Mitigation of Contamination Effects in Set-Delayed Cement Compositions Comprising Pumice and Hydrated Lime

• US 20140034314A1
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Lewis, Samuel J., Agapiou, Kyriacos, Boul, Peter James, Otieno, Pauline Akinyi, Pisklak, Thomas Jason, Brothers, Lance Everett
• Granted Patent: US 9,856,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/292
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/16 porous, e.g. pumice
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/12 Set accelerators
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/22 Set retarders
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/408 Dispersants
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 22/0013 Boron compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/003 Phosphorus-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/163 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/18 Lignin sulfonic acid or derivatives thereof, e.g. sulfite lye
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/22 Condensation or polymerisation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/2647 containing polyether side chains
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/383 Cellulose or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/18 containing mixtures of the silica-lime type
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0658 Retarder inhibited mortars activated by the addition of accelerators or retarder-neutralising agents
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 7/34 Hydraulic lime cements; Roman cements ; natural cements
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/467 containing additives for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/138 Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation

Abstract

Methods and compositions for cementing are disclosed. Embodiments include a method of cementing comprising: providing a set-delayed cement composition comprising water, pumice, hydrated lime, a primary set retarder, a secondary set retarder; activating the set-delayed cement composition to produce an activated cement composition; introducing the activated cement composition into a subterranean formation; and allowing the activated cement composition to set in the subterranean formation.

Claims

1. A method of cementing comprising:

providing a set-delayed cement composition comprising water, pumice, hydrated lime, a primary set retarder, and a secondary set retarder;

activating the set-delayed cement composition to produce an activated cement composition;

introducing the activated cement composition into a subterranean formation; and

allowing the activated cement composition to set in the subterranean formation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary set retarder and the secondary set retarder are each selected from the group consisting of a phosphonic acid, a phosphonic acid derivative, a lignosulfonate, a salt, an organic acid, a carboxymethylated hydroxyethylated cellulose, a synthetic co- or ter-polymer comprising sulfonate and carboxylic acid groups, a borate compound, and any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the set-delayed cement composition further comprises a dispersant.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the dispersant comprises at least one dispersant selected from the group consisting of a sulfonated-formaldehyde-based dispersant, a polycarboxylated ether dispersant, and any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary set retarder comprises a phosphonic acid derivative, wherein the secondary set retarder comprises a lignosulfonate retarder, and wherein the set-delayed cement composition further comprises a polycarboxylated ether dispersant.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary set retarder and the secondary set retarder are individually present in the set-delayed cement composition in an amount in the range of about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the pumice.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the set-delayed cement composition is contaminated through contact with a cementitious contaminant, wherein the cementitious contaminant is present in an amount of about 5% by weight of the pumice or less, and wherein the cementitious contaminant comprises at least one contaminant selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic cement, a pozzolanic material, slag, cement kiln dust, gypsum plasters, lime plasters, cement plasters, and any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the contaminant is unintentionally added to the set-delayed cement composition during blending, transport, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the activated cement composition is used in a primary-cementing method.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the activated cement composition is allowed to harden and form a cement sheath in a well-bore annulus between a conduit in the subterranean formation and a well-bore wall or between the conduit and a larger conduit in the subterranean formation.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the set-delayed cement composition remains in a pumpable fluid state for a time period of at least about 7 days prior to the step of activating the set-delayed cement composition.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising pumping the activated cement composition through a feed pipe and into a wellbore that is penetrating the subterranean formation.

13. A method of mitigating contamination in the manufacture of a set-delayed cement composition, the method comprising:

providing a dry-blend cement composition comprising pumice and hydrated lime; and

preparing a set-delayed cement composition comprising water, the dry-blend cement composition, a primary set retarder, and a secondary set retarder.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising activating the set-delayed cement composition to produce an activated cement composition and introducing the activated cement composition into a subterranean formation.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising storing the set-delayed cement composition for a period of about 7 days or longer.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the primary set retarder and the secondary set retarder are individually selected from the group consisting of a phosphonic acid, a phosphonic acid derivative, a lignosulfonate, a salt, an organic acid, a carboxymethylated hydroxyethylated cellulose, a synthetic co- or ter-polymer comprising sulfonate and carboxylic acid groups, a borate compound, and any combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the set-delayed cement composition further comprises a dispersant.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the dispersant comprises at least one dispersant selected from the group consisting of a sulfonated-formaldehyde-based dispersant, a polycarboxylated ether dispersant, and any combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the primary set retarder comprises a phosphonic acid derivative, wherein the secondary set retarder comprises a lignosulfonate retarder, and wherein the set-delayed cement composition further comprises a polycarboxylated ether dispersant.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the set-delayed cement composition is contaminated through contact with a cementitious contaminant, wherein the cementitious contaminant is present in an amount of about 5% by weight of the pumice or less, and wherein the cementitious contaminant comprises at least one contaminant selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic cement, a pozzolanic material, slag, cement kiln dust, gypsum plasters, lime plasters, cement plasters, and any combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the contaminant is unintentionally added to the set-delayed cement composition during blending, transport, or a combination thereof.

22. A set-delayed cement composition comprising:

water;

pumice;

hydrated lime;

a primary set retarder; and

a secondary set retarder;

wherein the set-delayed cement composition further comprises a cementitious contaminant; and

wherein the set-delayed cement composition will remain in a pumpable fluid state for a time period of at least about 1 day at room temperature in quiescent storage.

23. The set-delayed cement composition of claim 22 further comprising a dispersant.

24. The set-delayed cement composition of claim 22 wherein the primary set retarder comprises a phosphonic acid derivative, wherein the secondary set retarder comprises a lignosulfonate retarder, and wherein the set-delayed cement composition further comprises a polycarboxylated ether dispersant.

25. A set-delayed cement system comprising:

a set-delayed cement composition comprising water, pumice, hydrated lime, a primary set retarder, and a secondary set retarder;

wherein the set-delayed cement composition additionally comprises a cementitious contaminant;

an activator for activating the set-delayed cement composition;

mixing equipment for mixing the set-delayed cement composition and the activator to form an activated cement composition; and

pumping equipment for delivering the activated cement composition into a wellbore.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the set-delayed cement composition further comprises a dispersant.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the primary set retarder comprises a phosphonic acid derivative, wherein the secondary set retarder comprises a lignosulfonate retarder, and wherein the set-delayed cement composition further comprises a polycarboxylated ether dispersant.