Methods, well cement compositions and lightweight additives therefor

• US 6,631,766 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Brothers, Lance E., Vijn, Jan Pieter, Dao, Bach, Keener, Krista L., Braden, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCANTONI, PAUL D
• Application Number:
  US10/103,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20030101912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 166/293, 166/285
• US Class Current: 166/293
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/104 Bentonite, e.g. montmorillonite
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 18/082 Cenospheres
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/02 containing hydraulic cements other than calcium sulfates
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 38/08 by adding porous substances
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/42 Compositions for cementing, e.g. for cementing casings into boreholes; Compositions for plugging, e.g. for killing wells compositions for plastering C09K8/50
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/46 containing inorganic binders, e.g. Portland cement
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/473 Density reducing additives, e.g. for obtaining foamed cement compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/91 Use of waste materials as fillers for mortars or concrete
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 106/01 Fly ash
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 106/04 Bentonite

Abstract

The present invention provides methods, lightweight well cement compositions and additives for the well cement compositions. The methods of the invention for sealing pipe in a well bore penetrating a zone or formation which readily fractures at low hydrostatic pressure is basically comprised of the steps of providing a lightweight cement composition comprised of a hydraulic cement, water and an additive comprising an aqueous suspension of microspheres containing a water swellable clay suspending agent, placing the cement composition in the annulus between the pipe and the well bore and allowing the cement composition to set.

Claims

1. A method of sealing pipe in a well bore penetrating a zone or formation which readily fractures at low hydrostatic pressures comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a lightweight cement composition comprised of a hydraulic cement, mix water and an additive comprising an aqueous suspension of microspheres containing a water swellable clay suspending agent;

(b) placing said cement composition between the exterior surfaces of said pipe and the walls of said well bore; and

(c) allowing said cement composition to set into a hard impermeable mass.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said hydraulic cement in said composition is selected from the group consisting of Portland cements, slag cements, pozzolana cements, gypsum cements, aluminous cements and silica cements.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said hydraulic cement is Portland cement.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said mix water is selected from the group consisting of fresh water, unsaturated salt solutions and saturated salt solutions.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said water is present in said cement composition in an amount in the range of from about 60% to about 250% by weight of hydraulic cement therein.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said additive is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 30% to about 100% by weight of hydraulic cement therein.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said microspheres are fly ash microspheres.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said microspheres are present in said additive in an amount in the range of from about 30% to about 100% by weight of water in said additive.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said clay suspending agent is selected from the group consisting of attapulgite, kaolinite, meta-kaolinite, hectorite and sepiolite.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said clay suspending agent is present in said additive in an amount in the range of from about 1% to about 4% by weight of water in said additive.

11. A method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a cement composition comprising a hydraulic cement, water and an additive comprising an aqueous suspension of microspheres containing a water swellable clay suspending agent;

(b) placing said cement composition in the subterranean formation; and

(c) allowing said cement composition to set.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said hydraulic cement in said composition is selected from the group consisting of Portland cements, slag cements, pozzolana cements, gypsum cements, aluminous cements and silica cements.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said hydraulic cement is Portland cement.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said water is selected from the group consisting of fresh water, unsaturated salt solutions and saturated salt solutions.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said water is present in said cement composition in an amount in the range of from about 60% to about 250% by weight of hydraulic cement therein.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said additive is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 30% to about 100% by weight of hydraulic cement therein.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said microspheres are fly ash microspheres.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said microspheres are present in said additive in an amount in the range of from about 30% to about 100% by weight of water in said additive.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein said clay suspending agent is selected from the group consisting of attapulgite, kaolinite, meta-kaolinite, hectorite and sepiolite.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein said clay suspending agent is present in said additive in an amount in the range of from about 1% to about 4% by weight of water in said additive.

21. A method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a cement composition comprising a hydraulic cement, water and an additive present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 30% to about 100% by weight of hydraulic cement comprising an aqueous suspension of microspheres containing a water swellable clay suspending agent selected from the group consisting of attapulgite, kaolinite, meta-kaolinite, hectorite and sepiolite;

(b) placing said cement composition in the subterranean formation; and

(c) allowing said cement composition to set.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said hydraulic cement in said composition is selected from the group of Portland cements, slag cements, pozzolana cements, gypsum cements, aluminous cements and silica cements.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said hydraulic cement is Portland cement.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein said water is selected from the group consisting of fresh water, unsaturated salt solutions and saturated salt solutions.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein said water is present in said cement composition in an amount in the range of from about 60% to about 250% by weight of hydraulic cement therein.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein said microspheres are fly ash microspheres.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein said microspheres are present in said additive in an amount in the range of from about 30% to about 100% by weight of water in said additive.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein said clay suspending agent is present in said additive in an amount in the range of from about 1% to about 4% by weight of water in said additive.