U.S. patent application number 11/925165 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for methods of cementing in subterranean formations.
Invention is credited to James P. Saunders.
Application Number | 20090107676 11/925165 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40581339 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090107676 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saunders; James P. |
April 30, 2009 |
Methods of Cementing in Subterranean Formations
Abstract
Methods of cementing are provided including a method comprising:
a method of cementing in a well bore comprising providing a
storable cement composition; placing the storable cement
composition in an annulus in a reverse-circulation direction using
cementing equipment supported by a trailer, wherein the annulus is
formed by an outer surface of a casing in the well bore and an
inner wall of the well bore; and allowing the storable cement
composition to set in the annulus. In some embodiments, the
storable cement composition may comprise a hydraulic cement, an
aqueous fluid, and a set retarder. In some embodiments, a storable
cement composition may be transported to the well bore using a
trailer connected to a towing vehicle. Additional methods are also
provided.
Inventors: |
Saunders; James P.; (Duncan,
OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CRAIG W. RODDY;HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES
P.O. BOX 1431
DUNCAN
OK
73536-0440
US
|
Family ID: |
40581339 |
Appl. No.: |
11/925165 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 33/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/293 |
International
Class: |
E21B 33/13 20060101
E21B033/13 |
Claims
1. A method of cementing in a well bore comprising: providing a
storable cement composition; placing the storable cement
composition in an annulus in a reverse-circulation direction using
cementing equipment supported by a trailer, wherein the annulus is
formed by an outer surface of a casing in the well bore and an
inner wall of the well bore; and allowing the storable cement
composition to set in the annulus.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the trailer is moved by a towing
vehicle, wherein the combination gross weight rating or combination
gross vehicle weight of the trailer and the towing vehicle is less
than 26,001 pounds.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the cementing equipment comprises
at least one selected from the group consisting of a bulk material
container, a package holder, a bulk material conveyor, a package
handler, a measuring device, and a combination thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the storable cement composition
comprises a hydraulic cement, water, and a set retarder.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating the storable
cement composition.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein activating the storable cement
composition comprises adding an activating agent to the storable
cement composition using the cementing equipment supported by the
trailer.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the activating agent comprises at
least one activating agent selected from the group consisting of
sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium
sulfate, sodium aluminate, potassium aluminate, sodium carbonate,
silicates, calcium chloride, paraformaldehyde and combinations
thereof.
8. A method of cementing in a well bore comprising: providing a
storable cement composition comprising a hydraulic cement, an
aqueous fluid, and a set retarder; placing the storable cement
composition in an annulus in a reverse-circulation direction using
cementing equipment supported by a trailer, wherein the annulus is
formed by an outer surface of a casing in the well bore and an
inner wall of the well bore; and allowing the storable cement
composition to set in the annulus.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the cementing equipment comprises
at least one selected from the group consisting of a bulk material
container, a package holder, a bulk material conveyor, a package
handler, a measuring device, and a combination thereof.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the trailer is moved by a towing
vehicle, wherein the combination gross weight rating or combination
gross vehicle weight of the trailer and the towing vehicle is less
than 26,001 pounds.
11. (canceled)
12. The method of claim 8 further comprising activating the
storable cement composition.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein activating the storable cement
composition comprises adding an activating agent to the storable
cement composition using the cementing equipment supported by the
trailer.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the activating agent comprises
at least one activating agent selected from the group consisting of
sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium
sulfate, sodium aluminate, potassium aluminate, sodium carbonate,
silicates, calcium chloride, paraformaldehyde and combinations
thereof.
15. A method of cementing in a well bore comprising: providing a
storable cement composition; transporting the storable cement
composition to the well bore using a trailer connected to a towing
vehicle, wherein the combination gross weight rating or combination
gross vehicle weight of the trailer and the towing vehicle is less
than 26,001 pounds; placing the storable cement composition in an
annulus in a reverse-circulation direction using cementing
equipment supported by the trailer, wherein the annulus is formed
by an outer surface of a casing in the well bore and an inner wall
of the well bore; and allowing the storable cement composition to
set in the annulus.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the cementing equipment
comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a bulk
material container, a package holder, a bulk material conveyor, a
package handler, a measuring device, and a combination thereof.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising activating the
storable cement composition.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein activating the storable cement
composition comprises adding an activating agent to the storable
cement composition using cementing equipment supported by a
trailer.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the activating agent comprises
at least one activating agent selected from the group consisting of
sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium
sulfate, sodium aluminate, potassium aluminate, sodium carbonate,
silicates, calcium chloride, paraformaldehyde and combinations
thereof
20. The method of claim 15 wherein providing the storable cement
composition comprises mixing a cement composition using cementing
equipment supported by a trailer.
