BP-NO-HES-CEM-001

SCANDINAVIA CEMENTING Rev.0

BEST PRACTICES Date: 09.11.06

Approved by: Gunnar Lende

Plug Cementing Page 1 of 8

General plug setting recommendations

Plug fundament:
A firm plug base is essential for successful plug cementing. If the plug is set off bottom a plug fundament must be
set. The different techniques for plug fundament are discussed below:

Hi-viscosity pill is the recommended fundament when the pill is set off TD. The pill must be designed with
the following specifications:
o The pill must be water based, this is due to oil based muds do not provide true yield point and gel
strength.
o Weight of pill should be the same as the mud in the hole or maximum 0.05 sg (0.5 ppg) above mud
weight
o Use 100 kg/m3 (35 lb/bbl) Bentonite.
o 10 sec gel< 50 lb/100ft2 and Funnel viscosity < 150 sec.
o The length of the pill should ideally be the same as cement plug length or minimum 100 m.
Hi-density pill is the recommended basement when the pill is set on TD or other mechanical fundaments.
The Hi-dens pill should have minimum same density as the planned cement plug, and must be non-
sagging until the cement has set.
CST can be used alone or in conjunction with either the Hi-dens pill or a Hi-vis pill for improved
performance.
Mechanical plug is the most reliable plug fundament. There are several mechanical plugs that can be
used, ranging from drillable retainers to expandable plugs for open holes.

Conditioning of the mud and hole:

Determine accurate hole size if possible (use a caliper if in doubt).
Make sure the hole is absolutely stable (no losses or gains) prior to pumping cement.
Optimize the mud properties to obtain effective removal of any gelled mud and partially dehydrated filter
cake. A flat gel strength mud with low fluid loss is desirable. PV < 25 mPa s, YP < 10 Pa, 10 min gel < 15
Pa is recommended.
Wash plug interval while RIH - the preferred annular velocity is minimum 1.50 m/sec (or highest possible)
while rotating / reciprocating the pipe.
With pipe at bottom circulate the well thoroughly while rotating / reciprocating the pipe until stable and
equal mud properties in and out have been obtained. Absolute minimum of 1 B/U is recommended.
After the hole conditioning, minimize shutdowns until the cement has been displaced.

This document is unpublished and confidential and is the property of Halliburton Energy Services. It may not be copied, reproduced or disclosed in any form
without the express written consent of Halliburton.
 BP-NO-HES-CEM-001
SCANDINAVIA CEMENTING Rev.0
BEST PRACTICES Date: 09.11.06

Approved by: Gunnar Lende

Plug Cementing Page 2 of 8

Slick bottom hole assembly:

A diverter tool should be utilized on the end of the drill pipe to direct the flow upward thereby minimizing any
intermixing of cement and drilling mud during plug placement. For wells were milling has been conducted it is not
recommended to use diverter tool as there is a great risk of plugging of the diverter tool with milling debris.

The preferred configuration for plug setting is one size drill pipe but for holes smaller than 12 (DP larger than 5
7/8 should be avoided for 12 OH) it is recommended to use a small OD tail pipe (3 1/2 or 2 7/8" OD). The small
OD tailpipe should be approximately 50 - 100 meters longer than the length of the cement plug.

When using tapered string (small OD tail pipe and larger DP) as a cement stinger, it is important to underdisplace
adequately in order not to contaminate the cement plug while pulling out of cement. Under displacement volume
should correspond to the length of the final cement plug multiplied by the capacity difference between the small OD
tail pipe and the larger Drill pipe plus 0.5 m3 1 m3.

Special precautions should be made when not using slick BHA (drilling BHA etc.)

Spacer:
A suitable high viscosity spacer that is compatible with the cement and mud should be pumped ahead of the
cement. Where applicable, for oil based (or pseudo oil) muds, compatibility testing of the cement, spacer and mud
systems should be performed if a new mud or spacer system is used. The spacer must in case exhibit water-
wetting properties.

