A New Fluid-Based Isolation Spacer Increases Success When Spotting Off-Bottom Cement Plugs

Abstract

Successfully spotting an Off-Bottom Cement Plug (OBCP) has been problematic in the oilfield for decades. The use of high viscosity support spacers below the cement plug has been an attractive method to support the cement. These isolation spacers have traditionally been formulated with either biopolymers or bentonitic clays, but they too often fail to support the cement plug due to inadequate viscosity or poor placement. The result is that the cement slumps below the desired location in the wellbore, requiring some remedial action such as spotting an additional spacer and OBCP. One response to this challenge has been the use of a packer to support the plug, but this entails the additional cost of the packer plus the rig time required to place it. A better method was needed to increase OBCP success while reducing costs. A new isolation spacer technology was adapted to meet this challenge, and the resulting field applications are described in this paper. Developmental lab testing will be detailed along with an initial trial well where the spacer was used to isolate a retrievable packer from workover debris. After success there, the same spacer technology was used to successfully support an OBCP on a rigless well abandonment.