Deepwater Cementing Challenges

Ravi, Kris; Biezen, Ewout; Lightford, Stephen; Hibbert, A.P.; Greaves, C

doi:10.2118/56534-ms

Cited by 39 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The complication of cementing in deepwater and achieving proper cement placement is compounded by the well temperature profile, pressures experienced, placement challenges, and wait-on-cement (WOC) time (Ravi et al, 1999).…”

Section: Zonal Isolation (Cementing)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved Regulatory Oversight Using Real-Time Data Monitoring Technologies in the Wake of Macondo

Carter

Oort

Barendrecht

2014

Day 1 Wed, September 10, 2014

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As shown by the Macondo blowout, an uncontrolled deepwater well control event can result in loss of life, damage to the environment, and significant damage to company and industry reputation. Consistent adherence to safety regulations is a recurring issue in deepwater well construction. The two federal entities responsible for offshore U.S. safety regulation are the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). The regulatory authority of these two bodies spans well planning, drilling, completions, emergency evacuation, environmental response, etc. The wide range of rules these agencies are responsible for cannot be comprehensively verified with the current infrequency of on-site inspections. Offshore regulation and operational safety could be greatly improved through continuous remote real-time data monitoring. Many government agencies have adopted monitoring regimes dependent on real-time data for improved oversight (e.g. NASA Mission Control, USGS Earthquake Early Warning System, USCG Vessel Traffic Services, etc.). Appropriately, real-time data monitoring was either re-developed or introduced in the wake of catastrophic events within those sectors (e.g. Challenger, tsunamis, Exxon Valdez, etc.). Over recent decades, oil and gas operators have developed Real-Time Operations Centers (RTOCs) for continuous, pro-active operations oversight and remote interaction with on-site personnel. Commonly seen as collaborative hubs, RTOCs provide a central conduit for shared knowledge, experience, and improved decision-making, thus optimizing performance, reducing operational risk, and improving safety. In particular, RTOC's have been useful in identifying and mitigating potential well construction incidents that could have resulted in significant non-productive time and trouble cost. In this paper, a comprehensive set of recommendations is made to BSEE and USCG to expand and improve their regulatory oversight activities through remote real-time data monitoring and application of emerging real-time technologies that aid in data acquisition and performance optimization for improved safety. Data sets and tools necessary for regulators to effectively monitor and regulate deepwater operations (Gulf of Mexico, Arctic, etc.) on a continuous basis are identified. Data from actual GOM field cases are used to support the recommendations. In addition, the case is made for the regulator to build a collaborative foundation with deepwater operators, academia and other stakeholders, through the employment of state-of-the-art knowledge management tools and techniques. This will allow the regulator to do "more with less", in order to address the fast pace of activity expansion and technology adoption in deepwater well construction, while maximizing corporate knowledge and retention. Knowledge management provides a connection that can foster a truly collaborative relationship between regulators, industry, and non-governmental organizations with a common goal of safety assurance and without confusing lines of authority or responsibility. This solves several key issues for regulators with respect to having access to experience and technical know-how, by leveraging industry experts who would not normally have been inaccessible. On implementation of the proposed real-time and knowledge management technologies and workflows, a phased approach is advocated to be carried out under the auspices of the Center for Offshore Safety (COS) and/or the Offshore Energy Safety Institute (OESI). Academia can play an important role, particularly in early phases of the program, as a neutral playing ground where tools, techniques and workflows can be tried and tested before wider adoption takes place.