The viscosity profile of the spacer should be so that the apparent viscosity or delta P / L is approximately midpoint
between the mud and cement slurry. In some instances it can advantageous to have the spacer viscosity closer to
the cement viscosity in order to shorten the mud to spacer interface.

Sufficient spacer should be pumped ahead to obtain 150 - 250 meters annular fill together with an appropriate
volume behind to balance.

For optimum performance the spacer should in general be weighted at the midpoint between the cement and the
mud weight. In some instances it can advantageous to have the spacer density closer to the cement density in
order to shorten the mud to spacer interface.

Cement Design

The recommended cement slurry design will vary depending on the application. Below are some general
guidelines:

Thickening time: Temperature of the well will determine how much retarder is necessary to allow the
required amount of job time including safety allowance. Recommended safety allowance is dependent on
job time and how well the temperature is known as well as how sensitive the design in matter is. The safety
allowance can range from 1 4 hours depending on the criticality of the job. Increased thickening time
adversely affects strength development. When the plan is to kick off or pressure test/tag the cement plug it
is recommended to minimize thickening time in order to shorten WOC.

Gel Strength: Non progressive gel strengths are recommended when setting balanced plugs. What is
acceptable depends on pipe and hole geometry as well as job execution. Maximum 10 min gel strength of
60 lb/100 ft2 is desired in most operations. If the gel is higher then take special precautions to avoid static
periods and also focus on pipe cleaning after job.

This document is unpublished and confidential and is the property of Halliburton Energy Services. It may not be copied, reproduced or disclosed in any form
without the express written consent of Halliburton.
 BP-NO-HES-CEM-001
SCANDINAVIA CEMENTING Rev.0
BEST PRACTICES Date: 09.11.06

Approved by: Gunnar Lende

Plug Cementing Page 3 of 8

Fluid loss is only required in plugs set across permeable formations, a fluid loss less than 150 ml is
adequate for non gas blocking cement design. This limit should be lower if the cement slurry has very low
water content. Less than 50 ml is recommended if the plug shall withstand gas migration.

Viscosity: Should be as high as the operation and gel strength considerations allow. Consider mud
viscosity and Erodability, slurry mixability and ability to drain from pipe.

Under normal circumstances for plugging operations thixotropic cement slurries should not be used. However if for
some reason thixotropic cement slurry is needed the below special precautions must be addressed:

Cement plug should be less than 150 m.

Slick bottom hole assembly should be used. Avoid using drilling BHA
Pump and pull method is recommended.
Job should be executed with minimum static periods.
Extra focus on cleaning of string.
Rotate as much as possible when pumping, displacing and pulling out of cement.

Cement volume
Having sufficient cement volume is one of the most critical factors in setting successful plugs. Halliburton
recommends a minimum overall basic plug length: of at least 150 to 200 meters. In order to account for
contamination in the top of the plug typically 50 m of sacrificial cement should be included. In case of soft plug
fundament (i.e viscous pill etc.) then typically additional 30 m should be accounted for. Maximum plug length
should be limited to 250 m when using a balanced approach.

For plugs placed in open hole sections Halliburton also generally recommends adding a excess cement volume of
25 - 50 % of the open hole length. The actual excess value depends on nominal hole size, mud type, angle, risk of
washouts etc. Typically smaller holes require less excess.

Pumping of cement and spacer:

Pump the spacer and cement as fast as possible, only slow down the pump rate at the very end of the
displacement (minimize pump shutdowns).
Rotate the pipe minimum at 50 150 rpm while pumping spacer and cement. Do not reciprocate pipe.

Displacement:
Make sure that spacer is pumped behind cement.
Ensure accurate volume control.
Underdisplace with appropriate volume.
Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
Do not reciprocate.
Top drive should be used for displacement if possible.
Displacement rate should be as high as practically possible.

