of the project.
17
SAGD is an emerging technology that is sim-
ple in concept but complex in application (see
Heavy-Oil Reservoirs, page 30). SAGD wells
are drilled in pairs. The wells are parallel to each
other, with anywhere from 20 to 200 m [66 to
656 ft] of separation between the horizontal
reservoir sections of the wellbores (below right).
The upper horizontal well is used to inject steam.
The heat from the injected steam allows the thick
crude to ow more freely, with the assistance of
gravity, to the lower producing well.
A awless primary cement sheath is critical
for SAGD success. Annular gas inux as the
cement sets can result in steam breakthrough.
SAGD wells typically experience thermal expan-
sion and contraction of the wellbore, which can
lead to cement failure. When cement failure
occurs, the operator must choose between
expensive remedial efforts with unpredictable
results or well abandonment. EnCana sought to
improve the quality of the primary cement so that
it would not confront either steam breakthrough
or cement failure.
26 Oileld Review
17. For more on the Christina Lake Thermal Project:
Suggett J , Gittins S and Youn S: Christina Lake Thermal
Project, paper SPE/PetroleumSociety of CIM 65520,
presented at the 2000 SPE/PetroleumSociety of CIM
International Conference on Horizontal Well Technology,
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, November 68, 2000.
18. For more on SAM simulations: Stiles D and Hollies D:
Implementation of Advanced Cementing Techniques to
Improve Long TermZonal Isolation in SteamAssisted
Gravity Drainage Wells, paper SPE/PetroleumSociety
of CIM/CHOA 78950, presented at the 2002 SPE
International Thermal Operations and Heavy Oil
Symposiumand International Horizontal Well
Technology Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
November 47, 2002.
19. GASBLOK systems control annular gas migration while
cementing. These systems include a nonretarding liquid
that provides uid-loss control and gas-migration control
properties for cement slurries at temperatures from80 to
160F [27 to 71C] across a wide range of densitiesas
low as 10.5 lbm/gal [1258 kg/m
3
]. The GASBLOK additive
is a suspension of polymeric microgels that act as uid-
loss reducers by rapidly plugging the pore throats of the
cement lter cake. The microgels in the interstitial water
of the cement matrix reduce cement-matrix permeability
and decrease the continuity between pores during the
critical liquid-to-solid transition phase, further limiting
gas migration.
20. Although CSLs support both cementing and stimulation,
this article focuses on their role in cementing.
C A NA D A
ALBERTA
Christina Lake
0
0 400 800 1200 1600 km
200 400 600 800 1000 miles
>
Location of Christina Lake Thermal Project, Alberta, Canada.
Lead top of cement at surface
13
3
8-in. surface casing
to +/ 175 m TVD
Flexible tail top
of cement at
+/ 250 m MD
Kickoff
point at
+/ 200 m
7-in. slotted liner
+/ 750 m horizontal
9
5
8-in. intermediate
casing to +/ 590 m TVD
>
Typical SAGD well pair. Conventional cement protects the 13
3
8-in. surface
casing, which is set 175 m [574 ft] deep. The intermediate section, where the
well builds angle from vertical to horizontal, extends to 590 m [1936 ft] and
presents mud-removal and cementing challenges. The 9
5
8-in. casing is
cemented with a LiteCRETE lead slurry that provides a low density and high
compressive strength. A FlexSTONE tail slurry provides exibility across most
of the openhole and maintains zonal isolation across the 9
5
8-in. casing shoe.
The FlexSTONE systems pumped at Christina Lake were mixed on sitethe
rst location in the world to do so. Below the 9
5
8-in. shoe, the 8
3
4-in. horizontal
section extends 750 m [2461 ft] across the reservoir, which is 20 to 58 m [66 to
190 ft] thick. The wells are then completed with an uncemented, slotted liner
for sand control.
Autumn 2002 27
Engineers used the SAM software to
evaluate potential for cement failure from com-
pression, tension or formation of a microannulus,
and to design the best possible slurry for the
Christina Lake SAGD wells. SAM simulations
indicated that thermally stabilized Class G
Portland cement would suffer tensile failure
when exposed to the 14 to 260C [57 to 500F]
temperatures predicted for the SAGD wells.
