Section 3

API Cements and Additives

Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................3-3
Topic Areas.............................................................................................................................................3-3
Learning Objectives................................................................................................................................3-3
Unit A: API Cements .................................................................................................................................3-3
API Classification...................................................................................................................................3-3
Manufacturing and Composition ............................................................................................................3-4
Unit A Quiz ............................................................................................................................................3-5
Unit B: Cement Properties .........................................................................................................................3-6
Factors Influencing Slurry Properties .....................................................................................................3-6
Thickening Times ...................................................................................................................................3-7
Compressive Strength.............................................................................................................................3-7
Mix Water...............................................................................................................................................3-8
Unit B Quiz.............................................................................................................................................3-9
Unit C: Cement Additives ........................................................................................................................3-10
Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................3-10
Cement Accelerators.............................................................................................................................3-10
Lightweight Additives ..........................................................................................................................3-10
Heavyweight Additives ........................................................................................................................3-10
Cement Retarders .................................................................................................................................3-11
Lost Circulation Additives....................................................................................................................3-11
Fluid Loss Additives.............................................................................................................................3-11
Cement Dispersants or Friction Reducers ............................................................................................3-12
Gas Control Additives ..........................................................................................................................3-12
Salt as an Additive (Salt Cement).........................................................................................................3-13
Unit C Quiz...........................................................................................................................................3-14
Answers to Unit Quizzes..........................................................................................................................3-15

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 API Cements and Additives

Use for Section Notes…

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 API Cements and Additives

Introduction
Cements are used universally in well completion B. Cement Properties
operations to fill the annular space between the
C. Cement Additives
casing and the open hole. The principal
functions of the primary cementing process are
• to bond and support the casing Learning Objectives
• to restrict fluid movement between
Upon completion of the section, you should be
formations
familiar with:
• to protect the casing from corrosion
• the API classification system and the ratings
• to protect the casing from shock loads when of the various cements based upon physical
drilling deeper makeup
• to seal off lost circulation (or thief) zones. • the basic physical properties of commonly
used Halliburton cements

Topic Areas • the functions of commonly used additives

• the basic steps in the cement manufacturing
In this section, the following units are covered: process.
A. API Cements

Unit A: API Cements

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has • API Class A and B (Portland cement)
identified nine types of cement according to
chemical composition and physical properties. • API Class C (High early strength cement)
These types range from standard construction • API Class D, E and F (Retarded cement)
cements to cements designed for use thousands
of feet below the surface. • API Class G and H (Basic cement)

This unit will cover • API Class J (Special order only).

• API Classification API Classes G and H cements are commonly

used across a large geographical area. Classes A,
• Manufacturing and Composition B, and C are used in specific geographic
locations where downhole conditions require
special cement properties. Classes D, E and F
API Classification are rarely used and only in special situations.

The nine types of cements classified by the API

are

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 API Cements and Additives

Table 3.1 - API Classification And Properties Of

Common Oil Well Cements
Range Static Water Slurry
Type of Usage Temp Ratio Weight Volume Remarks
°F gal/sk lb/gal ft3/sk
Class A 6000 ft 60°-170° 5.2 15.6 1.18 May be used when no special properties are desired
(Portland) and well conditions permit. No sulfate resistance.
Class B 6000 ft 60°-170° 5.2 15.6 1.18 Moderate sulfate resistance.
(Portland)
Class C 6000 ft 60°-170° 6.3 14.8 1.32 Available in regular and high sulfate-resistant types.
Class G 8000 ft 200° 5.0 15.8 1.15 Basic cement, compatible with accelerators or
retarders for use over the complete range of Classes
A through E.
Class H 8000 ft 200° 4.3 16.4 1.06 Basic cement, higher density, higher and lower
8000 ft 5.2 15.6 1.18 water volume.
200°

