PLUG CEMENTING

Objectives
By the end of this module, a trainee will
be able to do the followings:
List the purpose of setting a cement plugs

List the three different techniques

List the advantages and disadvantages of each technique

Recognise the job consideration

Select slurry properties to fit with the plug type

Explain step by step the cement plug job procedure

All necessary calculations to perform a balanced plug

2
 Cement Plugs Introduction
Setting a cement plug in a well is a
common oil-field operation.
A cement plug involves a relatively small
volume of cement slurry.
And is placed in the wellbore for various
purposes:
To side track above a fish or to initiate directional drilling.
To plug back a zone or plug back a well.
To solve a lost-circulation problem during the drilling
phase,
To provide an anchor for OH tests.

3
 Side Track and Directional
Drilling
Kick Off Point

CEMENT
PLUG

NEW
HOLE

4
 Plug Back and Depleted
Zone

Cement
Plug

Depleted
Zone

5
 Lost Circulation
Drill Pipe

Open Hole

Drill Pipe

ThiefZone
CEMENT
CEMENT
PLUG
PLUG

6
 Abandonment

CEMENT PLUG

CEMENT PLUG

CEMENT PLUG

7
 Examples of Countries Having Drilling and Cementing

Regulations
Country Agency

Abu Dhabi Ministry of Petroleum

Australia Department of Mines
Austria Oberste Bergbehorde
Canada Ontario-Dept of Mines and Northern affairs
Alberta-Oil & Gas Conservation Board
Saskatewan-Dept of Mineral Resources
Colombia Minister of Mines & Petroleum
France Direction Generale des Mnes
Germany Bureau of Mines
Ireland Offshore Operating Committee - London
Italy National Mining Bureau for Hydrocarbons
Japan Bureau of Mines

Libya Petroleum Mine Safety Regulations

Malaysia Petroleum Ministry
Mozambique Geology and Mines Dept
The Netherlands The Ministry of Mines
Norway Petroleum Directorate
Turkey Petroleum Admin
United Kingdom Dept of Energy
Venezuela Dept of Hydrocarbons

8
 Test Anchor

Test String

Zone to be Tested

CEMENT Weak
PLUG Formation

9
 Plug Placement Techniques
There are three common techniques for
placing cement plugs:

Balanced plug

Dump bailer

Two-plug method

10
 Balanced Plug
Balancing
Displ.
Fluid
Spacer

Cement
Slurry

11
 Balanced Plug
Balancing Reversing
Displ.
Fluid
Spacer

Cement
Slurry

Plug
Length

12
 Dump Bailer Method
WIRELINE

DUMP BAILER

CEMENT SLURRY

ELECTRICAL/
MECHANICAL
DUMP RELEASE

BRIDGE PLUG
CASING

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 Dump Bailer Method
Advantages:

Depth of cement plug is easily controlled.

Relatively cheap.

Disadvantages:

Not easily adaptable to setting deep plugs.

Quantity of cement limited to volume of dump

bailer.
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 Two Plug Method

1. Running In 4. Top Plug Landed

2. Bottom Plug Landed 5. Reverse Circulation
3. Cleaning of Aluminium Tail Pipe and Pulling Out

15
 Two-Plug Method: Tell-Tale Catcher Sub
System
Advantages of this method are:

Isolation ahead and behind the cement.

Pipe cleaned down to the lower end of the tail

pipe.

Breakable tail pipe that can be abandoned if

stuck.

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 Coiled Tubing Cement Plug
Technique

Coiled Tubing

Cemen
t

Suspended
mud System

17
 Job Design Considerations
Why is the cement plug being set?
At what depth will the plug be set?
Across which formations is the plug going to be set?
At what density should the slurry be mixed?
What is the BHT?
What volume should be pumped?
What is the required thickening time?
How to insure the cement will not be contaminated by
mud?
Are pipe centralization and rotation necessary?
Waiting on cement time?

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 Slurry Properties
Density - lighter for Lost Circulation
Density - heavier for Sidetracking
Density - homogeneous - batch mixing
Rheology - higher for Lost Circulation
Rheology - lower for placement with Coiled Tubing
Compressive Strength - higher for Sidetracking
Compressive Strength - less important for Lost
Circulation
Compressvie Strength - minimum 500 psi for drill out
Thickening Time - enough for placement - 1.5 to 2 hours

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 Slurry Thickening Time and Compressive
Strength
API Class G Cement Mixed at 15.8 lb/gal
Conc D81R Depth BHCT BHST THICKENING TIME
gal/sk (ft) (oF) (oF) (hrs:min)

