Patent ID: 6910535

Claim:
A method for enhancing the stability of a water sensitive, reactive subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a subterranean formation sample from the targeted formation or a formation of similar composition; b) placing the sample under a confining pressure; c) applying back-pressure to the sample; d) consolidating the sample by maintaining the confining pressure while releasing the back-pressure from the sample; e) applying upstream pressure to the sample while monitoring the downstream pressure exerted by the sample; f) removing the upstream pressure once the downstream pressure has increased by at least 50 percent; g) allowing the upstream and downstream pressures to approximately equilibrate; h) using a cementing fluid to apply upstream pressure to the sample; i) monitoring and measuring the change in downstream pressure versus upstream pressure in response to the application of upstream pressure by the cementing fluid; and, j) adjusting water activity of the cementing fluid in response- to the change in downstream pressure.