21. The method of claim 15 wherein the storable cement composition
comprises a hydraulic cement, water, and a set retarder.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to methods of cementing for
use in industrial, oilfield, and/or subterranean operations. More
particularly, the present invention generally relates to methods of
cementing involving storable cement compositions and/or reverse
cementing methods.
[0002] Hydraulic cement compositions are commonly utilized in
subterranean operations, particularly subterranean well completion
and remedial operations. For example, hydraulic cement compositions
are used in primary cementing operations whereby pipe strings, such
as casings and liners, are cemented in well bores. In performing
primary cementing, hydraulic cement compositions commonly are
pumped into an annular space between the walls of a well bore and
the exterior surface of a pipe string disposed therein. The cement
composition is permitted to set in the annular space, thereby
forming therein an annular sheath of hardened, substantially
impermeable cement that substantially supports and positions the
pipe string in the well bore, and that bonds the exterior surface
of the pipe string to the walls of the well bore. Conventionally,
two pumping methods have been used to place the cement composition
in the annulus. First, the cement composition may be pumped down
the inner diameter of the pipe string, out through a casing shoe
and/or circulation valve at the bottom of the pipe string, and up
through the annulus to a desired location. The direction in which
the cement composition is pumped in this first method is generally
referred to as a conventional-circulation direction. Second, the
cement composition may be pumped directly down the annulus, thereby
displacing any well fluids present in the annulus by pushing them
through the casing shoe and up the inner diameter of the pipe
string. The direction in which the cement composition is pumped in
this second method is generally called a reverse-circulation
direction ("reverse cementing").
[0003] Reverse circulating the cement composition into the annulus
may be useful in a variety of circumstances. For example, when a
well bore penetrates a subterranean formation that comprises one or
more weak portions, reverse-circulation cementing can reduce the
pressure exerted against these weak portions during placement. A
reduction in pressure can help prevent the loss of the cement
composition to the formation, which, if this loss occurs, may
result in incomplete annular fill of the annulus with the cement
composition, need for extra cement being used, and/or require
remedial operations to fill the annulus. With reverse cementing,
cementing pressures are much lower than those experienced with
conventional methods and cement introduced in the annulus
free-falls down the annulus, producing little or no pressure on the
formation. Furthermore, when a reverse cementing method is used,
less fluid is required to be handled at the surface and cement set
retarders may be utilized more efficiently.
[0004] Storable cement compositions are often utilized in
circumstances where an operator finds it desirable to prepare a
volume of a cement composition that remains in a pumpable state for
a long period of time (e.g., for about two weeks or more), and that
can be selectively activated to set into a hard mass at a desired
time. For example, in circumstances where very large volumes of
cement are utilized (such as in offshore platform grouting), the
equipment required for mixing and pumping the requisite large
volumes of cement composition may be very expensive, and may be
difficult to assemble at the desired location. The storage of the
requisite amount of dry cement prior to use may be another problem.
As another example, the use of a storable cement composition may
also be desirable in circumstances where a relatively small volume
of cement composition is used, such as a small construction job,
for example, or a plugging and squeezing operation performed in the
petroleum industry, for instance. In such circumstances, the cost
to transport the cement composition to a job site, and to mix and
pump it on location may be undesirable relative to the revenue
generated from performing the cementing operation. Storable cement
compositions may be useful in circumstances such as those described
above, as they can be prepared at a convenient location, then
transported to and stored at a job site until use. At a desired
time, the storable cement composition may be mixed with a set
activating agent; the resulting mixture may then be placed into a
desired location (e.g., into a subterranean formation) and
permitted to set therein. In some formulations, an excessive amount
of set-activating agents have been injected into the set-delayed
cement compositions, thereby "overactivating" the cement
composition, after which a retarder is then added to the cement
composition, in an attempt to fine-tune the eventual set time of
the cement composition.
[0005] As previously stated, the equipment required for cementing
operations, including conventional cementing operations and reverse
cementing, may be very expensive and difficult to assemble at the
desired location. In addition, this equipment must generally be
transported to the worksite via one or more tractor-trailers. Since
the operation of a tractor-trailer is highly regulated, the
cementing operations are also controlled by Department of
Transportation ("D.O.T.") regulations. These regulations cover a
number of variables, including the number of hours that a person
may work in a given period, the number of hours a driver may drive,
and the skill level of the drivers. Furthermore, tractor-trailers
are also limited by terrain, and may not be able to enter certain
worksites without suitable roads first being built, which may be a
costly endeavor.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention relates to methods of cementing for
use in industrial, oilfield, and/or subterranean operations. More
particularly, the present invention generally relates to methods of
cementing involving storable cement compositions, reverse cementing
methods and/or cementing equipment supported by a trailer.
[0007] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method
of cementing in a well bore comprising providing a storable cement
composition; placing the storable cement composition in an annulus
in a reverse-circulation direction using cementing equipment
supported by a trailer, wherein the annulus is formed by an outer
surface of a casing in the well bore and an inner wall of the well
bore; and allowing the storable cement composition to set in the
annulus.