18
Another SAM simulation, incorporating the same
temperature, pressure, time and other conditions
used in the previous simulation, demonstrated
that a exible cement system would not experi-
ence tensile failure.
In the Christina Lake area, three pairs of wells
have been cemented using a combination of
LiteCRETE lead slurry and FlexSTONE tail slurry.
EnCana selected FlexSTONE systems because of
their superior mechanical properties, particularly
their capability to survive the thermal expansion
of the casing and the cement sheath. To counter
shallow-gas migration problems typical of west-
ern Canada, the LiteCRETE and FlexSTONE
systems incorporated GASBLOK technology.
19
The LiteCRETE lead system typically is placed
from 250 m [820 ft] to surface. The FlexSTONE
tail system is pumped from approximately 590 m
[1936 ft] up to 250 m.
Cement logs of the six SAGD wells indicated
good bond across the zones considered critical
for reservoir isolation. During a workover opera-
tion on one of the wells, the slotted liner was
removed and the USI UltraSonic Imager tool and
the CBT Cement Bond Tool device were run to
evaluate the isolation quality of the cement
following steam exposure (above). The log indi-
cates no degradation of cement quality and
strong formation-cement and cement-casing
bonds. There are no indications of gas migration
or casing-vent ows to surface.
Another SAGD well pair is planned during the
last quarter of 2002 to complete Phase I of the
Christina Lake project.
The Role of Client Support Laboratories
in Well Cementing
Successful implementation of new cementing
technology depends heavily on an international
network of cementing specialists. Schlumberger
operates Client Support Laboratories (CSLs) in
Houston, Texas, USA; Aberdeen, Scotland; and
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
20
The CSLs form an
essential link between product development
and eld operations by supporting the intro-
duction of new technology, assisting in training
eld personnel and providing feedback during
product development. Whenever possible, CSLs
undertake short-term projects so that the product
centers can concentrate on longer term activities.
CSL staff work with the Schlumberger
GeoMarket organization to support bid or tender
processes for E&P companies and collaborative
product-development opportunities. All this
results in higher quality products and services in
addition to t-for-purpose innovations.
Typical CSL projects involve low-cost develop-
ments, but some projects have been established
to support alliances. Customers often initiate
short-term projects to meet their specic techni-
cal or environmental requirements. Many of
these involve collaboration with regional product
suppliers to match readily available products
with specic operator requirements.
To support eld operations, all CSLs are
equipped to follow standard procedures outlined
by the American Petroleum Institute (API) to
conduct extensive formulation studies. These
procedures include quality assurance and quality
control of cement, uid-compatibility tests, and
measurements such as thickening time, compres-
sive strength, uid loss and free water under the
pressure and temperature conditions found in the
Discriminated
Bond Index
Sonic Variable Density Curve
Amplitude
0 1 Mrayl 10 0 mm 122 92
mm 92 122
mm
Tool
Eccentricity
Internal Radius
Average
mm 92 122
Internal Radius
Maximum
mm 92 122
External Radius
Average
mm 92 122
Internal Radius
Minimum
mm 122 92
Internal Radius
Average
mm 122 92
Internal Radius
Maximum
mm 122 92
Internal Radius
Minimum
External Radius
Average
Amplitude of
Echo Minus Max
Average of
Acoustic
Impedance
dB/m 50 0
mm 13 3
dB/m 50 0
Discriminated
Attenuation
Cement Map
with Impedance
Classification
-0 1 s 1200 200
Max Min
-500.0 -1000.0
-500.0
0.3
2.6
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
0.5
-0.4
-0.8
-1.2
-1.6
-2.0
-2.4
-2.8
-4.8
-5.2
-5.6
-6.0
-3.2
-3.6
-4.0
-4.4
API
Gamma Ray
100 0
mm
Casing Collar
Locator
Process Flags
10 1
0.5000
1.5000
2.5000
3.5000
6.5000
dB/m 50 0
Near Pseudo-
Attenuation
Short Pseudo-
Attenuation
Average of
Thickness
Microdebonding
Gas or Dry
Microannulus
Liquid
Bonded
< Cement evaluation in
a steamood well. The
USI UltraSonic Imager
tool and the CBT
Cement Bond Tool
device were run to
evaluate the isolation
quality of the cement
following steam expo-
sure. The log indicates
no degradation of
cement quality and
strong formation-
cement and cement-
casing bonds.