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Section: Zonal Isolation (Cementing)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved Regulatory Oversight Using Real-Time Data Monitoring Technologies in the Wake of Macondo

Carter

Oort

Barendrecht

2014

Day 1 Wed, September 10, 2014

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“…[9][10][11] This flow results from geopressured, poorly consolidated sands located within a few thousand feet below the mud line. SWF presents challenges to drilling and completion operations, particularly in the deepwater areas of the world, because the first two strings of pipe are usually drilled and cemented without a riser in place.…”

Section: Shallow Water Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Creating a cement sheath that provides proper zonal isolation under any circumstance should be a primary objective [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] in every well construction project to (1) protect fresh water from contamination, (2) provide effective interzonal isolation, and (3) provide mechanical support to the casing string. All these objectives will facilitate the production of oil and gas safely and economically over the well's lifetime.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing Cement Slurries for Preventing Formation Fluid Influx After Placement

Santra

Reddy

Antia

2007

Proceedings of International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry

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fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractFormation fluid influx into cement slurries immediately after placement presents not only a short-term problem, for example losing the slurry due to shallow water flows, but also presents a long-term problem, for example gas flow and pressure buildup behind the casing. It is critical that cement slurries be designed carefully when such problems are anticipated. Cement slurries that often offer the best solution to resist the formation influx are those that do not gel while being pumped then gel/set and gain strength rapidly once placed. These are sometimes referred to as "right-angle set" cements and should possess the following attributes in laboratory design testing:• Maintains a low rheological profile while pumping for lower ECDs. • Predictable thickening and set times.• Retains the ability to transmit hydrostatic pressure under static conditions until the cement is ready to gel/set. • Short gel to set time under static conditions, often termed "transition time." • Short waiting on cement (WOC) time.This paper shows that although a cement slurry having a "right-angle set" may ensure the first two benefits, it does not always guarantee the latter two when present behind a casing. For example, some slurries might reach thickening time and become unpumpable rapidly, but strength development may not occur until long afterward, due to a time lag between thickening and hydration time (set time) of cement. In such cases, slurry should be designed such that the thickening time and hydration time are essentially identical. Novel slurries that maintain low rheological profiles while the slurry is being placed, then set and gain strength quickly due to cement hydration afterward, have been developed for a variety of densities and downhole temperatures. Results from laboratory and related field case histories will be presented.

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“…Usually, there is a narrow margin between pore pressure and fracture gradient. Because of this small difference, fl uids cannot be circulated at the high fl ow rates that are ideal for hole cleaning and cement-slurry placement Griffi th and Faul 1997;Ravi et al 1999) this condition complicates an already diffi cult displacement scenario in cementing shallow strings. Further, the annulus size is often large, which results in a reduced velocity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cement-Slurry Design To Prevent Destabilization of Hydrates in Deepwater Environment

Ravi

Iverson

Moore

2009

SPE Drilling &Amp; Completion

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Hydrates present challenges to drilling, cementing, and producing in deepwater environments. If the hydrates are destabilized during well operations, gas or solids could rise to the surface and create problems. Therefore, there is a compelling need to prevent destabilization of hydrates from drilling to producing operations in the life of the well.The volume of cement slurry in the surface casing is great because of the large annulus, and this slurry volume results in a great amount of heat generated during slurry hydration. Further, during production, hydrocarbons could increase the temperature of the surrounding formation. These factors could destabilize the hydrates.Cement slurries are designed to lower the heat of hydration while meeting or exceeding the other properties needed for successful deepwater cementing. Heat of hydration is reduced by a factor of more than two when compared to the conventional cement-slurry design. The improved cement-slurry designs lower considerably the thermal conductivity of the set cement sheath.Laboratory tests designed to measure and optimize the heat of hydration are discussed and field implementation of these slurries and results are presented. Results presented in this paper should help the industry construct and produce wells without destabilizing the hydrates, thus, promoting well safety and economics.

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Deepwater Cementing Challenges

Abstract: This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1999 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Houston, Texas, 3–6 October 1999.

Cited by 39 publications

References 5 publications

Improved Regulatory Oversight Using Real-Time Data Monitoring Technologies in the Wake of Macondo

Improved Regulatory Oversight Using Real-Time Data Monitoring Technologies in the Wake of Macondo

Designing Cement Slurries for Preventing Formation Fluid Influx After Placement

Cement-Slurry Design To Prevent Destabilization of Hydrates in Deepwater Environment

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