Successful Single-Stage Cementing in a Weak Formation: A Case History in Spain

Bottiglieri, A.; Brandl, Andreas; Martin, Raphael; Prieto, R.. Nieto

doi:10.2118/169936-ms

Cited by 16 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 7 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…The successful application and the mechanism of the sealing spacer fluid containing membrane forming colloids have been described in previous studies (Metcalf et al 2011, Budiawa et al 2014. Bottiglieri et al 2014 reported that the sealing spacer increased the frac initiation and propagation pressure in formations based on a case history. The main component of this fluid system is a hydrophobically modified polymer.…”

Section: Sealing Spacer Fluidmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combating Severe Losses and Improving Cementing Quality in Carbonate Formations: A Lesson Learned from Drilling Wells in Offshore Sarawak, Malaysia

et al. 2014

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Wells drilled into gas bearing carbonate reservoirs in offshore Sarawak are prone to severe lost circulation issues. In the first 3 exploration wells, total losses were encountered after drilling 20 m into the carbonate in 8.5-in. hole section. The well managed to drill to TD with application of pressurized mud-cap drilling. However the challenge of the total losses wellbore is the incomplete cementing of the 7-in. liner across the carbonate column. Poor zonal isolation and reduction of reservoir permeability were major concerns to the operator requiring significant investigation, laboratory testing and pre-job planning for future wells. This paper will discuss an unique design technique for curing the challenging lost circulation issues while also providing improved cement placement along the fractured formation. Lab test results are presented using a bridging material simulator with different fracture sizes to evaluate the sealing effectiveness of the engineered systems. Return permeability studies using a Hasseler-style core holder were conducted for the fluids to verify their damage potential to the producing formations.The engineered solution was the use of a cement spacer fluid containing membrane forming colloids to seal fracture sizes up to 2 mm which also yielded 100% return permeability to hydrocarbons. The use of the spacer fluid enabled successful cement placement along the critical carbonate section. A bond log evaluation showed that there was cement coverage along the zones of interest. Based on the positive lab tests and field results, the combination of a sealing spacer and lightweight cementing system was identified as a viable solution to combat lost circulation and improve cement placement for future wells drilled in this area.

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Section: Sealing Spacer Fluidmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combating Severe Losses and Improving Cementing Quality in Carbonate Formations: A Lesson Learned from Drilling Wells in Offshore Sarawak, Malaysia

et al. 2014

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Failure Analysis and Improvement of Mechanical Stage-Cementer and its Application in Ultra-Deep Drillings

Chen

Zhong

et al. 2022

J Fail. Anal. and Preven.

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Numerical Computer Modelling and an Innovative Spacer-Cement Train Results in Successful Zonal Isolation in Critical Well Offshore Australia with Minimal Casing Centralisation

Higgins¹,

Nolan²,

Brandl

et al. 2015

All Days

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Challenging wellbore conditions in an offshore well in the Northern Territory, Australia led an Operator and Cementing Service Company to pursue a sophisticated approach to achieve zonal isolation on the critical 9–5/8-in. casing cement job. Some of the specific well challenges prior to and during the cementing operations included high bottomhole temperatures of 135°C at 3,724 m, lost circulation, low fracture gradients, and over-pressured source rock (gas). In particular wellbore instability due to tectonic stresses made it difficult to run casings to bottom, so centralizers were used only on the shoe track. The potentially increased casing eccentricity was a major concern during the cement job, risking channeling and resulting in insufficient zonal isolation. Consequently, a comprehensive study focused on enhanced mud removal and cement placement to compensate the lack of proper pipe centralization and pipe movement during the job. Mud displacement and slurry placement efficiency were investigated as functions of important spacer and slurry design features as well as the given wellbore parameters (such as fluid density and friction hierarchies, gel strength, pump rates, fluid expansion and buoyancy, eccentricity, and temperatures) using computational modelling. The simulations and findings enabled optimization of fluid designs with the corresponding job execution increasing the success for zonal isolation. Proper pre-job planning, cementing program simulations, fluid lab tests, and reliable job execution were performed to achieve zonal isolation for the overall integrity of sidetracked wellbore section. Post-job analyses of the cement jobs, lab test results, pressure tests, and azimuthal ultrasonic cement bond log results were evaluated concluding sufficient cement coverage along the desired annuli, meeting the operator's requirements to demonstrate zonal isolation. This paper reviews the job performance and lessons-learned from the 9–5/8-in. casing cement job on this well. The findings contain useful cementing guidelines for critical well scenarios where optimum pipe centralization and movement are not feasible.

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Successful Single-Stage Cementing in a Weak Formation: A Case History in Spain

Cited by 16 publications

References 7 publications

Combating Severe Losses and Improving Cementing Quality in Carbonate Formations: A Lesson Learned from Drilling Wells in Offshore Sarawak, Malaysia

Combating Severe Losses and Improving Cementing Quality in Carbonate Formations: A Lesson Learned from Drilling Wells in Offshore Sarawak, Malaysia

Failure Analysis and Improvement of Mechanical Stage-Cementer and its Application in Ultra-Deep Drillings

Numerical Computer Modelling and an Innovative Spacer-Cement Train Results in Successful Zonal Isolation in Critical Well Offshore Australia with Minimal Casing Centralisation

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