REMEDIAL CEMENTING

OVERVIEW
Presented by:

ISTIDHARTO
ASSET Management - Completions
DURI SBU

REMEDIAL CEMENTING
OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTION
PUMPING METHODS
PLACEMENT TECHNIQUE
LABORATORY TEST AND DESIGN
SQUEEZE CEMENTING APPLICATIONS
VOLUME CALCULATION


INTRODUCTION
Remedial Cementing:
An attempt to repair or improve a down hole
condition with cement slurry.

Squeeze Cementing:
The placement of cement slurry under pressure
against a permeable formation causing the slurry to
dehydrate and create a cementitious seal across the
formation face.

 PUMPING METHODS
Injection Rate/Pressure Test:
Fluid is injected into the formation at a controlled rate
and the corresponding pressure is recorded. The rates
to record are the lowest rate at which the formation will
take fluid and the minimum rate is needed to displace
the slurry to the first hesitation cycle.
The purpose for
determine a safe
formation under
fracture gradient.
fracture gradient,
fractures.

establishing an injection rate is to

rate that fluid can be placed into the
the pressure below the formation
If the injection pressure exceeds the
excessive rates will create excessive

 PUMPING METHODS
Running Squeeze:
The cement slurry is pumped continuously until the final
desired squeeze pressure is attained which may be
above or below the fracture pressure. The volume of
cement slurry injected is usually large.

Hesitation Squeeze:
The cement slurry is pumped intermittently at slow rate
(0.2 0.5 BPM), separated by an interval of 10 30
minutes for pressure leak-off due to filtrate loss to the
formation. The volume of cement slurry injected is
usually much less than those required for a running
squeeze.

 PLACEMENT TECHNIQUE
Braden head Squeeze
The placement technique normally used when lowpressure squeezing is practiced. Open ended tubing is
run to the bottom of the zone to be squeezed, annular
BOP is closed over the tubing. The cement slurry is
subsequently spotted in front of the perforations. Once
the cement is in place, the tubing is pulled out to a point
above the cement top, the BOP is closed and pressure
is applied through the tubing.

 PLACEMENT TECHNIQUE
Bradenhead Squeeze
Pump cement slurry

Equalized the slurry

Re-set Open End

Close Valve

Open/Choke
Valve

Close Valve

Hesitate
the slurry

 PLACEMENT TECHNIQUE
Bullhead Squeeze
Open ended is set to a point above the zone to be
squeezed and BOP is closed. The cement slurry is
pumped down the tubing, forcing the well fluid in the
casing into the formation ahead of the squeeze slurry.
Sufficient displacement fluid must be available as none
of the well fluid will be recovered. Cement retainer or
retrievable squeeze packer can be used to prevent
potential communication with upper perforations or
when a high negative differential pressure may disturb
the cement cake.

 PLACEMENT TECHNIQUE
Bullhead Squeeze
Close Valve

Close Valve

Squeezed
the slurry

Close Valve

Hesitate
the slurry

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
Thickening Time
Thickening time tests should be determined using
hesitation squeeze to simulate the temperature increase
to bottom hole static temperature (BHST) that occurs
when the cement slurry is held in the hole while squeeze
pressure is being built, and to simulate field hesitation
cycles and provide an important check for slurry settling
tendencies.
The temperature and pressure are important factors,
which influence the thickening time of a cement slurry.

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
Fluid Loss Control
Fluid loss test is conducted in a desirable temperature
representing the bottom hole condition, high pressure
filter press using a 1000 psi pressure differential across
a 325 mesh filter medium. The results obtained are
relative and cannot be used to deduce actual down hole
filtrate volumes or to quantify down hole cake thickness.
Cement slurries are dehydrated against a porous media.
Also, as water is forced from a cement slurries, the
slurry will gain greater strength than that of static set
because less excess water is contained in the system.

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
Rheology
Rheology is concerned with the flow and deformation of
materials in response to applied stresses. Rheological
properties of a slurry are not a factor in squeeze slurry
performance except when tubing frictional forces are
critical (as for small tubing work strings). As with all
slurries, high rheological readings warn of potential
problems when mixing with less than well-maintained
mixing equipment.

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
Slurry Viscosity
The ability of the slurry to flow into narrow channels is
proportional to its fluidity. Thick slurries, although useful
when cementing large voids, will not flow into small
restrictions unless they are subjected to high differential
pressures, which are limited by the formation fracture
pressure. Therefore, low viscosity slurries containing
dispersants are commonly used.

