ANALYSIS OF CEMENT SHEATH INTEGRITY TEST DURING THERMAL CYCLING

A Research proposal

Presented to the Faculty of the Petroleum Engineering

College of Engineering, Architecture and Fine Arts

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Gov. Pablo Borbon Main Campus II

Alangilan, Batangas City

By

ARCILLAS, SAMMYJOE R.

ENRIQUEZ, BRENAN IAN B.

VILLENA, MARNELLE YZAVEL M.

November 2020
 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

In the present circumstances, petroleum is used extensively. Having said that,

the oil and gas industry needs to cope with the increasing demand of petroleum

products by ensuring the production rate to not deplete. Production of petroleum

commonly called as crude oil or hydrocarbons encompasses a part of the upstream

activities. This is the stage where hydrocarbons found beneath the Earth’s surface are

extracted and production are maximized in a cost-effective manner.

Petroleum exploration which is also a part of upstream activities in oil and gas

industry, should be accomplished in preparation for the recovery of hydrocarbons.

Exploration includes searching of hydrocarbons and exploration of potential and

probable reserves. Production of oil well begins if it is determined to be potentially

viable reserve and enough to produce and sell commercially.

Well completion includes the steps in transforming a drilled well into

commercially producing one. Well completion encompasses various steps which are

casing, cementing, perforating, gravel packing, and installing a production tree. Cement

slurry together with special additives are pumped into the well to seal the space

between the casing and the actual sides of the drilled well and as well as to remove

existing drilling fluids. Cementing also gives aid in permanently orienting the casing into

place. In completion of well, cementation is a significant phase wherein cement sheath

as one of well barrier elements provide isolation of well stream from non-hydrocarbons.
 As mentioned previously, increasing demand implies need in increase

production. With that heavy production of oil that comes from exploiting reserves in

longer period results to have effect in the integrity of cement sheath. Maintaining the

integrity of the well is the unfavorably consequence affecting the economic production of

a well.

Under the circumstances of events and conditions during cementing operations

or in response to physical and/or chemical changes after cementing, the cement sheath

itself can be damaged. For instances are changes in temperature and internal casing

pressures, deterioration of the cement during construction, production, or during and

after plugging and abandonment (Ravi et al., 2002; Nygaard et al., 2011).

Whilst drilling continuously for normal production, temperature variations which

are stimulations, steam injection, and shutdown periods are associated with it. These

variations may cause a damage in the cement sheath integrity. Thermal cycling which

means temperature that increases and decreases at some point in time makes the

casing to contract or expand. That occurrence produces cracking and debonding of the

cement sheath and consequently result to loss of complete zonal isolation and leakage

pathways may develop. In that event, leakage pathways may still develop even if a

wellbore has complete cement fluid displacement and the cement sheath covering the

full annulus. Leakage pathways can be placed into two categories: primary and

secondary (Weideman, 2014).

The primary leakage pathways are generated during the cementing job are

These pathways comprises of: An incomplete annular cementing job that does not

reach the seal layer (Bois et al., 2011); A lack of cement plug or permanent packer
(Watson and Bachu, 2009); Poor cement bonding caused by mudcake (Bois et al.,

2011); Channeling in the cement (Nelson and Guillot, 2006). In the other hand,

secondary leakage pathways occur later after the cement job is complete. These

pathways are: Debonding due to tensile stress on the casing/cement and cement/rock

interfaces (Bois et al., 2012); Fractures in the cement and/or rock formation (Bois et al.,

2012); Chemical dissolution and carbonation of the cement (Nygaard et al., 2011); and

Wear or corrosion of the casing (Watson and Bachu, 2009; Nygaard et al., 2011).

The eventuality of integrity loss due to thermal cycling requires development of

more thorough analysis in order to guarantee the integrity of the cement sheath. In this

study, preparatory tests using laboratory set-up is maneuvered for the evaluation of

cement sheath integrity for a long-term production, and to analyze the potential failure

mechanisms of cement sheath in the well caused by thermal loads.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective the study is to formulate a new and developed approach of

evaluating the integrity of cement sheath during thermal cycling. Specifically, the study

aims to:

1. Study the effect of thermal cycling on cement sheath integrity under harsh

geopressured geothermal reservoir conditions.

2. Conduct experiments to qualify and quantify the behavior of different cement

design in geopressured and geothermal environments.

