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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #405893
Research Project: Development of a Monitoring Network, Engineering Tools, and Guidelines for the Design, Analysis, and Rehabilitation of Embankment Dams, Hydraulic Structures, and Channels

Location: Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit

Title: Evaluation of nanoparticle effect on heavy and light wellbore cement slurries.

Author
item KJELDAL, VIGLEIK - Oklahoma State University
item Wise, Jarrett
item HARELAND, GEIR - Oklahoma State University
item AL DUSHAISHI, MOHAMMED - Oklahoma State University

Submitted to: Cement
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/18/2024
Publication Date: 4/27/2024
Citation: Kjeldal, V.N., Wise, J.L., Hareland, G., Al Dushaishi, M. 2024. Evaluation of nanoparticle effect on heavy and light wellbore cement slurries. Cement. 16. Article 100100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cement.2024.100100.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cement.2024.100100

Interpretive Summary: Cement is fundamental in oilwell construction from providing structural integrity to acting as a primary fluid barrier. Different additives have been used to enhance the properties of the cement. Nanoparticles, i.e., additives ground to microscopic levels, have shown to improve fluids used in oil and gas wells, but have not been tested with cement. The objective of this paper is to study the effect of using nanoparticles in regard to the fluid properties of cement. The results show that the use of nanoparticles increased the curing time and shear stress of the heavy cement mixture while there was little change for the light cement mixture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Technical Abstract: Cementing around the casing in oil and gas wellbores provides multiple benefits such as proper zonal isolation, casing support, and prevention of fluid migration. Wellbore cement is an important part of the completing process and wellbore plugging for abandonment. However, wellbore cement has some drawbacks that can lead to micro-annuli formation or loss of zonal isolation. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been shown to improve the characteristics of wellbore drilling fluids but have not been used extensively in cement. The objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of NPs’ concentration on wellbore cement characteristics such as thickening time, rheology, and fluid loss properties. Nanoparticle barite and magnetite were added to heavy cement and bentonite was added to light cement all in intervals of 1, 3, and 5% by weight of cement to test the resulting cement characteristics. The results showed that the thickening time increased for all concentrations of nanoparticles, except for the 5% magnetite. The shear stress of the heavy cement increased for all concentrations of nanoparticles, while there was an insignificant change for the light cement. Plastic viscosity decreased for all concentrations of nanoparticles, except for 1% magnetite. Fluid loss generally decreased by increasing nanoparticle concentrations for both heavy and light cement. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.