System and method of producing foamed cement in a laboratory environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11192072-B2
Application number	US-201616094182-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2016
Publication date	Dec 7, 2021
Grant date	Dec 7, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods related to preparing foamed cement for laboratory analysis are provided. A prepared cement slurry is placed in a cement reservoir cell configured to pressurize the cement slurry contained within the cement reservoir cell to a capture pressure. After pressurization, the cement slurry and a compressed gas are introduced into a foam generator. Foamed cement generated in the foam generator is introduced from the tee into a foam capture cell where it can cure prior to analysis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of preparing foamed cement in a laboratory environment for analysis comprising:
preparing a cement slurry;
introducing the cement slurry into a cement reservoir cell;
pressurizing the cement reservoir cell to a pressure equal to or greater than a capture pressure selected to correspond to the conditions at a well site;
introducing a gas into a foam generator through a first leg of the foam generator;
displacing the cement slurry from the cement reservoir cell into the foam generator through a second leg of the foam generator such that the cement slurry and gas mix to form a foamed cement that flows into a third leg of the foam generator; and
introducing the foamed cement from the third leg into a foam capture cell.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a backpressure of the foam capture cell is controlled by a backpressure regulator so as to control the introduction of foamed cement.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the cement reservoir cell has a cylinder and a piston, the cement slurry is introduced into the cylinder, and the step of displacing the cement slurry comprises running a pump to move the piston within the cylinder so as to displace the cement slurry from the cylinder.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of preparing a cement slurry comprises the steps of mixing an aqueous fluid and cement to form a base cement composition, and adding a surfactant to the base cement composition.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the gas is introduced into the foam generator through a choke.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first leg and the second leg are perpendicular.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first leg and the third leg are parallel and in-line.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas is selected from air, nitrogen and hydrogen.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the gas is nitrogen.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of preparing a cement slurry comprises the steps of mixing an aqueous fluid and cement to form a base cement composition, and adding a surfactant to the base cement composition.

11. A method of preparing foamed cement in a laboratory environment for analysis comprising:
preparing a cement slurry;
introducing the cement slurry into a cement reservoir cell;
pressurizing the cement reservoir cell to a pressure equal to or greater than a capture pressure selected to correspond to the conditions at a well site;
introducing a gas into a foam generator through a first leg of the foam generator;
displacing the cement slurry from the cement reservoir cell into the foam generator through a second leg of the foam generator such that the cement slurry and gas mix to form a foamed cement that flows into a third leg of the foam generator;
introducing the foamed cement from the third leg into a foam capture cell; and
removing the foamed cement from the foam capture cell and analyzing the foamed cement.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
selecting a quality and composition of foamed cement that is determined to be most suitable for use in a well based on the analysis of the foamed cement, and using the selected quality and composition of foamed cement in a downhole process for the well.

13. A method of preparing foamed cement in a laboratory environment for analysis comprising:
preparing a cement slurry, wherein the step of preparing a cement slurry comprises the steps of mixing an aqueous fluid and cement to form a base cement composition, and adding a surfactant to the base cement composition;
introducing the cement slurry into a cement reservoir cell;
pressurizing the cement reservoir cell to a pressure equal to or greater than a capture pressure selected to correspond to the conditions at a well site;
introducing a gas into a foam generator through a first leg of the foam generator;
displacing the cement slurry from the cement reservoir cell into the foam generator through a second leg of the foam generator such that the cement slurry and gas mix to form a foamed cement that flows into a third leg of the foam generator; and
introducing the foamed cement from the third leg into a foam capture cell, wherein a backpressure of the foam capture cell is controlled by a backpressure regulator so as to control the introduction of foamed cement.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising removing the foamed cement from the foam capture cell and analyzing the foamed cement, and wherein the cement reservoir cell has a cylinder and a piston, the cement slurry is introduced into the cylinder, and the step of displacing the cement slurry comprises running a pump to move the piston within the cylinder so as to displace the cement slurry from the cylinder.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the gas is introduced into the foam generator through a choke.

16. A method of preparing foamed cement in a laboratory environment for analysis comprising:
preparing a cement slurry, wherein the step of preparing a cement slurry comprises the steps of mixing an aqueous fluid and cement to form a base cement composition, and adding a surfactant to the base cement composition;
introducing the cement slurry into a cement reservoir cell;
pressurizing the cement reservoir cell to a pressure equal to or greater than a capture pressure selected to correspond to the conditions at a well site;
introducing a gas into a foam generator through a first leg of the foam generator, wherein the gas is introduced into the foam generator through a choke;
displacing the cement slurry from the cement reservoir cell into the foam generator through a second leg of the foam generator such that the cement slurry and gas mix to form a foamed cement that flows into a third leg of the foam generator, wherein the cement reservoir cell has a cylinder and a piston, the cement slurry is introduced into the cylinder, and the step of displacing the cement slurry comprises running a pump to move the piston within the cylinder so as to displace the cement slurry from the cylinder; and
introducing the foamed cement from the third leg into a foam capture cell, wherein a backpressure of the foam capture cell is controlled by a backpressure regulator so as to control the introduction of foamed cement; and
wherein the gas is selected from air, nitrogen and hydrogen.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first leg and the second leg are perpendicular.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first leg and the third leg are parallel and in-line.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising removing the foamed cement from the foam capture cell and analyzing the foamed cement.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
selecting a quality and composition of foamed cement that is determined to be most suitable for use in a well based on the analysis of the foamed cement, and using the selected quality and composition of foamed cement in a downhole process for the well.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Pang Xueyu
• Jimenez Walmy Cuello
• Singh John P
• Sodhi Thomas Singh
• Prince Aaron Cade
• Maxson Joe Kleber
• Morgan Ronnie Glen

Classifications

• B01F25/27

  Mixing by jetting components into a conduit for agitating its contents · CPC title

• B01F23/235 Primary

  for making foam · CPC title

• B01F2101/23

  Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials · CPC title

• B01F2101/28

  Mixing cement, mortar, clay, plaster or concrete ingredients · CPC title

• B28B7/0094 Primary

  Moulds for concrete test samples · CPC title