subsurface (above left). Equipment exists to sim-
ulate virtually all downhole cementing conditions
by applying high temperatures and pressures to
cement slurries. Evaluation of slurry performance
under dynamic, downhole conditions ensures
that the slurry will remain uid until properly
placed in the wellbore (above right).
Technology transfer is a key function for the
CSLs because disseminating the lessons they
learn also helps the worldwide network of
approximately 100 area and district laboratories
improve their operations. While many courses
offered by the CSLs are designed for
Schlumberger engineers, some courses are
offered to customers. CSLs also evaluate new
equipment and techniques before these are
deployed locally. For example, the Houston CSL
participates in the design of all FlexSTONE sys-
tems pumped in North and South America.
The Houston CSL provides technical training,
new-technology implementation and cementing
support for international eld operations and
clients in North and South America. The labora-
tory completes short-term engineering projects
on request from clients and develops specic
solutions for local problems. Recently, cementing
experts from the Houston CSL and the
Schlumberger Riboud Product Centre, Clamart,
France, developed the DeepCEM deepwater
cementing liquid-additive package for worldwide
application. This technology, which includes a
nonretarding dispersant and a cement-set
enhancer, has proven to be an optimal solution
for cementing shallow strings in deep water. It
has been implemented successfully in deepwater
markets around the world. The CSL offers a basic
laboratory course, an advanced service module
for cementing, new technology introductions at
training courses in the Kellyville Training Center,
Oklahoma, USA, and training for nonspecialists.
Due to its location, equipment and proximity to
oileld product suppliers, the Houston CSL plays
a vital role supporting international operations for
Houston-based companies.
The Houston CSL also has specialized labora-
tory equipment for cement-slurry design and
performance evaluation over a wide range of
temperatures and pressures35 to 600F [2 to
316C] and up to 40,000 psi [276 MPa]. Recently,
the Houston CSL acquired a twin-cell ultrasonic
cement analyzer (next page, left). Other recent
equipment acquisitions include the uid-migration
analyzer and the high-pressure, high-temperature
(HPHT) rheometer (next page, right). The HPHT
rheometer helps evaluate uid performance over a
wide range of downhole conditions to ensure opti-
mal mud removal under extreme conditions.
Supporting operations in a region extending
through eastern Africa, the Middle East and Asia,
the CSL in Kuala Lumpur covers the broadest terri-
tory of the three CSLs. Typical projects at the Kuala
Lumpur facility include high- and low-temperature
cementing-uids testing, compatibility testing and
uid mixingall to API specications. Recent pro-
jects include FlexSTONE system designs for the
Middle East, high-pressure LiteCRETE systems for
China, geothermal well cementing and a low-
density, saline DeepCRETE deepwater cementing
system used in India, with a density of 10 lbm/gal
[1198 kg/m
3
]. Because the Kuala Lumpur CSL sup-
ports more than 23 eld laboratories serving
35 countries, the training of laboratory engineers
and technicians is a signicant activity.
28 Oileld Review
>
Predicting cement performance. The consis-
tometer shown here has a wide pressure and
temperature operating rangeup to 22,000 psi
[150 MPa] and 400F [204C]. This unit, located
in the Houston CSL, can be attached to a chiller
for controlled cooling. Other consistometers
at this facility can achieve higher temperatures
and pressures. The CSLs in Aberdeen and Kuala
Lumpur also have consistometers.
