Cement Additive Selection via Physicochemical Correlation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in well cementing lies in developing cement slurries that meet operational objectives and mechanical properties, with existing methods facing difficulties in selecting suitable additives due to regional variability, chemical, and mineralogical differences, leading to issues with mixability, stability, and compressive strength.

Innovation Solution

The method involves categorizing and correlating physicochemical properties of solid particulate materials, such as silica sources and cement additives, to determine their reactivity and specific properties, allowing for the selection of locally sourced materials that meet operational parameters, using regression models and API guidelines for mixability and stability tests.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If transported additives are used to meet mechanical properties and operational objectives, then cement slurry performance is improved, but material handling and transportation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecement slurry performanceVSAvoidmaterial handling and transportation costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables local sourcing of additive materials from regional sources such as natural glasses, clay, silica, and other locally available materials, eliminating the need for long-distance transportation of additives from centralized cement plants. Each region can serve itself by utilizing locally available materials that meet the required cement slurry performance specifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters of additive selection by establishing a standardized evaluation system based on five key parameters (reactive index, bulk density, specific gravity, water requirement, and particle size distribution) that allow local materials to be objectively assessed and substituted for transported additives while maintaining cement slurry performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If locally sourced additives are selected to reduce transportation costs, then material handling overhead is reduced, but chemical and mineralogical differences lead to variability in cement slurry performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial handling overheadVSAvoidcement slurry performance consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transforms the approach to handling regional variability by establishing five standardized parameters (reactive index, bulk density, specific gravity, water requirement, and particle size distribution) that serve as universal criteria for evaluating and selecting local additives, ensuring consistent cement slurry performance across different regions despite natural material variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements a feedback mechanism where the standardized parameters provide objective measurement and comparison data that allow operators to select local additives that meet predetermined performance thresholds, creating a closed-loop system that ensures reliability while enabling local sourcing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If traditional additive selection methods are used, then material availability is simplified, but the inability to objectively compare additives leads to suboptimal selections regarding mixability, stability, and compressive strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditive selection processVSAvoidadditive performance optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the selection process from subjective judgment to objective parameter-based evaluation by establishing five quantifiable parameters (reactive index, bulk density, specific gravity, water requirement, and particle size distribution) that enable precise comparison and selection of additives for optimal cement slurry performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the traditional mechanical trial-and-error approach to additive selection with a systematic parameter-based evaluation system that uses standardized measurements and correlations to objectively determine the best additive selections for mixability, stability, and compressive strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11767272B2Search methods for new bulk materials for cementing applications

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A method of cementing may include: providing a first solid particulate material; measuring at least one physicochemical property of the first solid particulate material; correlating the at least one physicochemical property of the first solid particulate material to at least one physicochemical property of a second solid particulate material and at least one physicochemical of a third solid particulate material; determining if a result of the step of correlating meets an operational parameter; and preparing a cement slurry which meets the operational parameter.