Primary Cementing Overview

Primary Cementing
The introduction of a cementacious material into the annulus between casing and open hole to :
 Provide zonal isolation  Support axial load of casing strings and strings to be run

later
 Provide casing support and protection  Support the borehole

Types of Casings
 Conductor  Surface  Intermediate  Production  Liner

Conductor
 Purpose
 

Prevents washing out under the rig Provides elevation for flow nipple

 Common sizes and depths:

  

30 - 20 Welded 20 - 16 Threaded 30 - 200 (< 100 common)

Conductor
 Other Remarks:  Plugs not used  Careful pumping practices  Large excess required  Thru-drill pipe cementing common  BOPs not unusually connected  Common Cements


Accelerated Neat

Thru-Drill Pipe Cementing

 Key Points:  Cement contamination  Channelling  Displacement  Pump until cement to surface

Outside Cementing
 Purpose


Bring cement to surface

Tubing moved during job

 Macaroni tubing used  Max. depth 250-300 ft  High friction pressures  Non-standard connections

Surface
Purposes:
 Protects surface fresh water formations  Cases off unconsolidated or lost circulation areas  Supports subsequent casing strings  Provides primary pressure control (BOP support)  Common sizes and depths:
 

20 - 9 5/8 threaded 100 - 3000 (or more)

Surface Cementing
 Excess of 100% plus not uncommon  Recommend thru-drill pipe method to save
 

Cement Rig time

 Common cements:
  

Lead light weight slurries with high yields Neat tail slurries with good compressive strength Reduce WOC to a minimum with accelerators

BOP
Rotary table Rig Floor Mud Outlet Annular Preventor Choke Line

BLIND RAMS SHEAR RAMS PIPE RAMS

Conductor pipe Cement

10

Surface Casing Head Surface Casing

Intermediate (Also called Protection)

Purposes:
 Separates hole into workable sections
   

Lost Circulation Salt Section Overpressured Zones Heaving Shales

 Common sizes and depths:

 
11

13 3/8, 10 3/4, 9 5/8 3000 to 10,000

Intermediate Casings
 Cemented to surface or to previous casing shoe  Two stage jobs common  Plugs, casing equipment, casing accessories usual  Good cementing practices are required  Large cement volumes  Common Cements:
 

Typically filler slurries followed by high compressive tail Specialised (light, heavy, salt - saturated, etc)

12

Two Stage Cementing

Key Points:
 Separation and
2nd Stage

isolation of zones
 Reduces hydrostatic  Can leave zone in

Stage Collar

the annulus uncemented (cement at TD and surface)

1st Stage

13

Production
Purposes:
 Isolates the pay zone from other formations and the fluids

in them.
 Protective housing for production equipment.
 

Subsurface artificial lift Multiple zone completion

 Screens for sand control  Covers worn or damaged intermediate string.  Common sizes:

14

4 1/2, 5, 7, & 9 5/8

Liners
Key Points:
 Requires less casing  Deeper wells  Small annular clearance  Specialized equipment
Running Tool Shear Pin Liner Hanger Liner Wiper Plug Drill pipe Wiper Plug

15

Casing
 API Casing Specs
     

OD Weight Grade Burst pressure Collapse pressure Thread

9 5/8 53.5 lbs/ft (determines ID) C75 (yield point allowable tension) 7430 PSI 6380 PSI Buttress

 Tapered string used to minimize well cost.  Casing program for well based on :
  
16

Burst Pressure Collapse Pressure Tensile Load

Thread Types
 8 Round
 

Seals on threads Use of couplings Seals on threads Use of couplings Seals on threads & shoulder Use of couplings Seals on threads & shoulder Integral 2 sets of threads

 Buttress
 

 VAM
 

 Hydrill
  
17

Running Casing
 Inspection of Casing  Tuboscope  Pipe tally  Hole Preparation  Mud condition  Clearance  Running  Casing crews  Too fast  Landing Casing  Nippling up
18

Job Procedures
 Pre Job:

Check calculations with co-man  Rig up  Stem 1 on equipment  Check materials  Safety and organisation meeting  Prepare mix fluids, spacers and washes


19

Job Procedures
The Job:
Test lines  Load plugs  Pump Washes / Spacers  Drop bottom plug  Mix and pump cement  Drop top plug  Displace  Bump plug and check returns

20

Job Procedures
Post Job:
Wash up  Rig down  Stem equipment  Paper work


21