Reasons for Using Cementing Plugs

• Remove mud sheath

• Separate cement and Mud
• Prevent over displacement
• Surface indication
• Pressure test casing
Five Wiper Cementing Plugs

• Available with:
– aluminum inserts
– plastic inserts
– non-rotating (NR) plastic
inserts
• 350 psi rupture diaphragm in
bottom plugs
• Surface release or sub-
surface release (SSR)
• Compatible with water-based
or oil-based muds
NR Cement Plug System

• Reduces drillout time

• PDC drillable
• 350 psi rupture diaphragm
• Use with NR float collar
• All plastic inserts
Top & Bottom Plugs with NR Float Collar
NR Cement Plugs

Cementing in process Cementing complete Ready for drillout

Pumping Cement without Cement Plugs

Displacement
fluid

• Much cement contamination

Cement
• No surface indication of cement
placement
Casing

Mud sheath

Drilling mud
Pumping Cement with Top Plug Only

Casing

Top plug • Top plug wipes mud sheath from

casing ID
Accumulated • Separates cement from
mud
displacement fluid
• Surface indication when cement
Mud sheath placement is complete
• Require additional shoe track
length

Drilling mud
Accumulated Mud Volume Ahead of
Cement Plug

Fill up per 1,000 ft. casing

Mud
sheath 5-1/2 inch 7 inch 9-5/8 inch 13-3/8 inch
thickness casing casing casing casing
(Inches)
1/16 51 ft. 40 ft. 28 ft. 20 ft.
1/32 25 ft. 20 ft. 12 ft. 10 ft.
1/64 13 ft. 10 ft. 7 ft. 5 ft.
Pumping Cement with Top & Bottom
Plugs
Displacement
fluid

Top plug • Preferred method

• Bottom plug wipes mud sheath
Accumulated from casing ID
mud
• Surface indication when cement
Casing placement is complete
Cement • Maximum cement/mud
separation
Bottom plug

Drilling mud
Polycrystalline Diamond Compact Bits
(PDC)

• Soft – medium formations

• Improves rate of penetrate (ROP)
• Longer service life
Concave PDC Bit
Illustrates aggressive nature of PDC bits