Yielding of Hydrated Lime in Set-Delayed and Other Settable Compositions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016194545-A1
Application number	US-201314910886-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 9, 2013
Priority date	Sep 9, 2013
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and systems directed to controlling the rheology of settable compositions in subterranean formations. Embodiments include a method of controlling the rheology of a set-delayed cement composition, the method comprising: providing a set-delayed cement composition comprising water, pumice, hydrated lime, and a set retarder; shearing the set-delayed cement composition in an amount sufficient to substantially prevent solids settling; storing the set-delayed cement in a pumpable fluid state for at least 1 day; activating the set-delayed cement composition; introducing the set-delayed cement composition into a subterranean formation; and allowing the set-delayed cement composition to set in the subterranean formation. Additional methods and systems are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of controlling the rheology of a set-delayed cement composition, the method comprising:
providing a set-delayed cement composition comprising water, pumice, hydrated lime, and a set retarder; shearing the set-delayed cement composition in an amount sufficient to substantially prevent solids settling; storing the set-delayed cement in a pumpable fluid state for at least 1 day; activating the set-delayed cement composition; introducing the set-delayed cement composition into a subterranean formation; and allowing the set-delayed cement composition to set in the subterranean formation.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the set-delayed cement composition is sheared by recirculating the set-delayed cement composition with a circulating pump.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the set-delayed cement composition is recirculated at a rate between about 300 gallons per minute to about 800 gallons per minute.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein after shearing the set-delayed cement composition has a log-log slope of the shear stress vs. the shear rate of less than about 1.05.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the set-delayed cement composition is sheared until the hydrated lime has yielded; wherein the lime has yielded when at least one condition is met; the condition being selected from the group consisting of: the set-delayed cement composition has a residual stress increase of about 2 to about 20 fold, the set-delayed cement composition has an increase in volumetric average apparent viscosity of about 35%, and the set-delayed cement composition has a reduction in the log-log slope of the shear stress versus the shear rate of about 25%.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the set-delayed cement composition is essentially free of water viscosifying suspension additives.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the set retarder comprises at least one retarder selected from the group consisting of a phosphonic acid, a phosphonic acid derivative, a lignosulfonate, a salt, an organic acid, a carboxymethylated hydroxyethylated cellulose, a synthetic co- or ter-polymer comprising sulfonate and carboxylic acid groups, a borate compound, and any mixture thereof.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the set-delayed cement composition further comprises a dispersant selected from the group consisting of a sulfonated-formaldehyde-based dispersant, a polycarboxylated ether dispersant, and a combination thereof.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the set-delayed cement comprise has a pumice-to-hydrated-lime weight ratio of about 3:1 to about 5:1, wherein set retarder is present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 2% by weight of the pumice, and wherein the polycarboxylated ether dispersant is present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 2% by weight of the pumice.

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the activating the set-delayed cement composition process step comprises adding a cement set activator to the set-delayed cement composition and the cement set activator comprises at least one cement set activator selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, triethanolamine, sodium silicate, zinc formate, calcium acetate, sodium hydroxide, monovalent salt, sodium sulfate, nanosilica, polyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and any combination thereof.

11 . A method of controlling the rheology of a settable composition, the method comprising:
providing a settable composition comprising water, hydrated lime, and a material selected from the group consisting of a Portland cement, a pozzolanic cement, a gypsum cement, a soil cement, a calcium phosphate cement, a high-alumina content cement, a silica cement, a high-alkalinity cement, a slag cement, cement kiln dust, pumice, and mixtures thereof; shearing the settable composition in an amount sufficient to substantially prevent solids settling; introducing the settable composition into the subterranean formation; and allowing the settable composition to set in the subterranean formation.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the settable composition is sheared by recirculating the settable composition with a circulating pump.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the settable composition is recirculated at a rate between about 300 gallons per minute to about 800 gallons per minute.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein after shearing the settable composition has a log-log slope of the shear stress versus the shear rate of less than about 1.05.

15 . The method of claim 11 wherein the settable composition is sheared until the hydrated lime has yielded; wherein the lime has yielded when at least one condition is met; the condition being selected from the group consisting of: the settable composition has a residual stress increase of about 2 to about 20 fold, the settable composition has an increase in volumetric average apparent viscosity of about 35%, and the settable composition has a reduction in the log-log slope of the shear stress versus the shear rate of about 25%.

16 . The method of claim 11 wherein the settable composition is essentially free of water viscosifying suspension additives.

17 . A system for controlling the rheology of a set-delayed cement composition, the system comprising:
a set-delayed cement composition comprising:
water;
pumice;
hydrated lime; and
a set retarder; and
mixing equipment for shearing the set-delayed cement composition in an amount sufficient to substantially prevent solids settling in the set-delayed cement composition.

18 . The system of claim 17 wherein the mixing equipment comprises a circulating pump and wherein the circulating pump recirculates the set-delayed cement composition at a rate between about 300 gallons per minute to about 800 gallons per minute.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Pisklak Thomas Jason
• Lewis Samuel J
• Agapiou Kyriacos
• Bou Peter James
• Otieno Pauline Akinyi
• Brothers Lance Everett
• Morgan Ronnie Glen

Classifications

• C09K8/467 Primary

  containing additives for specific purposes · CPC title

• B28C7/028

  by counting the number of revolutions performed, or by measuring the mixing time · CPC title

• B28C5/34

  Mixing on or by conveyors {, e.g. by belts or chains provided with mixing elements} · CPC title

• C04B28/10

  Lime cements or magnesium oxide cements · CPC title

• E21B33/14

  for cementing casings into boreholes · CPC title