This document is unpublished and confidential and is the property of Halliburton Energy Services. It may not be copied, reproduced or disclosed in any form
without the express written consent of Halliburton.
 BP-NO-HES-CEM-001
SCANDINAVIA CEMENTING Rev.0
BEST PRACTICES Date: 09.11.06

Approved by: Gunnar Lende

Plug Cementing Page 4 of 8

After displacement:
Start pulling pipe as soon as possible after cement is in place.
Minimize time from cement in place to start of circulation to avoid plugging drill pipe. When 30 minutes is
left of the 70 BC thickening time (time from start mixing of cement), start pumping regardless of depth to
avoid plugging drill pipe.
Pull the pipe slowly (2-3 min./stand + connection time) out through the cemented interval breaking
connections carefully to avoid stripping the plug.
Pipe rotation should be minimized, maximum 20 rpm.
Do not attempt to circulate, reverse or squeeze cement out while POOH; it is imperative that the plug slurry
remains absolutely static.
Wait on cement as required to obtain sufficient compressive strength development. Recommended
unconfined compressive strength for plugs are:
o Pressure testing plugs: 2000 psi
o Tagging plugs: 500 psi or 2 x thickening time
o KOP: 3000 psi or harder than formation
o Whipstock fundament: 2,000 psi

Plug setting methods

There are three different methods of setting plugs:

Balanced plug method are most used common method and are well know on all rigs. This method is the
recommended choice to use for plug shorter than 250 m and in wellbores with angles below 70-80 deg.
Pump-and-pull method can be used when setting very long plugs (<250 m) when the hole size is well
known. This method is also mostly used when setting plugs with Coil tubing.
Combined pump-and-pull/balanced plug method is the recommended choice when setting plugs shorter
than 250 m, for wellbores with angles above 70-80 deg and the density difference is small.

Setting cement plugs in highly deviated or horizontal wellbores without swabbing when pulling out of the cement
plug is difficult. Consider closely the plug setting procedure prior to performing the job. Following the standard
"balanced plug" method will cause the plug to be disturbed by means of swabbing when pulling the cement stinger
out of it. This could cause significant contamination with the mud (particularly OBM) in the hole and thus jeopardize
the cement integrity.

This document is unpublished and confidential and is the property of Halliburton Energy Services. It may not be copied, reproduced or disclosed in any form
without the express written consent of Halliburton.
 BP-NO-HES-CEM-001
SCANDINAVIA CEMENTING Rev.0
BEST PRACTICES Date: 09.11.06

Approved by: Gunnar Lende

Plug Cementing Page 5 of 8

Balanced plug method

Although the method is referred to as balanced, the plug is normally not balanced prior to pulling out of it. In order
to allow for pulling dry pipe the plug must be under-displaced. The volume spacer to pump behind should be
calculated so that the height of spacer inside and outside of the string is approximately equal when the string is at
the top of the cement plug.

Advantages and disadvantages using the balanced plug method

Advantages Disadvantages:

The most common method and known on all rigs.
Can use shorter thickening time than the other
methods.
High annular velocity while displacing to required
TOC promoting displacement efficiency.
Need adequate hydrostatic difference between
mud and cement in order to balance plug (U-tube)
while pulling out.
Will pull wet in high angle wellbores.

Volume calculation:
Cement slurry volume = open hole volume + estimated open hole excess + contamination allowance.