[0008] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a
method of cementing in a well bore comprising providing a storable
cement composition comprising a hydraulic cement, an aqueous fluid,
and a set retarder; placing the storable cement composition in an
annulus in a reverse-circulation direction using cementing
equipment supported by a trailer, wherein the annulus is formed by
an outer surface of a casing in the well bore and an inner wall of
the well bore; and allowing the storable cement composition to set
in the annulus.
[0009] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a
method of cementing in a well bore comprising providing a storable
cement composition; transporting the storable cement composition to
the well bore using a trailer connected to a towing vehicle;
placing the storable cement composition in an annulus in a
reverse-circulation direction using cementing equipment supported
by the trailer, wherein the annulus is formed by an outer surface
of a casing in the well bore and an inner wall of the well bore;
and allowing the storable cement composition to set in the
annulus.
[0010] The features and advantages of the present invention will be
readily apparent to those skilled in the art. While numerous
changes may be made by those skilled in the art, such changes are
within the spirit of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The present invention relates to methods of cementing for
use in industrial, oilfield, and/or subterranean operations. More
particularly, the present invention generally relates to methods of
cementing involving storable cement compositions, reverse cementing
methods and/or cementing equipment supported by a trailer.
[0012] The methods of the present invention generally comprise
providing a storable cement composition; placing the storable
cement composition in an annulus in a reverse-circulation direction
using cementing equipment supported by a trailer, wherein the
annulus is formed by an outer surface of a casing in the well bore
and an inner wall of the well bore; and allowing the storable
cement composition to set in the annulus.
[0013] In general, any storable cement composition suitable for use
in industrial, oilfield, and/or subterranean operations may be
suitable for use in the present invention. Suitable storable cement
compositions generally comprise cement compositions capable of
being retained in a pumpable state for an extended period of time
prior to being set into a hardened mass. In some embodiments, the
storable cement compositions suitable for use in the methods of the
present invention may be capable of being stored for at least two
weeks and in some instances, several months. In some embodiments,
storable cement compositions suitable for use in the methods of the
present invention may comprise a base fluid and a cement.
Furthermore, in some embodiments, storable cement compositions
suitable for use in the methods of the present invention may
comprise a set retarder and/or an activating agent.
[0014] The storable cement compositions suitable for use in the
methods of the present invention comprise a base fluid. Examples of
suitable base fluids include aqueous fluids, such as fresh water,
saltwater, brine, seawater, and/or any other aqueous fluid that
does not adversely react with the other components used in
accordance with this invention or with the subterranean formation,
and non-aqueous fluids, such one or more organic liquids, such as
hydrocarbons (e.g., kerosene, xylene, toluene, or diesel), oils
(e.g., mineral oils or synthetic oils), esters, and the like.
[0015] The storable cement compositions suitable for use in the
methods of the present invention comprise a cement. Examples of
suitable cements include, but are not limited to, hydraulic cement,
Portland cement, pozzolanic cement, gypsum cement, calcium
phosphate cement, high alumina content cement, silica cement, high
alkalinity cement, and combinations thereof.
[0016] Set retarders suitable for use in a storable cement
composition may include any set retarder known in the art. Examples
of suitable set retarders include glucoheptonates, such as sodium
glucoheptonate, calcium glucoheptonate and magnesium
glucoheptonate; lignin sulfonates, such as sodium lignosulfonate
and calcium sodium lignosulfonate; gluconates, such as sodium
gluconate, calcium gluconate and calcium sodium gluconate;
phosphonates, such as the sodium salt of EDTA phosphonic acid;
sugars, such as sucrose; hydroxycarboxylic acids, such as citric
acid; and the like, boric acid, and combinations thereof.
[0017] An activating agent may be added to the storable cement
compositions to effectuate the hardening of the storable cement
composition. Examples of suitable activating agents may include,
but are not limited to, solutions of Group IA and IIA hydroxides,
such as sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and calcium
hydroxide; sulfates, such as sodium sulfate; aluminates, such as
sodium aluminate and potassium aluminate; carbonates, such as
sodium carbonate and silicates; calcium chloride, paraformaldehyde,
and combinations thereof.
[0018] Examples of storable cement compositions that may be
suitable for use in the methods of the present invention include,
but are not limited to, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,676,832; 5,348,584; 5,547,506; 5,585,333; 6,173,778; 6,832,652,
and 6,907,928; U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0166803; and U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 11/428,771, the entire relevant
disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
[0019] Optionally, other additional additives may be added to the
storable cement compositions suitable for use in the present
invention as deemed appropriate by one skilled in the art, with the
benefit of this disclosure. Examples of such additives include, but
are not limited to, accelerators, weight reducing additives,
heavyweight additives, lost circulation materials, filtration
control additives, foaming agents, dispersants, defoamers, salts,
vitrified shale, fly ash, fiber, strength retrogression additives,
expanding additives, yield stress reducing agents, surfactants,
dehydrating agents, viscosifiers, suspension agents, fibers, salts,
formation conditioning agents, and combinations thereof. One of
ordinary skill in the art, with the benefit of this disclosure,
will be able to recognize where a particular additive is suitable
for a particular application.
