The Perlite Usage in High Density Oil-Well Cement

ABSTRACT: Well cementing is an essential process for well stability, involving the pumping of cement slurry into the annulus between casing and formation. This prevents fluid movement and provides support for the casing. Therefore, various additives are employed in cement design to meet downhole specifications. In this paper, experimental work has been performed to study the possibility of using perlite as an additive to improve the properties of high-density cement. Base cement sample (without perlite) and perlite cement sample (with 4% by weight of cement of perlite) were prepared under high pressure and high temperature to examine their effect on the oil-well cement properties such as compressive strength, viscosity, permeability, and particles settling. The findings demonstrated a significant enhancement in oil-well cement properties with the addition of perlite. Integrating perlite into the cement composition increased its strength, leading to an 88% improvement in compressive strength compared to the base cement. The inclusion of perlite particles resulted in a 30% reduction in the viscosity. Furthermore, the addition of perlite decreased the cement permeability by 66%. Additionally, perlite effectively minimized the particles settling along the cement column to a minimal percentage of 0.1%. 1. INTRODUCTION The global economy is significantly influenced by the oil and gas industry, which plays a crucial role in meeting the increasing energy demands associated with a growing population. Predictions suggest a nearly 50% rise in global energy consumption by 2040 (Goraya et al., 2019). To enhance oil production, advanced technologies like deeper drilling and extended-reach multi-lateral wells are deemed necessary (Kumar et al., 2022). In the oil industry, well cementing is a crucial operation to maintain the stability of the wellbore during drilling operations or production periods. Well cementing emerges as a pivotal operation in the oil industry, ensuring wellbore stability during drilling and production. The cementing process involves placing cement slurry downhole in the annulus between the formation and casing (Ahmed et al., 2009; Nelson Newlove et al., 1987). Well cement serves various functions, including preventing fluid movement, sealing lost circulation zones, supporting casing, absorbing shocks during drilling, isolating water or gas production zones, and sealing abandoned wells that are no longer economically viable (Mahmoud et al., 2019).