Improved Compositions for Cementing Wells with Extreme Temperatures

Abstract

An increase in the number of deep wells being drilled where extreme bottom-hole temperatures are en countered, and the anticipated drilling of wells where temperatures in the range of 500°F or higher may occur, has brought about a comprehensive investigation of cementing materials and of the techniques involved in their proper usage at these elevated temperatures.

Included are developments in cements, retarders, weighting materials and other cement additives which make it possible to formulate a variety of compositions to help resolve the cementing problems of these extreme well conditions. The problems associated with the selection and testing of cements are discussed, and a resume of field results is included.

Previous studies on strength retrogression indicate that caution should be exercised in the selection of a cementing composition for use in high-temperature wells. It now appears that, by the addition of silica flour as a stabilizing additive to certain cements, compositions covering a wide range of slurry densities can be designed to meet extreme well conditions without strength retrogression.

Improvements in cement retarders make it possible to produce a four-hour thickening time at static temperatures up to 500°F. This temperature is considerably higher than conditions presently being encountered in drilling and completion work. Inert weighting materials, used to produce 20-lb/gal or heavier cement slurries, are reviewed.

Introduction

As the search for oil continues, the number of wells being drilled to depths of 10,000 ft or below has continued to increase over the past decade. During 1959, there were 50,893 wells drilled in the United States for a total of 209 million ft of hole. Of this total, approximately 4.45 per cent were drilled below 10,000 ft and 0.30 per cent below 15,000 ft, with a record depth of 25,340 ft recorded (Table 1).

With the drilling of this record-shattering hole comes the question, "How deep can wells be drilled?" Limitations with respect to equipment (surface and subsurface), cementing materials and techniques would cause some concern; however, a panel of experts have agreed that the U.S. oil industry has the equipment and know-how to drill a 50,000-ft hole. The greatest deterrent would be the 700°F temperature they would anticipate encountering at this depth.