HAL.9002.0004.

0485

Cement Plug Guidelines

Common Causes of Plug Failure
Design No firm base for cement plug (see recommendations opposite for options to provide firm base) Poor well evaluation Poor written procedures Incorrect temperatures No allowance for contamination (top 30-60m of plug) Execution Poor mud/hole conditioning Insufficient slurry volume/excess Execution delays Poor coordination Poor equipment Impatience to set and tag the plug Over-displacement (from inaccurate volumes/calcs.)

Plug Setting Recommendations

Hole Size If possible, set plug at depths where washouts minimal Pump sufficient cement volume: Open hole - 50% excess Cased hole - 10 bbls for contamination Set plug well above kick off depth: Kick off plug set to place TOC at least 60 90m above desired kick off depth, to ensure competent cement at kick off point. Set plug on a firm base: Cased hole use EZSV / Fas-Dril packers Open hole 12 use Cement Support Tool (plus high vis pill in extreme situations) Open hole > 12 use Viscous Reactive Pill (VRP) Mud removal & displacement: While RIH, rotate (15-30rpm), reciprocate and wash interval at maximum pump rate. Minimise shutdowns, to keep the mud in a fluidized condition. Redirect flow with diverter tool: Use a side-port diverter tool (if a CST is not used) on the bottom of the cementing stinger to redirect flow, minimising intermixing and optimising hole cleaning. Use cement stinger to minimise stripping plug: 8 hole, use 3 stinger < 8 hole, use 2 7/8 stinger. Stinger should be at least 1.5 x length of cement plug Cement plug length: Limit plug length to 150 - 180m to allow stinger to be pulled slowly out of plug. Longer plugs increase the risk of cementing-in the stinger. If longer plugs necessary conduct appropriate risk assessment. Spacer system: To provide fluid separation and hole cleaning, sufficient volume of a suitable spacer should be pumped ahead to provide 150 - 300m of annular fill or a 10min contact time, plus spacer volume behind to balance. Pump rates: Pump spacer, cement and displacement at maximum practicable rates, slowing rate down to 1-2 bpm at 5-10 bbls before end of calculated displacement. Displacement volumes: Drill pipe and stinger should be drifted for accurate displacement. Under displacement: Under-displacing by a small volume (typically 5-10 bbls), allowing the cement to U-tube into position, can help ensure the plug balances out & the pipe does not pull wet. Rotate pipe while pumping cement & displacement: Use side entry sub/swivel or top-drive cement head to enable rotation (15-30rpm) - DO NOT reciprocate. Slowly pull out of cement plug: After plug is in place POOH slowly (10-15m/min) and break connections carefully to avoid stripping plug, whilst avoiding any delays. Circulate string clean: Do not circulate on top of plug, wait until a minimum of 150m above top of plug before circulating string clean, using wiper ball to clean string. Waiting on cement: Prior to testing a plug (tagging or pressure testing), time should be allowed for it to develop sufficient compressive strength at least the time for the plug to reach 500psi or 3,000psi for a kick-off plug.

Cementing swivel to allow drill pipe rotation

The most common contributor to cement plug failure and the necessity for remedial work is where no consideration is given to providing a firm base for the cement plug Allow for contamination in top 30 60m of cement plug

In deviated well bores cement slurry can slope down low side
Lo w er d e ns ity w ellf luid

In vertical well bores cement slurry can spiral or rope down hole

H igh e r d en sity c em en t s lip p in g o r flow in g

Hi gh er den si ty ce m e nt gra vi ta tin g wi th s pi ra l we llf lu id e xch an g e

Use diverter tool on bottom of stinger (if CST not used)

Typical Cement Plug Properties

Thickening time: Job time plus 60 mins for KO or Abandonment Plugs. Free Water: 1% for vertical or deviated wellbores. Rheology: To be measured at surface and BHCT. To be mixable at surface & stable down hole. Compressive Strength: ~ 2000psi in 24hrs for Abandonment Plugs & ~ 3000psi in 20hrs for Kick Off Plugs (compromise may be required at shallow depths / low temps) Fluid Loss: 200cc/30mins if plug is to be set in a permeable zone.
Right 1st Time

Injuries

Spills

Use EZSV packer as base for cement plug in cased hole

If using a CST - drift all pipe & crossovers