Design and application of cement-based composite grouting material for high-temperature water plugging

A novel cement-based grouting (CBG) material, designed for high-temperature water plugging, was developed and optimized through a Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The study investigated the effects of varying sulfoaluminate cement (SAC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), calcium lignosulfonate (CLS), and polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) on key performance indicators, including fluidity, bleeding rate, gel time, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), and flexural strength (FS). The results indicate that SAC content significantly influenced the grouting material’s properties, enhancing early strength but reducing long-term performance due to hydration-induced stresses. HPMC demonstrated the greatest impact on fluidity, while PCE and CLS contributed to improved strength and water retention. Multi-objective optimization based on field requirements identified the optimal formulation as 12.5 % SAC, 0.3 % CLS, 0.1 % HPMC, and 0.9 % PCE. The optimized material demonstrated superior performance in high-temperature water environments, exhibiting a diffusion radius of over 1.5 m and a compressive strength of 0.44 MPa at the diffusion boundary. The findings validate the applicability of CBG for high-temperature water plugging, offering valuable insights into the optimization of CBG materials under complex conditions.