Effect of Stratum on the Interfacial Stress and Structural Integrity of Cement Sheath

Abstract

In order to determine the method of protecting the cement sheath structural integrity in oil and gas wells, the finite element mechanics models of the Casing-Cement sheath-Stratum Combination Body (CCSCB) were established based on different stratum action mechanism. The effect of stratum type, well depth, crustal stress and stratum elastic modulus on the interface stress and structural integrity of cement sheath were researched. The results show that, in the creep stratum, the interface contact pressure of cement sheath increase and the circumferential stresses reduce with the increase of crustal stress. There is no effect of the crustal stress on the interface stress in the elastic and rigid stratum. In elastic stratum and low crustal stress creep stratum, circumferential tensile stress would be generated at cement sheath when loading. The cement sheath is easy to crack by this tensile stress and the structural integrity is destroyed when the load was higher. The effect of stratum elastic modulus on the interface stress is related to the stratum and stress type. There is no influence of the elastic modulus on the interface stresses in the rigid stratum. The influence of the elastic modulus on the interface contact pressure is obvious in the elastic stratum, and the effect on the circumferential stress is obvious in the creep stratum.