You may also hear the terms Standard, Premium creating a hydraulic cement--one that hardens
and Premium Plus when referring to oil field with the addition of water. Aspdin named the
cements. product portland cement because it resembled a
stone quarried on the Isle of Portland off the
• Standard cement has characteristics similar British Coast. With this invention, Aspdin laid
to API Classes A&B. However; Standard the foundation for today's portland cement
Cement may not meet API specifications for industry.
Class A or B.
Cements consist of limestone (or other materials
• Premium Cement has characteristics similar high in calcium carbonate), clay or shale, and
to API Classes G&H. However; Premium some iron and aluminum oxides (if not found in
Cement may not meet API specifications for quantity in the clay or shale). These dry
Class G or H. materials are finely ground and mixed
• Premium Plus Cement has characteristics thoroughly in the correct proportions, either dry
similar to API Class C. However; Premium (dry process), or with water (wet process). The
Plus Cement may not meet API mixture is heated to very high temperatures
specifications for Class C. causing the ingredients to react chemically,
resulting in material called clinker. The clinker
Other materials having somewhat different is ground with a controlled amount of gypsum to
cement properties are also commonly used in the form cement.
primary cementing process. These materials All cement classes are manufactured in
do not fall in any specific API classification and essentially the same way and made of the same
are classified as “Special Cements.” ingredients, only in different proportions.
The water requirement of each cement varies
Manufacturing and Composition with the fineness of grind or amount of surface
area. High early strength cements (Class C) have
In 1824, Joseph Aspdin, a British stone mason, a high surface area (fine grind); the retarded
obtained a patent for a cement he produced in cements (Classes D, E, F) have less surface area,
his kitchen. The inventor heated a mixture of and the Portland cements (Classes A & B) have
finely ground limestone and clay in his kitchen a surface area slightly higher than the retarded
stove and ground the mixture into a powder cements. Class G is a premium fine grind and
class H is a premium coarse grind.

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Unit A Quiz
Fill in the blanks with one or more words to check you progress in Unit A.
1. The American Petroleum Institute has identified nine classes of basic cements. Five of those nine
classes are commonly used in the oil field. They are _____________, _____________,
_____________, _____________ and _____________.

2. The API cements most commonly used across a wide geographical area are classes _____ and
_____.

3. Although both Class G and Class H cements have similar properties, Class H has a ___________
density.

4. Special cements are similar to basic cements in that they are commonly used in the
_______________________ process.

5. Cement consists of ______________ that is ground with a controlled amount of _____________.

6. Although all classes of cements are manufactured in basically the same way, they differ in that
different ______________ of ingredients are used.

7. The water requirements for each type of cement vary based upon _________________________.

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Unit B: Cement Properties

The properties of cements used in the oil field • Too much water: Free water appears on top
vary based upon the following factors: of the slurry in the sample cup and retards
setting.
• Geographic location
• Too little water: The slurry is thick and
• Conditions down-hole (temperature, depth,
difficult to pump and accelerates setting.
etc.)
Slurry density or cement slurry weight should,
• Type of cement job
except for squeeze jobs, be great enough to
• Type of mixing water. maintain well control. As a result, slurry
densities are always carefully monitored. In the
Cement properties can be changed to meet the
field, this can be done either manually with a
needs of a particular job. This unit addresses the
pressure balanced scale (Fig. 3.1) or
physical properties of oilwell cements and how
automatically with a densometer. To avoid a
these properties affect or are affected by
poor primary cementing job, a slurry must be
conditions downhole. This unit includes
maintained at its proper density.
• Factors influencing slurry properties
• Thickening time
• Compressive strength.
• Flow properties

Factors Influencing Slurry

Properties
The properties of cement slurry are influenced
by factors such as: Figure 3.1 – Pressure Balanced Scale
• water ratio of cement slurries (gal/sk)
• slurry density (lb/gal) While on the job, be alert to slurry property
changes that can be the result of improper slurry
• slurry yield (ft³/sk) density. The slurry properties most affected by
The water ratio or gallons of water required per changes in density are
sack of cement is important in determining the • thickening time
thickening time and compressive strength of the
cement. Most slurries are mixed with an amount • flow characteristics (pumpability)
of water that provides a set volume equal to the • drilling fluid displacement efficiency
slurry volume without freewater separation.
Your Halliburton Cementing Tables (Red Book) • free water
contains a section entitled “Technical Data” in
• settling
which you can find water requirements for
various types of cements. • compressive strength
The following rule of thumb can help: • fluid loss.