>
Analyzing uid migration. Liquid or gas migra-
tion through hydrating cement slurries is a major
cause of well-completion failures. The uid-
migration analyzer shown here offers state-of-
the art data acquisition and analysis and can run
the test cell at any angle to simulate wellbore
deviation. This device, located in the Houston
CSL, can measure uid loss through standard
screens or actual rock core samples. Data dis-
play and analyses are enhanced by capture of
more than a dozen data channels, including
absolute and differential pressures, gas and
liquid ows, and temperature.
Autumn 2002 29
The Aberdeen CSL offers client support and
testing similar to the Houston and Kuala Lumpur
facilities, and participates extensively in training
activities. The Aberdeen facility supports Europe,
the CIS and western Africa. Its work in the North
Sea offers many challenges and opportunities to
achieve environmentally friendly solutions in the
worlds most demanding regulatory environment.
In Norway, for example, all oileld chemicals
must be biodegradable, so the Aberdeen CSL
helped develop biodegradable antifoam agents,
surfactants and retarders. For other areas, this
center has supported introduction of specialized
cementing technology, such as FlexSTONE,
LiteCRETE and DeepCRETE technologies. Quality
control of cement-slurry additives, novel blend-
performance optimization and development of
new, customized cement additives for local cus-
tomers are key functions of the Aberdeen CSL.
The Aberdeen CSL also offers training in proper
use and calibration of equipment and testing pro-
cedures. Basic and advanced courses are offered
several times each year, and personalized training
is offered when appropriate, particularly for the
introduction of new technology. For example, eld
engineers might be offered specialized training
when their district acquires new equipment. The
Aberdeen CSL also performs regular audits of
testing procedures and results. For these audits,
each district performs specic tests, which are
checked for consistency of results.
While the three CSLs have different capabili-
ties and slightly different focuses, they share the
goals of continually improving service quality,
transferring and supporting technology, and
training personnel to better serve customers. The
CSL leaders meet twice each year with the
cementing product-development group at the
Schlumberger Riboud Product Centre. These
meetings allow cementing practitioners from
around the world to present current eld pro-
jects, discuss pressing needs, exchange ideas
about implementation of new technology and
provide input to current and future research and
development projects.
Improving Zonal Isolation at the Outset
In a future dominated by development of mature,
or brown, elds, operating companies will need
to produce oil and gas more efciently and with
better economic returns than ever before. Each
well plays a crucial role in this business environ-
ment. Each operation, whether it is the actual
drilling of the well, mud removal, cementing,
stimulation or any other, plays a key role in well
performance: every operation must be successful
at the outset to avoid costly remediation.
As the examples in this article demonstrate,
judicious implementation of new technology solves
problems that were too expensive or technically
demanding to overcome with older technology.
Operators are committed to eliminating problems
such as sustained casing pressure whenever pos-
sible, in many cases by devoting more attention to
mud removal and cementing-system optimization
in the earliest stages of well design.
Schlumberger continues to support technology
development to assure unprecedented product
effectiveness and competence in eld operations.
With innovations that complement existing prod-
ucts and services, ultraefcient technologies will
abound to tackle the tough brown-eld reservoirs
of the coming years. GMG
>
Evaluating cement-strength development. This
twin-cell ultrasonic cement analyzer provides
nondestructive determination of cement-strength
development as samples cure under downhole
temperature and pressure conditions. The device
measures the change in velocity of ultrasonic
signals transmitted through the cement specimens
as they harden. As the strength of the cement
specimen increases, the transit time of the ultra-
sonic signal through the sample decreases. The
relative strength of the cement is then calcu-
lated using proprietary empirical algorithms.
>
Measuring rheological properties. This HPHT
rheometer, located in the Houston CSL, offers
broad viscosity measurement capability due
to the wide range of the torque (shear stress)
transducer and the extended motor speed
(shear rate). This allows the measurement of the
rheological properties of a variety of different
uids with pressure and temperature limits of
20,000 psi [138 MPa] and 450F [232C]. For well
cementing, it is crucial to understand the rheo-
logical properties at downhole pressure and
temperature conditions to correctly place the
cement without jeopardizing well integrity.