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
Free Water
Free water value should be determined by first
conditioning the slurry in an HTHP consistometer at
bottom hole conditions. The conditioned slurry is placed
in a 250 ml graduated cylinder inclined at a 45 angle for
2 hours. The 45 angle represents a worst case
situation in which it is easy for a water droplet to migrate
to the high side of the cylinder and for gravity to promote
solids settling on the low side.

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
Static Gel Strength
When a severe potential for flow-after-cementing exist, it
is necessary to shorten the slurrys transition time as
much as possible. The transition time is defined as the
time it takes for a slurrys gel strength to increase from
100 lbf/100 ft2 to 500 lbf/100 ft2. When the gel strength
is less than 100 lbf/100 ft2, the cement slurry acts like a
drilling mud and can transmit the hydrostatic head of the
fluid column above it. When the gel strength exceeds
500 lbf/100 ft2, the slurry has gelled enough to prevent
gas entry. Thus, the transition period is the dangerous
period.

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
Compressive Strength Development
Compressive strength development is not usually a
problem with slurries designed at normal density ranges.
High compressive strength, although desirable to prevent
cracking, is not a primary concern. A partially dehydrated
cement cake of any normal cement slurry will develop
sufficient compressive strength. Silica flour is added to
prevent strength retrogression if the static temperature
will exceed 250F.

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
CEMENT SLURRY DESIGN
Loose Injection
Profile
The pressure range less than 50 psi at pumping rate of
0.6 BPM is considered a loose injection.
Cement designs for the loose injection range should
always include two slurries system (lead slurry and tail
slurry)

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
CEMENT SLURRY DESIGN
Loose Injection
Profile

Lead slurry should have a fluid loss or filtration control

between 250 and 450 mls in 30 minutes. Thickening
time should be between one and a half and two hours.

The lead slurry should be followed by a tail slurry. It is

primarily used to obtain the final seal in small voids and
channels that remain after the placement of lead slurry.

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
CEMENT SLURRY DESIGN
Tight Injection
Profile
The pressure range over than 200 psi at 0.6 bpm
pumping rate is considered a tight injection.
Cement designs for the tight injection range should
include only one slurry system, tail slurry.
Thickening time is between two and three hours, and
fluid loss is between 70 and 90 mls in 30 minutes.

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
CEMENT SLURRY DESIGN
Moderate Injection
Profile
The pressure range of this type of injection is at some
point between the two extremes (50 psi < injection
pressure @ 0.6 bpm < 200 psi).
The exact point of the moderate injection area is not
important because the scale only represents ranges.
The point is used to determine the amount of lead and
tail slurries volume.

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
CEMENT SLURRY DESIGN
Moderate Injection
Profile

Cement designs for the moderate injection range should

include two slurries system (lead slurry and tail slurry
parallel that of the loose injection range)

The values for filtration control for lead slurry is between

150 and 250 mls in 30 minutes and thickening time is
between one and a half and two hours.
The lead slurry should be followed by a tail slurry parallel that of the loose injection range.

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
REGULAR CEMENT SLURRY
DESIGN
TYPE

TIGHT
(TAIL SLURRY)
MODERATE
(LEAD + TAIL
SLURRY)

BHCT/
BHST
(o F)

Injection
Press.Test
(0.6 BPM)

SLURRY
YIELD WATER
DENSITY
REQ.
(ppg) (pcf) (cuft/sx) (gal/sx)

TT
70/100
(hh:mm)

FL
(ml /
30 min)

90,105,125

> 200 PSI

15.8

118

2.0 - 2.5

<100

<30

4-6 HRS

15.8

118

2.0 - 2.5
1.5 - 2.0

150 - 200

<30

4-6 HRS

15.8

118

1.5-2.0

250 - 300

<30

4-6 HRS

90,105,125 50 < IP < 200

LOOSE
90,105,125
(LEAD SLURRY)

< 50 PSI

Pv
(cP)

Yp
(lbf /
100 ft2)

COMPR. STRE
500
(psi)

 LABORATORY TEST AND

DESIGN
CONTAMINATED CEMENT SLURRY DESIGN
BHCT/
BHST
(o F)