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The careful recording and monitoring of slurry The “Technical Data” section of your Red Book
density ensures a correct water to solids ratio is contains temperature/thickening time
maintained. information. This data represents average
temperatures at various depths along the Gulf
Slurry yield is the number of ft³/sk an API
Coast and may not correspond to temperatures at
standard manufactured cement yields based
the same depths in other areas.
upon a given amount of mixing water. In
determining the volume of cement required to do Always remember temperature, rather than
a particular cement job, a caliper survey, volume depth, has the greatest effect on cement
requirements based on Red Book data, and/or thickening times.
regulatory requirements are used. Too much
Thickening time is also affected by conditions
cement rather than too little is always advisable,
that cannot always be controlled during
especially where there is a possibility of mud
laboratory tests, such as
contamination, dilution, or channeling.
• water invasion - causes failure to set

Thickening Times • loss of water to the formation - causes

accelerated set
The thickening time, based upon laboratory • shutdown during cement slurry
testing, is the time required for a cement to placement - speeds up thickening and slurry
become unpumpable. Thickening times are set faster than reported by laboratory
established in response to conditions
• Laboratory test results • contamination - causes setting failure.
• Actual well conditions These factors affect the thickening time of
cement to various degrees. It is important to
Laboratory thickening time tests (Fig. 3.2) are
remember that the slurry thickening time
conducted using a sample of cement (with changes if one of these situations is encountered.
additives, if used) and mixing water. The cement
slurry is tested to determine the amount of time Finally, when considering thickening times,
for thickening to take place. The following well remember that moving cement is less likely to
conditions are controlled during these tests: setup; therefore, once you stop moving the
cement slurry, the cement starts to build gel
• bottomhole circulating temperature (BHT) strength. A basic rule should always be
• well depth followed: never stop moving the cement until it
is in place.
• well pressure.

Compressive Strength
Compressive strength is the amount of strength
required to support a string of casing.
Compressive strength provides the basis for
most WOC (waiting-on-cement) regulations. It
is a generally accepted rule that a compressive
strength of 500 psi is the minimally acceptable
standard for most cement operations. However,
consult the regulatory guidelines to determine
the minimum strength requirements for the state
in which you work.
Figure 3.2 – Pressure-temperature
thickening time tester.

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Deciding how long to wait for your cement to Mix Water

build up enough compressive strength for
drilling out is a function of cement type,
Cement slurry contamination is a major concern
additives, and wellbore temperature.
during the cementing process. It would be ideal
Other factors that affect cement curing or WOC if the water supply for mixing cement was
times (field variables, completion procedures, completely free from contaminants. This is not
and curing conditions) do not allow a foolproof always practical, you must consider the most
WOC time to be set. Thus, the rule of thumb is readily available source of water. Additives in
to achieve a minimum compressive strength of the drilling fluid can also contaminate cement
500 psi before drilling out. slurry and affect its setting properties. Table 3.2
lists some common sources of contaminants and
the effect each has on cement slurry properties.
Halliburton has definitive guidelines for
allowable levels of contaminants in cement mix
water.

Table 3.2 - Mixing Water or Mud Additive

Contaminants
Source of Effect on
Contaminant Type Cement Slurry

Mixing Water Salt Accelerates set

(1% to 8% per
weight of water)

Organic Material Retards set

(decomposed plant
life, waste
Figure 3.3 – Machine Used to Test effluents)
Compressive Strength
Agricultural Accelerates set
Products (farm
fertilizer

Sea Water Accelerates set

Mud Additives Barium sulfate Increases density,

(BaSo4) reduces strength
(Barite)

Caustics Accelerates set

(NaOH,
Na2COH3,etc)

Calcium Accelerates set

compounds
(CaO, Ca(OH)2,
CaCl2, CaSo, 2H20)

Thinners (tannins, Retards set

lignosulfonates,
Figure 3.4 – Testing Compressive Strength quebracho, lignins,
etc.)
of Sample
Fluid-loss control Retards set
additives
(CMC, starch, guar,
polyachrylamides,
lignosulfonates)

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Unit B Quiz
Fill in the blanks with one or more words to check your progress in Unit B.
1. An important factor in determining the thickening time and compressive strength of the cement is
the ______________________ or gallons of water required per sack of cement.

2. In order to determine the water requirements for the cement you are using, refer to your
_____________.

3. Difficulty in pumping cement slurry downhole can be the result of ________________________.

4. The required cement thickening time is usually determined under _________________________

conditions.

5. Contaminants which can affect the cement slurry usually come from two sources: mixing water
and ______________________.

6. An important thing to remember when dealing with thickening times in the field is that the
cement starts to build __________________ once you’ve stopped _____________.

7. Generally, a compressive strength of 500 psi is a _____________________________ standard for

most cement operations.

8. The wellbore temperature and the cement type, density, and additives are factors to consider
when determining ____________________________________time.