[0020] In some embodiments of the present invention, a suitable
storable cement composition may be placed into an annulus in a well
bore in a reverse-circulation direction. In these embodiments, a
suitable storable cement composition is placed directly into an
annulus formed by the outer surface of the casing and an inner wall
of the well bore. While one of ordinary skill in the art would be
aware of various methods of cementing in a reverse-circulation
direction, examples of particular methods of reverse-circulation
cementing and equipment used in these methods are described in U.S.
Patent Application Nos. 2006/0102350 and 2006/0086499, which are
herein incorporated by reference.
[0021] In some embodiments of the present invention, a suitable
storable cement composition may be placed into an annulus in a well
bore using cementing equipment supported by a trailer.
Additionally, in some embodiments, a storable cement composition
suitable for use in the methods of the present invention may be
prepared by using cementing equipment supported by a trailer. One
of the many advantages of using cementing equipment supported by a
trailer to prepare a storable cement composition and/or to place a
storable cement composition in a subterranean formation is that the
cementing equipment supported by the trailer may be transported to
the worksite via a towing vehicle that is not subject to certain
regulations imposed by the Department of Transportation
("D.O.T.").
[0022] In those embodiments where a trailer is used, the trailer
may be connectable to a towing a vehicle, such that the movement of
the towing vehicle may result in the movement of the trailer. An
example of a suitable towing vehicle may include a self-propelled
vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating ("GVWR") or gross
vehicle weight ("GVW") of less than 10,001 pounds (4,536
kilograms). In some embodiments, the combined towing vehicle and
trailer may have a combination GVWR or combination GVW of less than
26,001 pounds (11,794 kilograms). Alternatively, the GVWR of the
towing vehicle and/or trailer may meet "Bridge" and "Frost" laws of
the United States and/or Canada. Alternatively, the axles of the
towing vehicle and/or trailer may be rated such that the GVW can
traverse roads with minimal load supporting capacities.
[0023] Examples of cementing equipment that may be supported by a
trailer include, but are not limited to, a bulk material container,
a bulk material conveyor, a package holder, a package handler, a
material measuring device, a holding tank, a holding tank conveyor,
a mixing device, a mixing pump, a mixing manifold or manifold
system, a mixing measuring device, a delivery pump, a pumping
manifold, a pumping measuring device, a delivery pump, etc. In
addition, examples of suitable towing vehicles, trailers, and
servicing/cementing equipment is disclosed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/675,812, the entire disclosure of which is
herein incorporated by reference.
[0024] One example of a method of the present invention is a method
of cementing in a well bore comprising providing a storable cement
composition; placing the storable cement composition in an annulus
in a reverse-circulation direction using cementing equipment
supported by a trailer, wherein the annulus is formed by an outer
surface of a casing in the well bore and an inner wall of the well
bore; and allowing the storable cement composition to set in the
annulus.
[0025] Another example of a method of the present invention is a
method of cementing in a well bore comprising providing a storable
cement composition comprising a hydraulic cement, an aqueous fluid,
and a set retarder; placing the storable cement composition in an
annulus in a reverse-circulation direction using cementing
equipment supported by a trailer, wherein the annulus is formed by
an outer surface of a casing in the well bore and an inner wall of
the well bore; and allowing the storable cement composition to set
in the annulus.
[0026] Yet another example of a method of the present invention is
a method of cementing in a well bore comprising providing a
storable cement composition; transporting the storable cement
composition to the well bore using a trailer connected to a towing
vehicle; placing the storable cement composition in an annulus in a
reverse-circulation direction using cementing equipment supported
by the trailer, wherein the annulus is formed by an outer surface
of a casing in the well bore and an inner wall of the well bore;
and allowing the storable cement composition to set in the
annulus.
[0027] Therefore, the present invention is well adapted to attain
the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are
inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are
illustrative only, as the present invention may be modified and
practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those
skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein.
Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of
construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the
claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular
illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified
and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit
of the present invention. In particular, every range of values (of
the form, "from about a to about b," or, equivalently, "from
approximately a to b," or, equivalently, "from approximately a-b")
disclosed herein is to be understood as referring to the power set
(the set of all subsets) of the respective range of values, and set
forth every range encompassed within the broader range of values.
Moreover, the indefinite articles "a" or "an", as used in the
claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the
element that it introduces. Also, the terms in the claims have
their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and
clearly defined by the patentee.
* * * * *