CA2424800C - Improved method and product for cementing hydrocarbon wells - Google Patents

Improved method and product for cementing hydrocarbon wells Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2424800C
CA2424800C CA002424800A CA2424800A CA2424800C CA 2424800 C CA2424800 C CA 2424800C CA 002424800 A CA002424800 A CA 002424800A CA 2424800 A CA2424800 A CA 2424800A CA 2424800 C CA2424800 C CA 2424800C
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Canada
Prior art keywords
colouring agent
water
casing
bag
product
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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CA002424800A
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French (fr)
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CA2424800A1 (en
Inventor
William Jabs
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Diversity Technologies Corp
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Diversity Technologies Corp
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Publication date
Application filed by Diversity Technologies Corp filed Critical Diversity Technologies Corp
Priority to CA002424800A priority Critical patent/CA2424800C/en
Priority to US10/772,561 priority patent/US20040194957A1/en
Publication of CA2424800A1 publication Critical patent/CA2424800A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2424800C publication Critical patent/CA2424800C/en
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    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09KMATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K8/00Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
    • C09K8/42Compositions for cementing, e.g. for cementing casings into boreholes; Compositions for plugging, e.g. for killing wells
    • C09K8/424Compositions for cementing, e.g. for cementing casings into boreholes; Compositions for plugging, e.g. for killing wells using "spacer" compositions
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04BLIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B40/00Processes, in general, for influencing or modifying the properties of mortars, concrete or artificial stone compositions, e.g. their setting or hardening ability
    • C04B40/06Inhibiting the setting, e.g. mortars of the deferred action type containing water in breakable containers ; Inhibiting the action of active ingredients
    • C04B40/0641Mechanical separation of ingredients, e.g. accelerator in breakable microcapsules
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B33/00Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
    • E21B33/10Sealing or packing boreholes or wells in the borehole
    • E21B33/13Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
    • E21B33/14Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like for cementing casings into boreholes
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04BLIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B2103/00Function or property of ingredients for mortars, concrete or artificial stone
    • C04B2103/0068Ingredients with a function or property not provided for elsewhere in C04B2103/00
    • C04B2103/0077Packaging material remaining in the mixture after the mixing step, e.g. soluble bags containing active ingredients

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Curing Cements, Concrete, And Artificial Stone (AREA)
  • Solid-Sorbent Or Filter-Aiding Compositions (AREA)
  • Bulkheads Adapted To Foundation Construction (AREA)

Abstract

A method of and product for use in cementing the annulus of a hydrocarbon well having a casing centered within a hole bored from a surface. The method comprises the steps of introducing an effective amount of colouring agent contained in a water-soluble bag into a portion of spacer or scavenging fluid, pumping the spacer or scavenger and a then cementing slurry down the casing to the bottom of the hole to displace drilling mud upwardly through the annulus to the surface, until the colouring agent becomes visible at the surface, displacing the casing volume and then stopping the pumping and allowing the pumped cement slurry to harden.