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Unit C: Cement Additives

information on cement accelerators can be found
in Halliburton’s Cementing Technology Manual.
Introduction
The common accelerators are
Wells are cemented in a variety of temperature • Calcium Chloride (most widely used)
conditions:
• Sodium Chloride
• below freezing (permafrost zones in Alaska
and Canada) • Seawater

• 450° to 500°F (deep gas wells) • Cal-Seal

• 500° to 1,500°F (geothermal steam wells) • ECONOLITE

• 1,500° to 2,000°F (fire flood wells) • VersaSet

By using basic cements (API Classes G or H)

and additives, you can tailor cement slurries to Lightweight Additives
fit any specific well requirement. Most additives
are available as liquids or free-flowing powders. Sometimes, a slurry weight needs to be reduced
Liquid additives are added directly to the mixing to protect formations that have a low fracture
water. Powders are usually dry-blended with gradient or for economics. To reduce the weight
cement before they are transported to the well. of cement slurries, you can add water, low
When necessary, they can also be dispersed in specific-gravity solids, or foam cement.
the mixing water at the job site.
Bentonite is one of the most commonly used
There are nine categories of cement additives: lightweight additives. You can use it to
• accelerators formulate these different lightweight cements:

• lightweight additives • Blended gel cement (1 to 16%)

• heavyweight additives • Premixed bentonite (prehydrated)

• retarders • Modified cement (Humble patent)

• lost circulation additives • High gel salt cement (Gulf patent)

• fluid loss additives Foam cement using nitrogen (N2) produces 4- to

19-lb/gal slurries, which have excellent strength
• dispersants to density ratio (low permeability).
• gas control additives
• specialty materials Heavyweight Additives
The main purpose of heavy weight additives is
Cement Accelerators to restrain high formation pressures. Heavy
weight additives are used to obtain slurry
Cement accelerators shorten thickening time and densities up to 20 lb/gal. They have a low water
reduce WOC. They also increase early strength. requirement and have a uniform particle size
Accelerators are widely used on surface pipe, range from batch to batch. Heavyweight
shallow wells, and cement plugs. Additional

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 API Cements and Additives

additives are chemically inert and compatible • Low fracture gradient

with other additives.
• Unconsolidate formations
The most common materials used for weighting
cements are • Fractured formations

• Hematite (iron ore) • Cavernous formations

• Barite (more common in drilling fluids) Actually, lost circulation control during
cementing involves adding material that will
• Ottawa sand prevent losses to the cement slurry while you are
placing it. Some of the more commonly used
• Salt
lost circulation materials include
Of the materials listed, hematite is most widely
used, because it most closely fits physical • Granular (gilsonite, coal, perlite, walnut
requirements and achieves the highest effective hulls, mica)
specific gravity. • Fibrous (nylon, polypropylene)
• Laminated (cellophane)
Cement Retarders • Specialized flash setting or gelling materials

Cement retarders slow cement setting time

(hydration) to allow for safe cement placement. Fluid Loss Additives
The high temperatures in deep wells will cause
cement to set prematurely. The higher the The purpose of fluid loss additives is to help
temperature, the faster the cement sets. prevent water loss from cement slurry. This
Retarders usually have a limited effective allows displacing the maximum amount of mud,
temperature range. For example, a particular compressive strength development, and bonding
retarder may be only effective from 115 to between the formation and the casing.
225°F. The chemicals widely in use as retarders
include those listed below: Fluid loss additives counteract the tendency of
cement slurries to lose the water that the slurries
• Lignins (sodium lignosulfonate, calcium need to help achieve a good cement job.
lignosulfonate) Permeable zones can rob the cement slurry of its
• Carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose water, thus creating a filter cake of cement. The
(CMHEC) filter cake increases frictional pressures and
increases the potential for a number of problems.
• Saturated salt water Fluid loss additives reduce the permeability of
the cement filter cake. They are especially useful
• Organic acids
in squeeze cementing.
• Synthetic polymers
Fluid loss additives include
• Organic polymers
Lost Circulation Additives
• Dispersants
“Lost circulation” or “lost returns” refers to
whole fluid loss or cement slurry loss to
formation voids during drilling or completing a
well. You should not confuse it with volume
decrease because of the filtration or volume
needed to fill a new hole.
Circulation can be lost due to

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Cement Dispersants or Friction Gas Control Additives