General procedure:
1. RIH with cement stinger. Wash the plug area thoroughly on the way in to break mud gels and mobilize any
gelled mud. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
2. With cement stinger at TD condition the mud as required at highest practical rate. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
3. Pump preflush/spacer. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
4. Mix and pump required volume of cement slurry.
5. Pump spacer volume behind to balance the plug.
6. Displace the cement slurry at maximum rate.
Under displace with a volume corresponding to the length of the final cement plug multiplied by the
capacity difference between the small OD tail pipe and Drill pipe plus 0.5 1 m3.
Exact volume control during the displacement is crucial for the success of the cement plug.
Rotate the string at 50-150 rpm while displacing the cement slurry

It may be required to take returns through choke in order to control the rates (U-tubing effect may occur at
low pump rates).
7. POOH at 2 3 min per stand to minimum 3 stands above theoretical TOC. No rotation recommended.
If stacking plugs or interface must be removed place string 2-4 meter above TOC (in case allow thickening
time to circulate out excess).
If pulling wet, pump 1 stand volume for each stand pulled wet.
Minimize time from cement in place to start of circulation to avoid plugging drill pipe. When 30 minutes is
left of the 70 BC thickening time (time from start mixing of cement), start pumping regardless of depth to
avoid plugging drill pipe.
8. Drop Halliburton Wiperball and circulate B/U at maximum rate to clean the pipe. Rotate at 50 - 150 rpm.
9. POOH. Check pipe for cement in connections.

This document is unpublished and confidential and is the property of Halliburton Energy Services. It may not be copied, reproduced or disclosed in any form
without the express written consent of Halliburton.
 BP-NO-HES-CEM-001
SCANDINAVIA CEMENTING Rev.0
BEST PRACTICES Date: 09.11.06

Approved by: Gunnar Lende

Plug Cementing Page 6 of 8

Pump and pull method

This method is recommended when setting very long plugs (< 250 m). Displace spacer and cement slurry until +/-
100 m column of cement slurry is in the annulus between the cement stinger and hole. Then pump and pull the
work string until the end of the tail pipe is 3 stands above theoretical TOC. The tripping speed and pump rate
should be synchronized so that the end of the tail pipe will be at required TOC at the same time as the cement
slurry is leaving the pipe.

Advantages and disadvantages using the pump and pull method

Advantages:
Eliminates/minimizes swabbing while pulling
out of the cement plug.
Rising cement column in the annulus.
Can set very long cement plugs, i.e. could save
rig time.
Often beneficial when weak zones prohibit a
high displacement rate.
Reduces the risk of getting stuck in the cement
as less pipe is in the cement slurry.
Disadvantages:
Low annular velocity, i.e. will jeopardize displacement
efficiency in most muds.
Need information on actual hole size to be able to
synchronize tripping speed and pump rate properly.
Need significantly longer thickening time than a
balanced plug.
Long near static periods with cement slurry in the pipe,
i.e. could create cement sheath on the pipe walls.
Could require longer WOC-time if long cement plugs
(lower temperature at TOC).
Need to synchronize tripping speed and pump rate
closely.
U-tubing during pump and pull could result in
overdisplacement, hence contaminated plug.

Volume calculation:
Cement slurry volume = open hole volume + estimated open hole excess + contamination allowance.

General procedure:
1. RIH with cement stinger. Wash the plug area thoroughly on the way in. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
2. With cement stinger at TD condition the mud as required at highest practical rate. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
3. Pump spacer. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
4. Mix and pump required volume of cement slurry.
5. Pump spacer behind the cement slurry. Rotate if possible at 50 150 rpm.
6. Displace the cement slurry until +/- 100 m column of cement slurry is in the annulus. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
7. Pump and pull synchronized until the end of the tail pipe is 3 stands above theoretical TOC. Pipe rotation
should be minimized, maximum 20 rpm.
It may be required to take returns through choke in order to control the rates (U-tubing effect may occur at
low pump rates).
It may be required to close BOP during connections to maintain volume control.
Monitor the trip tank to ensure that the TOC is increasing as planned.
8. Drop Halliburton Wiperball and circulate B/U at maximum rate to clean the pipe. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
9. POOH. Check pipe for cement in connections.

