Patent ID: 6918292

Claim:
A method of measuring volumetric changes in cement as the cement is exposed to a given pressure and temperature in a high-pressure high-temperature chamber, comprising: providing a mold having a first section adjacent a base, the first section functionally associated with a first anchor block; a second section functionally associated with the first section, the second section adjacent the base, the first section, the second section, and the base defining the mold into which a measurable amount of cement may be placed, the second section functionally associated with a second anchor block; and a sensor adapted to measure the movement of the first and second sections relative to each other in response to volumetric changes in the cement when the cement is exposed to simulated down-hole pressures and temperatures, the first anchor block being adapted to move with respect to the first section and the second anchor block adapted to move with respect to the second section in response to volumetric changes of the cement; filling the mold with cement; placing the mold into the high-pressure high-temperature chamber; raising the pressure to a given value and the temperature to a given value; changing the pressure to other given values and the temperature to other given values; and recording data from the sensor over time.