Cement sealing

• US 5,016,711 A
• Filed: 02/24/1989
• Issued: 05/21/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Cowan, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SUCHFIELD, GEORGE A
• Application Number:
  US07/316,119
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 166/250, 166/253, 166/283, 166/292, 166/293, 106/90, 106/314
• US Class Current: 166/293
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/40 Surface-active agents, dispersants
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/04 Portland cements
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/46 containing inorganic binders, e.g. Portland cement

Abstract

Cement-to-casing sealing in a wellbore is improved through addition of surfactant to the cement.

Claims

1. A process for cementing a selected part of a well, determining a surfactant capable of reducing the volumetric shrinkage of an aqueous cement slurry from about 10% to about 75% during setting and hardening, acertaining the amount of the surfactant necessary to accomplish the reduction in volumetric shrinkage, and injecting the slurry with the necessary amount of surfactant into the selected part of the well, the surfactant thereby functioning to improve the interfacial sealing between the cement and surfaces contacting the cement.

5. The process of any one of claims 1-4 wherein the volumetric shrinkage is reduced from about 25% to about 65%.

6. The process of any one of claims 1-4 wherein the volumetric shrinkage is reduced from about 30% to about 50%.

7. The process of any one of claims 1-4 wherein the cement slurry is substantially hydrocarbon-free.

8. The process of any one of claims 1-4 wherein the concentration of surfactant in the water phase of the slurry ranges from about 0.1 to about 5% by weight.

9. The process of any one of claims 1-4 wherein the concentration of surfactant in the water phase of the slurry ranges from about 0.2 to about 3% by weight.

10. The process of any one of claims 1-4 wherein the concentration of surfactant in the water phase of the slurry ranges from about 1.17 to about 2.33% by weight.

2. A process for cementing a selected part of a well, comprising, determining a surfactant capable of reducing the volumetric shrinkage of an aqueous cement slurry from about 10% to about 75% during setting and hardening, ascertaining the amount of the surfactant necessary to accomplish the reduction in volumetric shrinkage, and injecting the slurry with the necessary amount of surfactant into the selected part of the well.

3. A process for cementing a selected part of a well, comprising, injecting an aqueous cement slurry into the selected part of the well, the slurry containing a sufficient amount of a selected surfactant to reduce the volumetric shrinkage of the slurry from about 10% to about 75% during setting and hardening, the surfactant thereby functioning to improve the interfacial sealing between the cement and surfaces contacting the cement.

4. A process for cementing a selected part of a well, comprising, injecting an aqueous cement slurry into the selected part of the well, the slurry containing a sufficient amount of a selected surfactant to reduce the volumetric shrinkage of the slurry from about 10% to about 75% during setting and hardening.