None 10,000 144 228 1:20

0.04 10,000 144 228 2:25

0.08 10,000 144 228 3:40

Conc D81R Depth BHST COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH (psi)

gal/sk (ft) (oF) 8hrs 16hrs 24hrs

None 10,000 228 3050 3500 4100

0.04 10,000 228 2500 3000 3700

0.08 10,000 228 1200 2200 3800

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Mud Contamination vs Compressive
Strength
Neat Class H Cement Effect of Mud
16.5 lb/gal Contamination*
Reduced
Compressive Strength
Mud Contamination Mud Normal Water
(% by Volume) (psi at 170F) Contamination Slurry Slurry**
(%) 15.6 lb/gal 17.5 lb/gal
8 hr 16 hr
0 4,647 5,862 0 4,082 psi 8,600 psi
5 3,512 5,300 10 2,950 psi 8,237 psi
10 2,619 4,538 40 2,426 psi 3,850 psi
20 2,378 2,331 60 593 psi 2,967 psi
50 245 471

* Compressive strength is 18hr at 230F

** Contains dispersant

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 Reasons for Cement Plug
Failures
Lack of hardness (sidetracking).
Poor isolation (plugback, abandonment).
Wrong Depth (all plugs).
Not in place due to sinking to the bottom (all
plugs).
Not in place due to loss to thief zone (lost
circulation).

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 Reasons for Failure Can be Traced to the
Following
Slurry not designed for enough compressive strength.
Not enough WOC time.
Inaccurate BHST.
Cement contamination during displacement and POH.
Slurry not designed for the specific problem (lost
circulation).
Not enough cement volume.
Difference between cement and hole fluids' densities
too high, causing the plug to sink.

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 Plug Cementing -

Conclusions
Place the plug in a competent formation (i.e., a hard formation).
Use ample cement.
Use a tailpipe through plugback intervals.

Use centralizers on the tailpipe where the hole is not excessively

washed out.
Use a drill pipe plug and a plug catcher.

Condition the well before running the job, using low YP and PV mud,
but of sufficient weight to control the well.
Ahead of the cement, run a high-vis pill that is compatible with the
mud and will prevent the cement from sliding down the hole.
Use spacers and washes to combat the effects of mud
contamination. Densified cements with a dispersant are also useful.
Allow ample time for the cement to set.

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 Diverter Tool

8 holes phased at 45

Bull Plug

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 Drill Pipe Centralization &
Diverter Tool
DRILLPIPE
CENTRALIZED
9.0 lb/gal MUD
SPACER
DIVERTER TOOL
16.0 lb/gal
CEMENT
9.1 lb/gal VISCOUS BENTONITE PIL

9.0 lb/gal MUD

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 Bad Cement Placement
Technique
9.0 lb/gal
MUD
SPACER

13.8lb/gal
15.8 lb/gal
17.5 lb/gal
CEMENT
BENTONITE PILL

9.0 lb/gal
MUD

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 Reverse Circulating Excess
Cement

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 Job Procedure - Balanced
Plug
Test treating lines.
Pump spacer or wash ahead of cement slurry.
Mix and pump cement slurry.
Pump spacer or wash behind cement slurry.
Displace calculated amount of displacing fluid.
Under displace 1/2-1 bbl for safety.
Open return lines to the displacement tank on the unit and
allow plug to balance itself either by return flow or
vacuum.
Pull drill pipe or tubing above the plug.
Reverse circulate if conditions allow.
POOH and WOC.

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 Slurry Volume Calculation
Drillpipe/tubing

Lsp2
Spacer
7000
Cement
L
Lcmt
7500
Mud

Desired Plug At End of Displacement

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 Slurry Volume Calculation

Volume of Cement, Vcmt

Vcmt = L x Ch x excess factor

where,

L = length of column of cement in open hole (ft).

Ch = capacity of open hole from standard tables

(ft3/ft).

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 Slurry Volume Calculation
Volume of Cement, Vcmt
Vcmt = L x Ch x excess factor, where,
L = length of column of cement in open hole (ft).
Ch = capacity of open hole from standard tables (ft3/ft).

Length of Balanced Plug (with working string in place).

Lcmt = Vcmt
Can + Ctbg
where,
Can = Capacity of annulus between tubing or drill pipe and
open hole(ft3ft).
Ctbg = Capacity of tubing or drill pipe (ft3/ft).

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 Slurry Volume Calculation

Volume of Spacer Behind the Cement

V sp
V sp2 = 1 x C tbg
C an

Vsp1 = Volume of spacer ahead of the cement

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 Slurry Volume Calculation

Volume of Spacer Behind the Cement

Vsp
Vsp2 = 1 xC
tbg
Can

Vsp1 = Volume of spacer ahead of the cement

Length of Spacer
Lsp2 = length of spacer behind (ft) = Vsp2/ Ctbg

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 Slurry Volume Calculation
Volume of Spacer Behind the Cement

V sp
V sp2 = 1 x C tbg
C an

Vsp1 = Volume of spacer ahead of the cement

Length of Spacer

L sp2 = length of spacer behind (ft) = V sp2 / C

tbg
Displacement Volume

VVd = Ctbg x [D - (Lcmt + Lsp2)]

D = depth of work string (bottom of cement plug) (ft)

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