A Procedure to Shut Off High-Pressure Water Flows During Primary Cementing

Abstract

Summary Shutting off high-pressure water flows and achieving good cement bonding during primary cementing has long been a problem experienced by operators. Corrosion, casing leaks, excessive water production, and contamination of freshwater aquifers have led to costly workover operations throughout the oil field, especially within the Permian Basin. Remedial cementing jobs are often expensive and unsuccessful when primary cementing techniques fail. Therefore, a cost-effective, engineered method for cementing off these water flows was developed. This paper describes the cementing techniques, well-control criteria, well preparation, and data evaluation. Use of new and existing cementing practices provided the flexibility necessary to handle variable well conditions. Preplanning, evaluation of produced waters, compatibility studies, and proper slurry design helped to eliminate poor cement jobs in many areas. If one works closely with service and rig personnel, the procedure can be accomplished quite effectively, even on wells in which unexpected water flows are encountered. Examples of the procedure are documented with proven field results under variable conditions.