Technological Capabilities of Well Cementing

Abstract

Cementing of casing string is a final operation before the next stage of well construction; it provides maximum operational life of the well. Cementing of casing string is carried out with the use of technology, based on squeezing of the whole volume of drilling mud by special grouting composition. The main purposes of cementing include isolation of water-bearing horizon, strengthening of borehole walls in unconsolidated and unstable rocks. Well cementing process is divided into five subsequent operations. Firstly, grouting mixture is prepared in concrete mixers (cementing units) with necessary water-to-cement ratio and additives. Secondly, prepared grouting solution is injected in a well. Thirdly, the solution is squeezed into the space between the casing pipes and wellbore walls. Then it is necessary to wait until the cement sheath is hardened. And at last, quality control is carried out. For convenient transportation, the equipment for well cementing is installed on the truck chassis (KAMAZ, URAL and etc.). All components are poured in concrete mixer, then the water is added and everything is being mixed until formation of uniform mass, which is later pumped in a well. Oil and Gas Industry Safety Regulations say that «calculated endurance of casing string cementing should not exceed 75% of time of cement thickening, established by laboratory tests». Therefore, it is necessary to carry out all operations of injection of fluids into the well as soon as possible without any incompliances of the cementing technology. With cementing material used and its water-to-cement ratio of 0.5, the average time of cement thickening is 120 minutes, according to laboratory tests. Therefore, a set of operations of injection of fluids should not exceed 90 minutes.