2.1.1. Grain Volume Porosimeter

2.1.2.  Liquid Pressure-pulse Decay Permeameter 

2.2. For studying physical and chemical changes.

2.2.1. Scanning Electron Microscopy micrographs with Energy

Dispersive Spectroscopy capabilities

2.2.2. Thermogravimetric analysis

2.2.3. X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy 

3. Develop a mechanical model which exhibits detailed information about the

following:

3.1. Size of sheath

3.2. Geometry of sheath

3.3. Location of failure (cracks)

3.4. Deboned volumes in the sheath

4. Evaluate the properties of the tested cement in order to determine its

performance in terms of the:

4.1. Setting Time

4.2. Compressive strength

5. Evaluate the reliability of the developed model by comparing the actual and

predicted values using the following statistical tools:

5.1. Multiple R – Correlation

5.3. Standard Error of the Estimates

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Cement is one of the components used to ensure the integrity and stability of the

wellbore. The cement sheath integrity evaluation will give a background about the

properties of the cement and the surrounding reservoir environment which is very

significant in forming strategies on how to increase the integrity of the whole wellbore.

This study will serve as an additional source of information in building the concept of the

most suitable type of cement to be utilized in different geothermal and geopressured

conditions.

To the Department of Energy and Philippine National Oil Company, the result of

this study will serve as an additional reference for future studies concerning drill casing

techniques.

To the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the result of this

study will be an effective basis of procedures to lessen the possibility of the occurrence

of rig failure that might cause oil spill.

To private petroleum companies, the study will help in establishing a cementing

strategy for safe and economic hydrocarbon exploration and production.

additional knowledge and references for future researches in the field of Petroleum

Industry and in general studies.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study focuses on the Analysis of cement sheath integrity test during thermal
cycling. In order to obtain detailed 3D information on the size, geometry, and location of
the cracks and deboned volumes in the cement sheath, CT scanning is applied for initial
and post-cycling sample analysis. To investigate the effect of a single thermal cycle or
consecutive cycles on cement-sheath failures, the samples are taken to room
temperature in order to create well-known and uniform temperature distributions for CT
scanning.

In this study, temperature has not been experimentally monitored at the cement
sheath. However, numerical simulations of transient heat transfer have been performed
to estimate the temperature changes through the sample. In the calculations, heat
transfer from the thermal platform to the copper rod and then toward the sample and all
cell components has been considered. Heat transfer was estimated as a conduction
process among all the constituents of the test, including the oil film and nitrogen gas, in
order to reduce the complexity of the transient model. Heat convection from the system
to the surrounding environment was also considered.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
 The researchers used the Input-Process-Output model also called as IPO model

in this study to outline the courses of action that focuses in analyzing the cement sheath

integrity during thermal cycling.

Using the Input-Process-Output model, the researchers are able to define their

study philosophically and analytically and show the analysis of the result through

graphical method.

In the input stage, information such as the temperature, type of cement used,

size and geometry of sheath, location of failure or cracks, and deboned volumes in the

sheath should be indicated.

The process stage provides the steps in order to proceed with the cement sheath

integrity testing. The cement sheath is prepared in the copper rod allowing it to set with

specific duration. Application of heat is done in the copper rod then towards the cement

sheath sample under specified temperature. Cracking and debonding will then occur in

the cement sheath and the analysis of the result is required.

The reliability of the actual and predicted values in testing the cement sheath

integrity using developed model is shown and analyzed graphically.

Knowledge Requirements
 Temperature
 Cement
 Size and geometry of
sheath, Location of
failure, Deboned
volumes in the sheath
Preparation of the
Hardware Requirement
cement sheath in the
 Grain Volume Graphical analysis
copper rod.
Porosimeter to show the
 Liquid Pressure-Pulse reliability of the
Decay Permeameter Application of heat in
developed model by
 X-ray Computed the copper rod and
comparing the
Tomography towards to the
actual and predicted
 Computational Fluid sample.
values in testing the
Dynamics Software
integrity of cement
Technical Requirement Analysis of cracking
 Scanning Electron sheath during
and debonding in the
Microscopy thermal cycle
cement sheath.
Micrographs with
Energy Dispersive
Spectroscopy
Capabilities
 Thermogravimetric
Analysis
 X-Ray Photoelectron
Spectroscopy

Figure 1. Research Paradigm of the Study

Annulus -The space between two concentric objects, such as between the wellbore
and casing or between casing and tubing, where fluid can flow. Pipe may consist of drill
collars, drillpipe, casing, or tubing.

Cementing - Cementing is the process of mixing a slurry of cement, cement additives

Cement sheath- Cement sheath is responsible for providing a complete zonal isolation.
During the wellbore lifetime, a cement sheath is subjected to pressure loading
variations.

Cracking- In the context of refining, cracking is breaking longer chain hydrocarbon

Debonding

Hydrocarbons- A hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting of only hydrogen

Mud cake- The filter cake on the formation formed by dehydration of the solids as the
liquid part of the mud (filtrate) leaks off into the formation.

Thermal cycling- Thermal cycling is a natural feature of almost all applications of

Wellbore- A wellbore is a hole that is drilled to aid in the exploration and recovery of
natural resources, including oil, gas, or water. A wellbore is the actual hole that forms
the well. A wellbore can be encased by materials such as steel and cement, or it may
be uncased.