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A-9
Description

A-9 is potassium chloride (KCl). It is a white granular material that is normally dry-blended with the cement but
can also be added to the mixing water. A-9 has no additional water requirement when used in cement. Amounts
of A-9 are based on the weight of water in the slurry. Both slurry weight and yield in A-9 slurries are increased. A9 also causes slight cement expansion, foaming in the cement slurry, and may also cause erratic retarder
response when used with certain retarder additives. Water is saturated when it contains 35% A-9 by weight of
fresh water. This is equivalent to 2.9 pounds of A-9 per gallon of water.

Applications
A-9 accelerates the setting time of cement and provides early compressive strength. 1 to 10% A-9 accelerates
the setting time and promotes early strength. The setting time of a cement slurry is retarded and the strength is
lowered when 20 to 35% A-9 is used. High concentrations of A-9 (15% and above) may cause a high viscosity
slurry. Formation clays can swell when exposed to fresh water cement filtrate. 3% - 10% A-9 is used to prevent
this swelling.
Flow tests have shown that A-9 can minimize formation damage caused by filtrate leak-off (see Fig. 1). These
flow tests were conducted with cement filtrate containing either sodium chloride or potassium chloride (A-9) at
varying concentrations to study their effect on formation flow capacity. The tests were performed on a simulated,
unconsolidated sand containing 10% bentonite. Any reduction in flow rate was attributed to clay damage.

Technical Specifications
Appearance:
Specific Gravity:
Absolute V
olume:
Volume:
pH (1% solution):
Solubility in W
ater:
Water:
Packing Size:
Safety Precaution:

white crystalline material

1.984
0.0604 gal/lb
9.2
complete
55 kg/sack
May cause eye and skin irritation, inhalation results in unpleasant deposits in nasal
passages. Goggles and rubber gloves should be used when handling.

Charts
RHEOLOGY DA
TA FOR CLASS G & H CEMENTS WITH A-9
DAT
Cement
Class

Water
%

A-9, % by
wt of water

0'

BC
20'

Free W
ater
Water
Vol %

600

300

44.0

3.0

44.0

5.0

44.0

11

Tr.

151

122

103

84

30

18

Tr.

139

104

86

69

24

16

10.0

22

13

0.0

121

94

84

72

29

21

44.0

18.0

36

16

0.0

164

138

127

114

47

33

38.0

3.0

1.0

85

58

52

40

16

10

38.0

5.0

0.6

85

54

46

36

16

10

38.0

10.0

12

0.0

133

108

94

78

26

19

38.0

18.0

40

17

0.0

185

150

134

113

38

29

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Fann Readings
200
100
16

A-9
Product Information

THICKENING TIME OF CLASS G & H CEMENTS WITH A-9

Cement
Class

Mix

Water
%

A-9, % by
wt of water

Thickening T
ime, hr:min
Time,
102F (38C)
118F (47C)

1:0:0

44.0

0.0

4:19

2:27

1:0:0

44.0

3.0

2:08

1:22

1:0:0

44.0

5.0

1:48

1:32

1:0:0

44.0

10.0

1:51

1:31

1:0:0

38.0

0.0

5:30

2:50

1:0:0

38.0

3.0

2:24

1:12

1:0:0

38.0

5.0

2:46

1:36

1:0:0

38.0

10.0

2:12

1:22

SLURR
Y PROPERTIES OF CLASS G & H CEMENTS WITH A-9
SLURRY
Cement
Class

Mix

Water
%

gal/sk

1:0:0

44.0

1:0:0

S-8
%

A-9, % by
wt of water

Slurry Wt
lb/gal

Yield
cu ft/sk

4.96

3.0

15.90

1.15

44.0

4.96

5.0

15.92

1.15

1:0:0

44.0

4.96

10.0

15.98

1.17

1:0:0

44.0

4.96

18.0

16.06

1.19

1:0:0

56.25

6.34

3.0

15.78

1.54

1:0:0

38.0

4.28

3.0

16.54

1.06

1:0:0

38.0

4.28

5.0

16.57

1.06

1:0:0

38.0

4.28

10.0

16.61

1.07

1:0:0

38.0

4.28

18.0

16.68

1.09

1:0:0

50.66

35.0

16.23

1.45

35.0

3.0

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A-9
Product Information

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CLASS G & H CEMENTS WITH A-9

Cement
Class

Mix

Water
%

A-9, % by Cure T
ime
Time
hr
wt of water

Compressive Strength, psi

130F (54C)
80F (26C)

1:0:0

38.0

0.0

12

410

2480

1:0:0

38.0

0.0

24

1300

3675

1:0:0

38.0

3.0

12

900

3627

1:0:0

38.0

3.0

24

2825

4363

1:0:0

38.0

5.0

12

925

3827

1:0:0

38.0

5.0

24

3000

4963

1:0:0

38.0

10.0

12

875

3627

1:0:0

38.0

10.0

24

2750

4463

1:0:0

44.0

0.0

12

549

2590o

1:0:0

44.0

0.0

24

1918

4400

1:0:0

44.0

3.0

12

1155

3888

1:0:0

44.0

3.0

24

3225

5213

1:0:0

44.0

5.0

12

1250

4256

1:0:0

44.0

5.0

24

3400

5238

1:0:0

44.0

10.0

12

1373

4213

1:0:0

44.0

10.0

24

3400

5313

FIG 1 - FLOW TESTS WITH FIL

TRA
TE FROM OIL
WELL CEMENTS CONT
AINING V
AR
YING SAL
TS
FILTRA
TRATE
OILWELL
CONTAINING
VAR
ARYING
SALTS
Neat Cement

3% NaCl

10% NaCl

18% NaCl

3% KCl

10% KCl

18% KCl

25% KCl

11
10
9

Time - Minutes

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Fluid Recovered - Percent of Total

The above features and/or data are supplied solely for informational purposes and BJ Services Company makes no guarantees or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to their accuracy or use. All product warranties and guarantees
shall be governed by the BJ Services Company standard at the time of sale or delivery of service. Actual product performance or availability depends on the timing and location of the job, the type of job and the particular characteristics of each job.
This document is controlled by the reference date. To ensure that this is the current version, please reference the Services section of the BJ Services Website (www.bjservices.com) or ask your BJ representative.

7/24/01

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