Patent ID: 10570329

Abstract:
Engineering bead slurries may be useful in producing lightweight cement slurries for use in subterranean cementing operations. For example, a method may include engineering a bead slurry to have a shelf-life of about 1 month or greater by performing at least one of (1) calculating the shelf-life for the bead slurry and (2) calculating a minimum yield point required to prevent a lightweight bead of the bead slurry from floating or settling in the bead slurry; wherein the bead slurry comprises a gelled base fluid and a plurality of lightweight beads having a specific gravity of about 0.8 or less; producing the bead slurry; mixing the bead slurry and a cement slurry to yield a lightweight cement slurry; introducing the lightweight cement slurry into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and allowing the lightweight cement slurry to set therein.