Use of synthetic smectite in set-delayed cement compositions

• US 9,580,638 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2013
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• 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: Boul, Peter James, Agapiou, Kyriacos, Pisklak, Thomas Jason, Morgan, Ronnie Glen, Brothers, Lance Everett, Otieno, Pauline Akinyi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton, Jr., Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): VARMA, ASHISH K
• Application Number:
  US14/098,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20140090843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 166/292
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/106 Kaolin
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/16 porous, e.g. pumice
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/386 Carbon carbon nanotubes C04B14/026
• 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 2103/46 Water-loss or fluid-loss reducers, hygroscopic or hydrophilic agents, water retention agents
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 22/0013 Boron compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/003 Phosphorus-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/006 Boron-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 24/223 Sulfonated melamine-formaldehyde condensation products
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/2641 Polyacrylates; Polymethacrylates
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/28 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds C04B24/243 takes precedence
• 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: C09K 2208/08 Fiber-containing well treatment fluids
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/467 containing additives for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/473 : Density reducing additives, e.g. for obtaining foamed cement compositions
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/14 : for cementing casings into boreholes

Abstract

Disclosed herein are cement compositions and methods of using set-delayed cement compositions in subterranean formations. In one embodiment a method of cementing in a subterranean formation is described. The method comprises providing a set-delayed cement composition comprising pumice, hydrated lime, a cement set retarder, a synthetic smectite, and water; introducing the set-delayed cement composition into a subterranean formation; and allowing the set-delayed cement composition to set in the subterranean formation.

Claims

1. A method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprising:

providing a set-delayed cement composition comprising pumice, hydrated lime, a a phosphonic acid derivative cement set retarder, and water;

storing the set-delayed cement composition in a pumpable fluid state for a time period of at least about 1 day;

reducing the density of the set-delayed cement composition by adding a liquid additive comprising a synthetic smectite and water after the step of storing the set-delayed cement composition;

activating the set-delayed cement composition after the step of storing the set-delayed cement composition;

introducing the set-delayed cement composition into a subterranean formation; and

allowing the set-delayed cement composition to set in the subterranean formation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the density of the set-delayed cement composition is reduced to a range of about 4 pounds per gallon to about 12 pounds per gallon.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the set-delayed cement composition comprises a mechanical-property-enhancing additive.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the mechanical-property enhancing additive comprises carbon fibers.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the set-delayed cement composition comprises polyethyleneimine.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the set-delayed cement composition has a density in a range of about 8 pounds per gallon to about 14 pounds per gallon.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumice has a mean particle size in a range of about 10 micron to about 25 microns.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumice and the hydrated lime are present in a weight ratio of pumice to hydrated lime of about 10:

1 to about 1;

1.

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

10. 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 activating.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of activating comprises adding a cement set activator to the set-delayed cement composition.

12. A method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprising:

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

storing the set-delayed cement composition in a pumpable fluid state for a time period of at least about 7 days;

reducing the density of the set-delayed cement composition by adding a liquid additive comprising a synthetic trioctahedral smectite and water after the step of storing the set-delayed cement composition;

activating the set-delayed cement composition after the step of storing the set-delayed cement composition;

introducing the set-delayed cement composition into a subterranean formation having a bottom hole static temperature of less than about 200°

F.; and

allowing the set-delayed cement composition to set in the subterranean formation.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the density of the set-delayed cement composition is reduced to a range of about 4 pounds per gallon to about 12 pounds per gallon.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the set-delayed cement composition comprises polyethyleneimine.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the pumice and the hydrated lime are present in a weight ratio of pumice to hydrated lime of about 10:

1 to about 1;

1.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the cement set retarder comprises at least one retarder 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 mixture thereof.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the set-delayed cement composition further comprises a dispersant and 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.