Paper: Ashok Santra, B.R. Reddy and Anthony V. Palmer, Halliburton Energy Services

It can be beneficial to store generic cement slurries whose set times have been delayed for weeks, then modify the bulk slurry properties, such as density, and activate them just prior to conducting the cementing job. Such technology offers distinct advantages in situations when the storage space is at premium or bulk blending facilities are not located close to the job site. Even though this technology has been around for about two decades, implementation of the technology has been plagued with problems of slurry gelation during storage, settling, free water development and unpredictable activation. This investigation discusses details of improvements to the compositions and the processes which render the technology amenable to implementation in a wide variety of applications. The slurries are designed to provide stable rheology up to four-weeks by manipulating the particle size distributions. The versatility in slurry design to meet cementing requirements for a variety of well conditions will be demonstrated.