Reducers
Natural (methane) gas migration through unset
Dispersing agents are added to cement slurries to cement is a major concern (Fig. 3.8). Cement
improve their flow properties. Since they can be slurries are capable of transmitting hydrostatic
pumped in turbulent flow at lower pressures, pressure, and maintaining overbalance pressure
you can reduce the horsepower required. As a control, while in the fluid state. However,
result, you can also reduce the chances of lost cements naturally want to develop gel strength
circulation and premature dehydration. (gelation) when left static. The time period of
gelation, before cement sets may be several
Additives classified as dispersants include the hours. In this state the unset slurry will not fully
following: transmit fluid pressure from wellbore fluids.
• Polymers While in a gel state, and before hardening, the
• Salt cement will also lose a small amount of filtrate
to porous zones resulting in a volume reduction.
• Retarders Since pressure may not be transferred though the
• Fluid Loss Additives gelled cement, a pressure reduction occurs at the
point(s) where filtrate has leaked off. Gas from
• Organic acids nearby porous zones is then free to percolate
through the unset cement to other zones or the
surface. The path of gas migration is permanent
and exists even after the cement has fully
hardened.
To combat this problem several additives may
be used in the cement slurry. A powdered
additive may be used to minimize the length of
time the cement is in the gel state. Gas, such as
nitrogen, is often used to foam the cement so
that volume reduction, and thus pressure
reduction, is minimized at the point of filtrate
loss.

Figure 3.7 – Dispersants improve the flow

properties

Figure 3.8 – Channel through cement

caused by gas migration.

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 API Cements and Additives

Salt as an Additive (Salt

Cement)
Salt is also used in cement slurries to improve
bonding of set cement to salt sections and shales.
It also causes the set cement to expand.
Cement slurries containing salt have been very
effective in protecting hole washing in salt
zones. They also prevent shale sections from
sloughing or heaving during cementing. When
Figure 3.10 - Hole washout due to sloughing
drilling through salt zones (Fig. 3.9) or
of water sensitive shales.
troublesome shales (Fig. 3.10) with fresh water
mud systems, severe hole enlargements may
occur.
Cementing with fresh water cement slurries can
cause similar hole enlargements. You can
prevent annular bridging and the resulting lost
circulation by using cement slurries containing
salt.
Shales that are sensitive to cement filtrate can
actually be softened by it before the cement sets.
If softened enough, the shale will flow. This
creates channels behind the cement sheath from
one perforated zone to another.
Blending dry granulated salt with cement at the
bulk plant makes salt-saturated cement much
Figure 3.9 - Hole washing in a salt zone. easier to use. It allows you to eliminate waste,
and save time and labor; it can also reduce the
possibility of foaming.
While sodium chloride is the salt generally used
with cement, potassium chloride is used also. In
some cases, potassium chloride may be effective
at lower concentrations; it does not significantly
affect cement slurries any differently than
sodium chloride, except at higher
concentrations.

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Unit C Quiz
Fill in the blanks with one or more words to check your progress in Unit C.
1. Most additives are available as _______________ or ________________________________.

2. Cement accelerators shorten __________________________ and reduce WOC.

3. _________________ is one of the most commonly used lightweight additives.

4. The main purpose of heavy weight additives is to restrain _________________________________.

5. The ________________________________ in deep wells will cause cement to set prematurely.

6. “Lost circulation” or “lost returns” refers to ______________________ loss or

_______________________loss to formation voids during drilling or completing a well.

7. __________________________________ counteract the tendency of cement slurries to lose the

water that the slurries need to help achieve a good cement job.

8. Because cements with dispersers added can be pumped in turbulent flow at lower pressures, you can
reduce the __________________ required.

9. The path of gas migration is __________________ and exists even after the cement has fully
hardened.

10. _________________________ can help prevent shale sections from sloughing or heaving during
cementing.

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Answers to Unit Quizzes

Items from Unit A Quiz Refer to
Page
1. A, B, C, G, H 3-3
2. G, H 3-3
3. higher 3-4
4. primary cementing 3-4
5. clinker, gypsum 3-4
6. proportions 3-4
7. fineness of grind 3-4

Items from Unit B Quiz Refer to

Page
1. water ratio 3-6
2. Red Book 3-6
3. too little water 3-6
4. actual well 3-7
5. drilling fluid (or mud additives) 3-8
6. gel strength, pumping 3-7
7. rule of thumb (or generally 3-7
accepted rule)
8. WOC 3-8

Items from Unit C Quiz Refer to

Page
1. liquids, free-flowing powders. 3-10
2. thickening time 3-10
3. Bentonite 3-10
4. high formation pressures 3-10
5. high temperatures 3-11
6. whole fluid , cement slurry 3-11
7. Fluid loss additives 3-11
8. horsepower 3-12
9. permanent 3-12
10. Salt cements 3-13

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