USES OF SMALL-PARTICLE SIZE CEMENT IN WATER AND HYDROCARBON BASED SLURRIES

Small particle size cement (SPSC) has found a number of production and injection well technology. The fineness of the cement particle allows the resultant slurries to penetrate areas in the wellbore and surrounding formation that are inaccessible with conventional cement. This penetration capability leads to SPSC application in production and injection well casing repair. By this placement of a permanent seal across casing leaks, mechanical integrity tests mandated by regulatory agency requirements may be satisfied. In addition to use in a water based slurry, new applications have been developed by placing SPSC in a hydrocarbon carrying fluid. This technique allows the SPSC to be used as a permanent water shutoff and conformance control material. Because the hydrocarbon slurry will only set in the presence of water, oil-producing sections of a reservoir can remain relatively damage free after water shutoff. This paper presents a review of the penetrating properties of SPSC including a comparative study of water base versus hydrocarbon base slurries. In addition, case histories are presented as confirmation of successful applications are recently introduced material.