Description

IMPROVED METHOD AND PRODUCT FOR
CEMENTING HYDROCARBON WELLS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved method of cementing the annulus of a hydrocarbon well.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally the process of cementing an oil well (or other bored holes in earth or rock) requires the on-site preparation of the spacer (or scavenger) and cement slurry, which are then pumped under pressure to the tubing or casing at the well head. The casing or tubing typically runs the full length of the well, top to bottom, except in special cases which are not described herein.
Cement slurry design is not a simple task. It is essential to isolate the drilling mud from the cementitious materials for incompatibility reasons. For this purpose, either a mechanical device or spacer is used to prevent contamination of these fluids. For purely economic reasons, typically a spacer or scavenger fluid is used.
In this case, cement slurries or water-based separating fluids or "spacers"
are pumped to the tubing or casing. Ideally a water-based spacer fluid is used, although in many instances no spacer will be used but a dilute, first portion of the cement slurry, called the "scavenger" is pumped ahead of the regular portion of cement slurry.
These fluids perform two main functions, the first being to "displace" the drilling mud efficiently, and the second being to prevent any contact between the cement and the mud. Here rheological, density and velocity profile characteristics are of vital importance, as are fluid loss control and stability or settling control.
As the spacer and the cement slurry or scavenger and cement slurry are pumped down the casing to the bottom of the hole, they are displacing the drilling mud which rises via the annulus (i.e. the gap between the exterior of the casing and the inner face of the bored hole), and are discharged to a retaining vessel at the surface (mud tank) for the disposal.
Once all of the slurry has been pumped, it is propelled or displaced by an inert fluid, i.e. water, or drilling mud. Pumped volumes are typically calculated in such a manner that pumping is halted when the cement slurry has replaced all of drilling mud in the annulus, and the interior of the casing is filled with the inert fluid.
The volume of spacer and cement slurry are based on a number of different calculations, well-known to those skilled in the art. This annular volume is often very difficult to calculate. Thus, in many cases, the oilwell operator will mix cement slurry and pump it down the casing until the annular volume between the casing and the wellbore is entirely full, at which time the cement slurry in the casing will be displaced by the inert fluid.
in order to accomplish this, without a volume calculation relating the annular volume to the volume of cement slurry pumped into the casing, a method of knowing when the annulus is full is needed for the oilwell operator. In this context, it should be understood that cement and mud are typically difficult to discern visually.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a method is provided of cementing the annulus of a hydrocarbon well having a casing centering within a hole bored from a surface. A method comprises steps of introducing an effective amount of colouring agent contained in a water-soluble bag into a water-based separating fluid, pumping the separating fluid ahead of a portion of cementing slurry down the casing to the bottom of the hole to displace drilling mud upwardly through the annulus to the surface, until the colouring agent becomes visible at the surface displacing the remaining cement inside the casing with an inert material such as drilling mud or water, and then stopping the pumping and allowing the pumped cement slurry to harden.
The bags are made of sheets of polyvinyl alcohol or any other water soluble material. These are of preferably very thin, for example 2 mil thickness, since they require and receive very little agitation to dissolve in the spacer or scavenger fluid.
It will be understood that when the colouring agent reaches the upper surface of the annulus, the oilwell operator then displaces the casing with the certainty that the entire annular space between casing and bore hole is full of cement, thus ensuring the maximum hydraulic seal between various hydrocarbon layers in the ground around the casing.
Although the colouring agent technology used in the present case is not unique, the delivery of colouring agents to the spacers or scavengers by way of a water soluble bag is. The bag containing the colouring agent is made of fast dissolving polyvinyl alcohol and is sealed in a "ZIPLOC" (Trade Mark) type bag, or otherwise sealed, to keep it dry until use. Upon contact with any of the fluids described above, the bag deteriorates rapidly, releasing a powder material to the water phrase, to be quickly dispersed with minimal mechanical agitation and providing good colour difference from the surrounding fluids.
The colouring agent is preferably in powder form, is almost inert and has no effect on varying components contained within a cement slurry or spacer. Its sole purpose is to provide colour to the fluid being pumped, so that as it is returning from the wellbore, it can be discerned from the drilling fluid, to alert the operator that the certain slurry, returning to the surface via the annulus is close to the surface. The powder is usually an admixture composed of dyes or pigments conventionally used to colour concrete such as for example carbon black, iron oxide, phthalocyanine, umber, chromium oxide, titanium oxide, and cobalt blue.
It should be noted that colouring agents in water soluble bags have been added to aqueous cementitious mixtures in the past, as described and illustrated for example in Smith et al U.S. Patent No. 5 120367, issued June 9, 1992. When that has been done in the past however, the purpose has been to completely colour a load of concrete in a concrete wet mixer so that the resultant concrete product will have a uniform colour. Such prior art usage has not suggested Applicant's use of water soluble bags to colour spacer or scavenger fluid in a well environment. Moreover, because of the use to which the colouring agent/water soluble bag is applied, in accordance with the present invention, much smaller amounts of colouring agent are required in the bags, than would be the case for application in colouring cement in a wet mixer. As well, the significant agitation required in a wet mixer environment, to ensure that the dye permeates the concrete being mixed, is not needed in the context of the present invention since, in accordance with the present invention, the bag containing the colouring agent deteriorates to enable the spacer or scavenger to show colour just through normal passage of the bag containing spacer or scavenger down the casing or up the annulus.
Example A polyvinyl alcohol pouch was made up of sheets of 2 mil thickness that were formed into pouches to contain about 2.5 Ibs of iron oxide powder as colouring agent. The colouring agent was sealed in the bag. At a test site well head, one of the pouches was placed into a water-based spacer and pumped into the well casing, ahead of cement slurry. The pumping of cement slurry into the casing was continued, displacing drilling mud from the bottom of the hole, at the bottom end of the casing, upwardly through the annulus to the surface. When the distinctive reddish colour of the iron oxide was noted in the displaced fluid at the surface (meaning that the drilling mud had been completely displaced from the casing and annulus about the casing), the remaining cement slurry within the casing was then displaced with water. The pumping was then stopped and the pumped cement slurry remaining in the annulus was allowed to harden.
It was found that there was no trace of the sheet material of the pouches in the spacer and colouring agent which became displaced back to the surface during the pumping process.
Also it was found that, by using the pouch of colouring agent and the process in the manner described, an immediate and accurate indication of when the annulus was filled with cement slurry was achieved, resulting in a more efficient use of cement slurry and a faster completion of the annulus cementing process.
Thus, there has been provided in accordance with the invention of an improved method and product for cementing hydrocarbon wells that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. A method of cementing the annulus of an oil or gas well having a casing centering within a hole bored from a surface, the method comprising the steps of introducing an effective amount of colouring agent contained in a water-soluble bag into a water-based separating fluid, pumping said water-based separating fluid ahead of a cementing slurry down the casing to the bottom of the hole to displace drilling mud upwardly through the annulus to the surface, until the colouring agent becomes visible at the surface, displacing the casing volume and then stopping the pumping and allowing the pumped cement slurry to harden.
2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the water-based separating fluid is a spacer or a scavenger fluid.
3. A method according to Claim 2, wherein the water-soluble bag is made from polyvinyl alcohol, the colouring agent being sealed in the bag to keep it dry until use.
4. A method according to Claim 2, wherein the colouring agent is a powder selected from dyes or pigments conventionally used to colour concrete.
5. A method according to Claim 4, wherein the dye is selected from the group comprising carbon black, iron oxide, phthalocyanine, umber, chromium oxide, titanium oxide, and cobalt blue.
6. A method according to Claim 4, wherein the dye is a powder selected from dyes conventionally used to colour concrete.
7. A product for carrying out the method of Claim 1, which product comprises an effective amount of colouring agent contained in a water-soluble bag, the colouring agent being sealed within the bag to keep the colouring agent dry until use.
8. A product according to Claim 7, wherein the colouring agent comprises a powdered admixture used to colour concrete.
9. A product according to Claim 8, wherein the admixture comprises one or more pigments selected from the group comprising carbon black, iron oxide, phthalocyanine, umber, chromium oxide, titanium oxide, and cobalt blue.
10. A product according to Claim 7, wherein about 2.5 lbs of colouring agent are contained in the bag.
11. A product according to Claim 7, wherein the bag is made of sheets of polyvinyl alcohol.
12. A product according to Claim 71, wherein the sheets are of thickness of about 2 mil.
CA002424800A 2003-04-07 2003-04-07 Improved method and product for cementing hydrocarbon wells Expired - Lifetime CA2424800C (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002424800A CA2424800C (en) 2003-04-07 2003-04-07 Improved method and product for cementing hydrocarbon wells
US10/772,561 US20040194957A1 (en) 2003-04-07 2004-02-05 Method and product for cementing hydrocarbon wells

