API Cement and Additives

Cementing I Course
Jakarta, January 2011
For Internal Use Only
 AGENDA

1. Functions of the Primary Cementing Process

2. API Cement
3. Cement Properties
4. Cement Additives

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 Primary Cementing

The principal functions of the primary cementing

process :

 Bond and support the casing

 Restrict fluid movement between formations
 Protect the casing from corrosion
 Protect the casing from shock loads when drilling
deeper
 Seal off lost circulation (or thief) zones

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 Cement History

 Gypsum Cement – 3000 BC

 Limestone Cement – 800 BC
 Portland Cement – 1824
 First Steel Casing Cemented – 1903
 First Cement Job by Halliburton – 1919
 Class G Cement – 1964

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 Portland Cement Composition

 Limestone (or other materials high in calcium

carbonate)
 Clay or shale
 Some iron and aluminum oxides (if not found in
quantity in the clay or shale).

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 API Cement Classification

 API Class A and B (Portland cement)

 API Class C (High early strength cement)
 API Class D, E and F (Retarded cement)
 API Class G and H (Basic cement)
 API Class J (Special order only).

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 API Classification And Properties Of Common
Oil Well Cements

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 API Class-G Cement Properties

Slurry Weight : 15.8 ppg

Slurry Yield : 1.15 cuft/sk
Water Requirement : 5.0 gal/sk
Free Water : 5.9%
Compressive Strength
8 hrs, 14.7 Psi, 100 degF : 300 Psi
8 hrs, 14.7 Psi, 140 degF : 1500 Psi
Thickening Time @ 125 degF : 90 – 120 min

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 Cement Properties

The properties of cement slurry are influenced by

factors such as:

 Water ratio of cement slurries (gal/sk)

 Slurry density (lb/gal)
 Slurry yield (ft³/sk)
 Additives

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 Cement Properties

 Thickening Time
 Rheology Properties
 Free Water
 Settling
 Fluid Loss
 Compressive Strength

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 Cement Additives

Accelerator
Cement accelerators shorten thickening time and reduce
WOC. They also increase early strength

The common accelerators are :

 Calcium Chloride (most widely used)
 Sodium Chloride
 Seawater
 Cal-Seal
 ECONOLITE
 VersaSet

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 Cement Additives

Cement Retarder Additives

Cement retarders slow cement setting time (hydration) to
allow for safe cement placement

The common Cement Retarder Additives are :

 Lignins (sodium lignosulfonate, calcium
lignosulfonate)
 Carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC)
 Saturated salt water
 Organic acids
 Synthetic polymers

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 Cement Additives

Light Weight Additives

A slurry weight needs to be reduced to protect formations
that have a low fracture gradient or for economics

The common Light Weight Additives are :

 Bentonite
 Spherelite
 Water
 Foam Cement

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 Cement Additives

Heavy Weight Additives

The main purpose of heavy weight additives is to restrain
high formation pressures

The common Heavy Weight Additives are :

 Barite
 Micromax
 Hematite
 Sand
 Salt

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 Cement Additives

Lost Circulation Additives

“Lost circulation” or “lost returns” refers to whole fluid loss
or cement slurry loss to formation voids during drilling or
completing a well

The common Lost Circulation Additives are :

 Granular (gilsonite, coal, perlite, walnut hulls, mica)
 Fibrous (nylon, polypropylene)
 Laminated (cellophane)
 Specialized flash setting or gelling material

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 Cement Additives

Fluid Loss Additives

Fluid loss additives counteract the tendency of cement
slurries to lose the water that the slurries need to help
achieve a good cement job

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 Cement Additives

Cement Dispersants or Friction Reducers

Dispersing agents are added to cement slurries
to improve their flow properties.

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 Cement Additives

Gas Control Additives

The time period of gelation, before cement sets may be
several hours. In this state the unset slurry will not fully
transmit fluid pressure from wellbore fluids

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 Cement Additives

Silica
Strength Stabilizing Agent is used to stabilize the
strength and permeability of cement where temperatures
are higher than 230°F. It is effective in preventing strength
retrogression and decreasing permeability in cement
systems.

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 Cement Additives

Spacer
1. Mud Flush
2. Super Flush
3. Dual Spacer
4. Tuned Spacer

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Thank You

For Internal Use Only