Strength of Oil Well Cements at Downhole Pressure-Temperature Conditions
Authors: Handin John 
Published: December 2007

Triaxial compression tests with independently applied external confining pressures and internal pore pressures show that the ultimate compressive strengths of representative oil well cements are nearly linear functions of effective pressure the difference between external and internal pressures on the jacketed cylindrical specimens (to 15,000 psi). The strengths are little affected by the test temperature to 350F (not to be confused with the curing temperature). At an effective pressure of 15,000 psi, strengths are in the range of 30,000 to 50,000 psi, comparable to those of sedimentary rocks under similar conditions. The cements become very ductile even under low effective pressures; permanent shortenings of 30 per cent or more are attainable without rupture.

Introduction

Since the pioneering work of Richart, Brandtzaeg and Brown on the failure of cement under combined compressive stresses, it has been recognized that ultimate compressive strength is greatly enhanced by the application of confining pressure. More recently, McHenry showed that the strength of concrete was a linear function of the effective pressure (the difference between the external confining pressure on a jacketed specimen and the internal fluid pore pressure) at least for a range of 0 to 1,500 psi. The effect of temperature had not been investigated, and no previous systematic triaxial compression testing of materials used for oilwell cementing seems to have been done. The present work was suggested by the late J. M. Bugbee who stated that "consideration of the common application of high-pressure hydraulic fracturing to the initial completion or recompletion of wells, and the large pressure drawdowns in some producing wells, particularly those in abnormally high-pressure gas-condensate reservoirs, raises the question of what is a suitable cement strength for various completions. The intuitive belief exists that cement strength need be no greater than formation strength. Tests should, however, be conducted at downhole conditions."The ultimate compressive strengths of rocks penetrated by the borehole must rise several fold with increasing depth. This marked enhancement of strength is due to the influence of the effective pressure, the total weight per unit area of the overburden less the hydrostatic pore pressure. (The effect of temperature due to the geothermal gradients is relatively small for depths to 30,000 ft.) A significant comparison of the strengths of rocks and cements at downhole conditions requires knowledge of the confined compressive strengths of cements as well.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

The theory and technique of triaxial compression testing are fully discussed in earlier reports. Briefly, cylindrical specimens 1-in. long and 0.5-in. in diameter are jacketed in thin copper tubes of negligible strength, placed in the test chamber and subjected to an external confining pressure of kerosene and loaded axially by the piston at a strain rate of 1 per cent per minute. Pore pressures of water (or kerosene) are applied independently through the hollow piston and are maintained constant during the shortening of the specimen. Tests at sensibly 0 pore pressure are arranged so that any free water in the cement can escape to the atmosphere. (If egress of water were denied, pore pressure would rapidly attain the value of the external confining pressure because of reduction of pore space.) The test chamber can be heated for high-temperature experiments. Unless other-wise noted, the cement samples were air dried for about a week. Recorded during a test are pore and confining pressures, shortening and axial differential force (total force less the product of the confining pressure and the area of the piston).

SPEJ

P. 341ˆ