Reducing the Waiting-On-Cement Time of Geopolymer Well Cement using Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) as the Accelerator: Analysis of the Compressive Strength and Acoustic Impedance for Well Logging

Nurul Nazmin Zulkarnain,Syed Ahmad Farhan,Afif Izwan Abd Hamid,Nasir Shafiq,Siti Humairah Abd Rahman,Mohd Firdaus Habarudin,Yon Azwa Sazali

doi:10.3390/su13116128

Nurul Nazmin Zulkarnain, Syed Ahmad Farhan + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116128

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Abstract

Geopolymer cement (GPC) is an aluminosilicate-based binder that is cost-effective and eco-friendly, with high compressive strength and resistance to acid attack. It can prevent degradation when exposed to carbon dioxide by virtue of the low calcium content of the aluminosilicate source. The effect of the concentration of calcium chloride (CaCl2) as the accelerator on the compressive strength and acoustic impedance of GPC for well cement, while exposed to high pressure and high temperatures, is presented. Fly ash from the Tanjung Bin power plant, which is categorized as Class F fly ash according to ASTM C618-19, was selected as the aluminosilicate source for the GPC samples. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate were employed to activate the geopolymerization reaction of the aluminosilicate. Five samples with a density of 15 ppg were prepared with concentrations of CaCl2 that varied from 1% to 4% by weight of cement. Findings revealed that the addition of 1% CaCl2 is the optimum concentration for the curing conditions of 100 °C and 3000 psi for 48 h, which resulted in the highest compressive strength of the product. Results also indicate that GPC samples that contain CaCl2 have a smaller range of acoustic impedance compared to that of ordinary Portland cement.

Highlights

The design and construction of the first carbon neutral building in Australia in 2013 [1], and the largest geopolymer concrete project in the world in 2014 [2], are a testament to the growing interest and immense progress in geopolymer research since it was instigated in 1970 by Joseph Davidovits [3]
geopolymer cement (GPC) can resist degradation when exposed to CO2, by virtue of the low calcium content of the aluminosilicate source, and has great potential to replace OPC as a well cement material, especially in CO2 -rich downhole environments that promote cement carbonation and degradation [6,7,8,9]
The fly ash was categorized as Class F fly ash, with a maximum calcium oxide (CaO) content of 6.72% according to the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) as per ASTM C618-19 [20]

Summary

Introduction

In the wake of the advancement of the applications of geopolymers in the construction industry, investigations into the potential application of geopolymers for well cement in the oil and gas industry, where geopolymer cement (GPC) is exposed to various conditions of the downhole environment, such as high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions and the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2 ), hydrogen sulfide (H2 S), brine and saline water, have been initiated. GPC can resist degradation when exposed to CO2 , by virtue of the low calcium content of the aluminosilicate source, and has great potential to replace OPC as a well cement material, especially in CO2 -rich downhole environments that promote cement carbonation and degradation [6,7,8,9]. In comparison to that of OPC, the manufacturing process of GPC is more energy-efficient [10] and cost-effective [11]

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