University of Karbala

College of Engineering
Third Stage

Cement slurry density test

By: Mohammed Ahmed Hussien
& Karrar Heidar sarhan
& Saqer Sameer Jassim

Supervisor: Mustafa Mahmood

● Objective

Determine density of cement slurry and Show the effect of

adding barite and bentonite to slurry on its density.

● Introduction

The cement slurry system has a low compressive strength, slow

development, and poor cementation quality at the second
interface and other problems caused by the high porosity, poor
cementation degree, and low temperature of the unconsolidated
sandstone stratum in the offshore oilfield . High-performance,
high-quality lightening admixtures (such as glass beads) and
additives are always used to improve the well cementing
quality and ensure the safe construction of the oil field, which
also results in a substantial increase in the cost of well
cementing; additionally, due to low oil prices, methods that
reduce the cost of well cementing are urgently needed.
Three relatively mature technologies exist for the preparation
of a low-density cement slurry:
(1) Increasing the liquid-to-solid ratio by adding viscous, solid
inorganic substances, organic high-water-absorbent materials,
and lightweight fillers, such as bentonite, diatomaceous earth,
and expanded perlite
(2) Adding glass beads and other similar materials to replace
some of the cement based on the lower density of the material
itself to reduce the density, such as fly ash, floating beads, glass
beads, ceramic beads, and other materials
(3) Using foam cement in which a gas, typically nitrogen, is
mechanically or chemically charged into the cement to reduce
the density of the cement slurry system .

The density of the general low-density system has a minimum

limit. For example, the minimum densities of bentonite,
diatomaceous earth, fly ash, and floating bead cement slurries
are 1.60 g/cm3, 1.50 g/cm3, 1.55 g/cm3, and 1.38 g/cm3,
respectively; if these values are reduced, the cement slurry
displays poor performance, particularly the compressive
strength . Currently, the use of microbeads as a lightening
admixture in China’s offshore oilfields meets the well
cementing requirements, but the cost is too high. Using fly ash,
bentonite, and slag as lightening admixtures, the cost will be
greatly reduced, but the cement slurry will exhibit poor
stability, low compressive strength, and other shortcomings and
might not even meet the well cementing requirements.
From the perspective of material science, the low-density
cement slurry system is a mixture of oil well cement,
admixture, and additive. From the perspective of oil and gas
well engineering, the system must be able to withstand the test
of complex downhole working conditions, and the performance
of the system, such as the density, rheological property, and
stability, must meet the needs of the cementing operation and
subsequent links. The admixture of mineral material, system
compactness, and additive are the main factors affecting the
performance of the low-density cement slurry system. The
three factors influence each other and are inseparable. Mineral
materials exert substantial effects on the density, rheological
property, and strength of a cement slurry system . An increase
in the compactness of cement slurry system is conducive to
improving the solid phase content per unit volume of the
system, thus increasing the strength. The additive is mainly
used to maintain the stability of cement slurry system, control
water loss, and adjust the thickening time. Therefore, the three
main factors that affect the performance of cement, namely, the
mineral material, densities of accumulation, and additive, must
be grasped and a high-performance low-density cement slurry
system must be constructed through systematic research to
solve the problems associated with the scientific design and
application of a low-density cement slurry.
Therefore, the authors developed a new low-density mixed
material suitable for an offshore shallow unconsolidated
stratum through a compound study of traditional lightening
admixtures, active materials, and high-performance materials
based on the principle of the particle size distribution.
● Description
A device to measure density (weight) of a mud, cement or other
liquid or slurry under sufficient pressure that the effect of gas
bubbles in the liquid is eliminated. The balance consists of a
fixed volume mud cup on one end of a graduated beam and a
counterweight on the other end. The beam has a knife-edge as a
balance point and a bubble to show when it is level. The mud
cup has a screw-on, sealed cap with a valve in the cap to allow
connection of a small piston-type hand pump. Operation of the
pressurized balance is identical to an ordinary mud balance
after pressurization.

Tools in list:-
- Balance beam - Tare Adjustment Stop
- Bubble level - Sliding Weight
- Carrying Case - Plunger
- Cup - Lid
● Theory

Slurry density:
Use a pressurized mud balance (even on location). Slurries tend
to entrap air and the determination of their density with non-
pressurized mud balances could lead to severe miss-readings.