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002424800A CA2424800C (en) 2003-04-07 2003-04-07 Improved method and product for cementing hydrocarbon wells

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2424800A1 CA2424800A1 (en) 2004-10-07
CA2424800C true CA2424800C (en) 2005-06-21

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Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007145731A2 (en) 2006-06-07 2007-12-21 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Compressible objects combined with a drilling fluid to form a variable density drilling mud
US8088716B2 (en) 2004-06-17 2012-01-03 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Compressible objects having a predetermined internal pressure combined with a drilling fluid to form a variable density drilling mud
EP2038364A2 (en) 2006-06-07 2009-03-25 ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company Compressible objects having partial foam interiors combined with a drilling fluid to form a variable density drilling mud
EP2035651A4 (en) * 2006-06-07 2009-08-05 Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co Method for fabricating compressible objects for a variable density drilling mud
WO2019210099A2 (en) * 2018-04-26 2019-10-31 Melior Innovations, Inc Water soluble sackets of water insoluble sioc ceramic pigments
NO347929B1 (en) * 2021-03-19 2024-05-13 Interwell P&A As Sedimented thermite in well

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3273643A (en) * 1966-09-20 Method of initiating foam in drowned wells
US3417824A (en) * 1967-12-26 1968-12-24 Marathon Oil Co Lost circulation restoring devices
US4452638A (en) * 1981-05-14 1984-06-05 Union Oil Company Of California Marker fluid composition for spotting cement in offshore wells
US5120367A (en) * 1989-05-19 1992-06-09 Fritz Chemical Company Concrete admixture device and method of using same

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CA2424800A1 (en) 2004-10-07

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