Shallow hazard migration post-cementing is a well-known and costly problem worldwide. It is extremely difficult to fix once it has occurred since limited remedial options are available with marginal success rates. Its causes are easy to understand yet it needs careful planning to prevent it. Post-cementing shallow water flow and gas migration may occur due to several collective causes such as poor fluid displacement efficiencies, losses prior/post or during cement placement, and/or underperforming slurry properties. Previously proposed solutions focus only on one of these challenges with various success rate depending on well conditions. Addressing all these challenges together is essential for successful prevention. Due to the nature of these wells containing the high probability of flow from these shallow hazards, the clearances between pore and fracture pressures are narrow. This makes the common mud removal approach of displacement mechanics challenging. It also requires a delicate balance between maintaining sufficient hydrostatic to remain above the pore pressure of the flow zone and losing to the weak formations. Independent of these boundary conditions, the slurry needs to have a given set of performance properties to prevent any influx into the annulus. This paper discuss the successful implementation of cementing solutions and control measures used to prevent shallow hazards migration in Saudi Arabia. This manuscript will discuss the field implementation and operations documenting the step changes success.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.