USES OF SMALL-PARTICLE SIZE CEMENT IN WATER AND HYDROCARBON BASED SLURRIES

Small particle size cement (SPSC) has found a number of production and injection well technology. The fineness of the cement particle allows the resultant slurries to penetrate areas in the wellbore and surroun ding formation that are inaccessible with conventional cement. This pe netration capability leads to SPSC application in production and injec tion well casing repair. By this placement of a permanent seal across casing leaks, mechanical integrity tests mandated by regulatory agency requirements may be satisfied. In addition to use in a water based sl urry, new applications have been developed by placing SPSC in a hydroc arbon carrying fluid. This technique allows the SPSC to be used as a p ermanent water shutoff and conformance control material. Because the h ydrocarbon slurry will only set in the presence of water, oil-producin g sections of a reservoir can remain relatively damage free after wate r shutoff. This paper presents a review of the penetrating properties of SPSC including a comparative study of water base versus hydrocarbon base slurries. In addition, case histories are presented as confirmat ion of successful applications are recently introduced material.