This document is unpublished and confidential and is the property of Halliburton Energy Services. It may not be copied, reproduced or disclosed in any form
without the express written consent of Halliburton.
 BP-NO-HES-CEM-001
SCANDINAVIA CEMENTING Rev.0
BEST PRACTICES Date: 09.11.06

Approved by: Gunnar Lende

Plug Cementing Page 7 of 8

Combined pump-and-pull/balanced plug:

This method implies that the cement slurry is displaced to the required TOC with the string fixed at PBTD. The
string is then pumped out of the plug in order to prevent swabbing. The pump rate is maintained at approximately
1.5 times the equivalent volume of the closed end displacement (CED) of the string. This will cause the TOC to
increase somewhat during tripping out of the plug. The cement slurry is simply replacing the string volume
(pumping cement slurry into cement slurry).

Advantages and disadvantages using the combined pump-and-pull/balanced plug:

Advantages:
Eliminates/minimizes swabbing while pulling out of
the cement plug.
High annular velocity while displacing to required
TOC promoting good displacement efficiency.
Constant or slightly rising cement column in the
annulus, minimizing interface.
Disadvantages:
Need slightly longer thickening time compared to a
balanced plug.
Need to synchronize tripping speed and pump rate
closely.
Requires slightly higher cement slurry volume.
U-tubing during pump and pull could result in
overdisplacement, hence contaminated plug.
This implies breaking wet connections (full stand).

Closed end displacement (CED)

CED means the volume of the OD of the drill pipe.

When calculating CED; use the OD capacity of the tail pipe.
This is the sum of the steel displacement and pipe capacity.

Volume calculation:

Cement slurry volume = open hole volume + estimated open hole excess + Close end displacement (CED) of
cement stinger from plug bottom to TOC + contamination allowance.
Adding the CED volume to the volume calculations will allow a 50% variation in each direction in the pump
rate without pumping mud into the cement plug or swabbing.

This document is unpublished and confidential and is the property of Halliburton Energy Services. It may not be copied, reproduced or disclosed in any form
without the express written consent of Halliburton.
 BP-NO-HES-CEM-001
SCANDINAVIA CEMENTING Rev.0
BEST PRACTICES Date: 09.11.06

Approved by: Gunnar Lende

Plug Cementing Page 8 of 8

General procedure:

1. RIH with cement stinger. Wash the plug area thoroughly on the way in. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
2. With stinger at TD condition the mud as required at highest practical rate. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
3. Pump spacer. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
4. Mix and pump required volume of cement slurry.
5. Pump spacer behind the cement slurry. Rotate at 50 150 rpm.
6. Displace the cement out of the stinger until the leading edge of the cement slurry is at planned top of the plug
depth. As we have added 1 x CED of the cement stinger in the plug interval to the total cement slurry volume
the volume left in the pipe will now be 2 x CED of the cement stinger in the plug interval.
Rotate at 50-150 rpm.
NOTE: If using tapered string the under displacement volume must as a minimum correspond to the length
of the final cement plug multiplied by the capacity difference between the small OD tail pipe and Drill pipe
plus 0.5 1 m3.
7. If possible pull out one stand without pumping: Pipe rotation should be minimized, maximum 20 rpm.
If pipe was pulled dry continue pulling out without pumping.
If pipe was pulled wet, start pulling out of the cement plug while pumping 1.5 times the equivalent of the
CED of the tail pipe.
o NOTE: If u-tubing occurs at any time during the pump and pull sequence, stop pumping and
continue pulling without pumping as per the balanced plug procedure.
o Monitor the trip tank to ensure that the TOC remains constant or is slightly increasing during this
phase.
8. Pull 2 3 min per stand to 2-3 stands above theoretical TOC. Pipe rotation should be minimized, maximum 20
rpm.
9. Drop Halliburton Wiperball and circulate B/U at maximum rate to clean the pipe. Rotate at 50 150 rpm
10. POOH. Check pipe for cement in connections.

This document is unpublished and confidential and is the property of Halliburton Energy Services. It may not be copied, reproduced or disclosed in any form
without the express written consent of Halliburton.