Cement Composition with LCM and FLCA for Fracture Plugging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subterranean formations with varying fracture widths and permeability pose challenges for cement compositions, leading to fluid loss and premature dehydration during cementing operations, as existing additives are not effective across a wide range of fracture sizes and permeabilities.
Innovation Solution
A cement composition combining hydraulic cement, lost circulation materials (LCMs), and fluid loss control additives (FLCAs) with specific particle size distributions and polymers, which synergistically plug fractures and control fluid loss in formations with permeabilities from 1 milliDarcy to 300 Darcy and fracture widths from 1 micron to 800 microns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing fluid loss additives are used in cement composition, then fluid loss control is improved for certain fracture sizes, but effectiveness is lost for varied fracture sizes and permeability ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid loss control system is segmented into multiple size classes: LCMs with larger particle sizes (e.g., 45-850 microns) for plugging larger fractures, and FLCAs with smaller particle sizes (e.g., 1-45 microns) for sealing smaller fractures and permeable zones. This segmentation allows each component to target specific fracture size ranges, collectively providing comprehensive coverage across the full spectrum of fracture sizes and permeability values (1 milliDarcy to 300 Darcy).
Solution Approach 2:
Different additives are assigned to different local conditions within the formation: LCMs are deployed to larger fractures where structural plugging is needed, while FLCAs are directed to smaller fractures and permeable zones where filtration and sealing are required. This local quality differentiation ensures optimal performance in each specific downhole environment regardless of fracture size variation.
2Productivity
If hydrostatic pressure is applied to inject cement composition into formation, then cement placement is achieved, but fluid loss into fractures and permeable zones occurs
Solution Approach 1:
LCMs and FLCAs are pre-blended into the cement composition before injection, so that as the cement slurry is pumped under hydrostatic pressure, the additives are already positioned to immediately plug fractures and control fluid loss. This preliminary incorporation ensures that fluid loss control begins at the moment of injection, preventing dehydration and maintaining circulation throughout the cementing operation.
3Duration of action of moving object
If fluid loss into formation occurs during cementing, then cement composition dehydrates prematurely, but operation must be terminated and restarted
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful dehydration process is extracted and controlled by isolating water loss through the action of LCMs and FLCAs. These additives create a barrier that prevents water from being extracted from the cement slurry into the formation, thereby maintaining the slurry's hydration state and workability throughout the intended operation duration without premature thickening or setting.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition effectively reduces fluid loss and ensures proper setting of cement, preventing premature dehydration and enhancing the cement's ability to form a stable barrier in permeable formations, thereby supporting wellbore integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The cement composition may include a lost circulation material and a fluid loss control additive. The lost circulation material and the fluid loss control additive may provide a synergistic effect that improves the ability of a cement composition to plug a subterranean formation.
Implementation Method 2
Fluid loss control additives (FLCAs) with specific particle size distributions... control fluid loss in formations with permeabilities from 1 milliDarcy to 300 Darcy
Implementation Method 3
inclusion of the first fluid loss control additive and the lost circulation material in the cement composition reduces fluid loss into the subterranean formation
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methods, compositions, and systems embodying cement compositions and the synergistic effect of lost circulation materials (LCMs) and fluid loss control additives (FLCAs) thereupon for cementing subterranean zones. A method of subterranean well cementing, comprising providing a cement composition comprising a hydraulic cement, a first FLCA, a LCM, and water, wherein the first FLCA comprises a water-soluble polymer with repeating units comprising a 5- to 6-membered cyclic amide; introducing the cement composition into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein inclusion of the first FLCA and the LCM in the cement composition fluid reduces fluid loss into the subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation has fractures with a width of from about 1 micron to about 800 microns, and wherein the subterranean formation has a permeability of about 1 millidarcy to about 300 Darcy; and allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean formation.