Injection
Press.Test
(0.6 BPM)

SLURRY
YIELD WATER
DENSITY
REQ.
(ppg) (pcf) (cuft/sx) (gal/sx)

TT
70/100
(hh:mm)

FL
(ml /
30 min)

150/200

< 200

15.8

200/250

< 200

250/

< 200

Pv

118

4:00

<50

<10

15.8

118

4:00

<50

<10

15.8

118

4:00

<50

<10

(cP)

Yp
(lbf /
100 ft2)

COMPR. STRENGTH
8 hrs 12 hrs 24 hrs
(psi)
(psi)
(psi)

MICRO MATRIX CEMENT SLURRY DESIGN

TYPE

BHCT/
BHST
(oF)
98/110

Injection
Press.Test
(0.6 BPM)

SLURRY
YIELD WATER
DENSITY
REQ.
(ppg) (pcf) (cuft/sx) (gal/sx)
12.5

93.5

TT
70/100
(hh:mm)

FL
(ml /
30 min)

2:00

<50

Pv
(cP)

Yp
(lbf /
100 ft2)
<20

COMPR. STRENGTH
8 hrs 12 hrs 24 hrs
(psi)
(psi)
(psi)

 SQUEEZE CEMENTING
APPLICATIONS
Squeeze to Improve Cement Bond
If any isolation is required over zones of interest, it
needs a squeeze job to improve cement bond.
A CBL and/or USIT/CAST-V is required to identify bad
bond and to locate the interval to be squeezed.

Squeeze off Casing Leak

Squeeze cementing job is required to cover or shut off
the leakage.

 SQUEEZE CEMENTING
APPLICATIONS
Squeeze off Interval Perforations
To shut off water zone and gas/steam zone in producer
wells.
To improve steam profile in injector wells.
Cement retainer is commonly used for cement slurry
placement between two intervals.

Open Hole Cement Squeeze

The cement slurry placement in open hole is intended to
support casing shoe.

 SQUEEZE CEMENTING
APPLICATIONS
Squeeze off Interval Perforations
(Profile Improvement)
PRODUCER WELLS
RL Jobs:
Squeeze off interval perforation using regular cement
in cased hole
IS/LW Jobs:
Squeeze off interval using Micro Matrix Cement/Acid
Soluble Cement through inside liner

 SQUEEZE CEMENTING
APPLICATIONS
Squeeze off Interval Perforations
(Profile Improvement)
INJECTOR WELLS
RIG WORKS:
Squeeze off interval perforation using regular cement
CTU WORKS:
Squeeze off interval using contaminated cement
Squeeze off interval using regular cement at slimhole

CALCULATIONS
Displacement Volume
Bullhead Squeeze
Example:
Casing size = 10-3/4, Capacity = 0.0981 bbl/ft, PBTD @ 420 ft
Interval will be shut off = 400 - 410
Tubing size = 3-1/2, Capacity = 0.0087 bbl/ft, Set @ 70 ft
Calculation:
Casing volume = (420 70) ft x 0.0981 bbl/ft = 34.3 bbl
Tubing volume = 70 ft x 0.0087 bbl/ft
= 0.6 bbl
Proposed top of cement slurry left inside casing at 340 ft, then
Displacement volume = {(340 - 70) ft x 0.0981 bbl/ft} + 0.6 bbl
= 26.4 bbl + 0.6 bbl = 27.0 bbl
Assume line volume
= 0.5 bbl
Total displacement volume
= 27.5 bbl

CALCULATIONS
Displacement Volume
Braden head Squeeze
Example:
Casing size = 10-3/4, Capacity = 0.0981 bbl/ft, PBTD @ 420 ft
Interval will be shut off = 400 - 410
Tubing size = 3-1/2, Capacity = 0.0087 bbl/ft, Set @ 415 ft
Calculation:
Tubing volume = 415 ft x 0.0087 bbl/ft = 3.6 bbl
Expected final top of cement slurry to be equalized to 250 ft
= (400 250) ft x 0.0981 bbl/ft = 14.7 bbl
Cement slurry left at surface (will be equalized):
(14.7 3.6) bbl = 11.1 bbl slurry at slurry tub + mix water
Final slurry remains above perforation at 340 ft, then
Displacement volume = (340 250) ft x 0.0981 bbl/ft = 8.8 bbl

EXERCISES

THE END