A Proven Technique for Liner Cementing in the Greater Green River Basin, Wyoming

Abstract

An improved cementing technique has been initiated in the Wamsutter area in the Greater Green River basin of Wyoming. The technique addresses eight problems associated with liner cementing: restricted clearances, conditioning of the drilling mud, pipe movement, centralizers and scratchers, spacers and preflushes, cement slurry design, displacement rates, and use of liner top packers with squeeze. Before this cementing technique was initiated, only 21% of the liners we cemented in this area during 1980 could be classified as successful. Since initiating this technique, 100% success in cementing liners has been achieved. The technique, started in Oct. 1980, has been implemented on 14 wells, and all 14 were completed without a remedial squeeze.