Compressive strength:
it could be measured by crushing cube molds with a press, but
a more widely non-destructive method is the use of an
apparatus that correlates compressive strength to soundwave
transit time. The machine is known as UCA "Ultrasonic
Cement Analyzer." This property is the key for "Waiting-on-
cement" time determination. The drilling team will need to wait
till the slurry develop some strength before they can resume
well operations.

Compressed clay balance:

It is a device for measuring the temperature and weighing the
clay or other liquid or slurry under sufficient pressure to
eliminate the effect of gas bubbles in the liquid.
The uniform shape of a mud cup of fixed size on one end of the
beam and a counterweight on the other end. The crossbar has a
knife edge as an edge point to show when it is flat. Clay cup in
the glass cover. Operation of a pressurized balance
corresponding to a normal slurry balance after compression
● Procedure

▪ Cement slurry must be prepared by mixing an amount of

water with the cement in a ratio of 0.46(0.46 cc of water
+100gm dry cement).
▪ After preparing the cement slurry, we use a mud balance
device.
▪ We pour the cup with cement slurry and then close the cup
tightly.
▪ We pull a lot of cement through the plunger and press the
valve down and press the cement in The cup then raise the
valve so that no amount of cement comes out.
▪We put the device in a horizontal position (fixed) and then
move the sliding weight to the point of reaching the accurate
reading (when the bubble reading is in the middle) .
▪ In order to release the pressure until the equipment is
damaged by installing a plunger on The valve opens and we
open the valve (we bring the valve down) and draw out a
quantity of cement, thus reducing the pressure.
▪ Add 50 gm of barite to sample of step 1 and measure the
density of it.
▪ Add 50 gm of bentonite to sample of step 1 and measure the
density of it. Report these reading in table and discuss the
results.
● Homework

Q / What is the effect of bentonite and barite on cement?

Adding bentonite causes an increase in the viscosity of the
cement slurry and thus increases the density of the cement
slurry, in addition to the role of bentonite in reducing the
specific weight of the cement fluid.
As a result of its absorption of a large amount of water and its
increase in volume, and thus the cost of cement decreases, it
leads It forms a cement stone that is more flexible and non-
crack able upon perforation.
- Addition of barite causes increase the density of the cement
slurry. Barite is the most widely used weighting material for
drilling mud; however, it is rarely used in cement slurries due
to its high water requirements, which results in reduced
compressive strength.
- Adding barite to cement slurry increases the density of the
slurry by a greater percentage than it does if bentonite is added.
● Discussion

Q/ What is cement slurry?

Cement slurry is a mixed liquid that is composed of cement,
water, and various chemical additives and has a certain density.
No matter which cementing method is used, cement slurry
contacts certainly with the oil and gas reservoir.
Q/ How do you find slurry density?
The density of the slurry and quartz is 1400 kg/m3 and 2600
kg/m3 respectively. Calculate (a) percent solids by weight and
(b) mass flow rate quartz within slurry. 1364 kg m and
=289kg/hr. If the time to fill the can is 7s,rest everything
remains the same, calculate mass flow rate of quartz in slurry.
Q/ What is concrete slurry used for?
Slurry is a mixture of cement paste, pigment, and water. It is
used to fill in the small air bubbles in the surface of the
concrete. This is especially important in something like a
concrete countertop, because bacteria can get into those holes
and grow.
Q/ What slurry means?
A slurry is a mixture of solids denser than water suspended in
liquid, usually water. The most common use of slurry is as a
means of transporting solids, the liquid being a carrier that is
pumped on a device such as
Q/ What the effect of addition barite?
Addition of barite causes increase the density of the cement
slurry. Barite is the most widely used weighting material for
drilling mud.
Q/ Why it is rarely used barite in cement slurries?
due to its high water requirements, which results in reduced
compressive strength.
Q/ What the effect of adding bentonite?
Adding bentonite causes an increase in the viscosity of the
cement slurry and thus increases the density of the cement
slurry.
Q/ The role of bentonite in reducing the specific weight of the
cement fluid. discussion?
As a result of its absorption of a large amount of water and its
increase in volume, and thus the cost of cement decreases, it
leads It forms a cement stone that is more flexible and non-
crack able upon perforation.
Q/ Why do we need to know the density of cement?
In order to be able to deal with cement during the process of
pumping cement by using special pumps for cementation of
well.
Q/ What causes less water?
It increased the viscosity and increases the density of the
cement and can cause blug flow.
● Reference

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- https://www.petropedia.com/definition/3574/slurry-density
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https://www.fann.com/content/dam/fann/Manuals/Pressurized%20Flui
d%20Balance.pdf