C&PE 219

Drilling Fluids Laboratory

Cement

Abstract:

Oilwell cementing is the process of mixing a slurry of cement, water, and additives and

pumping it down through steel casing to critical points in the annular space between the wall of

the well and the outside of the casing. Cement has three principal functions in the well: (1) to

restrict fluid movement between formations, (2) to bond the casing to the formation, and (3) to

provide support for the casing. Additives usually are used to increase the cement strength, but it

depends on which additive and how much of this is being used. In this experiment was created

muds varying the additive and its quantity.

Purpose:

The purpose of this experiment was to test how the addition of additives influence the

physical properties of cement.

Experimental procedure:

The first step of this experiment was to prepare the cement. Four different specimens of

muds were created using a Hamilton Beach mixer: pure cement, cement plus salt, cement plus

4% bentonite, and then cement plus 8% bentonite. These specimens were collected into cubes

and stored in contact with water for one week. One week later, each sample of cement was

removed of the cubes and its resistance was tested applying compressive loads.

Results and analysis:

The cement strength was evidently affected by the composition. Each sample of cement

was subjected to compressive loads until it breaks. The values are shown through the table

below.

Cement + Cement +
Cement +
No Additive 4% 8%
Salt
Bentonite Bentonite

18154 5091 2755 13412

9273 5129 2537 13187

14471 4929 3095 14907

It was observed that the addition of salt decreased the cement strength as well as the

addition of 4% of bentonite. The pure cement and the cement with 8% of bentonite received the

highest values of compressive loads. Thus, these samples were the strongest samples studied.
Conclusion:

However, it could be observed that the cement strength varies according to the

composition. In this experiment the addition of salt and 4% of bentonite decreased the the

cement strength. On the other hand, the addition of 8% of bentonite increased the resistence of

the cement. It can be concluded that the more betonite in the cement composition, the stronger

the cement.

References:

2. Applied Drilling Engineering, A.T. Bourgoyne Jr., M.E. Chenevert, K.K. Millheim,

F.S. Young, S.P.E. Textbook Series, Vol. 2, Chapter 3, pg 90-103.