Evaluation of blended lime-stabilised spent synthetic-based drilling mud and cement for oil well cementing operations

Abstract

Most current oil and gas wells are drilled with synthetic-based muds. During drilling, two types of wastes: spent muds and drilled cuttings, are generally generated. Several methods are used in the treatment of these wastes. However, after treatment of these wastes, they are disposed into the environment. Although they seem to be environmentally friendly, greater accumulation may degrade the environment. Nonetheless, some additives used in cement slurry formulation are also present in most of the spent drilling muds, therefore they could be stabilised for reuse in oil and gas wells cementing operations. In recent times, lime is used to stabilise spent synthetic-based drilling mud before disposal or for further treatment. These lime-stabilised muds find use as feedstock of cement kiln, raw material for the production of construction material and wetland restoration materials. This research studies the performance of blended lime-stabilised drilling mud and cement at varied concentrations for oil and gas wells cementing operations. The cement was blended with lime-stabilised mud with concentrations from 0% to 100% at a step of 10% and their properties evaluated. Slurry properties like density, free fluid, rheology and compressive strength results obtained showed that these properties decreased with the increase in percentage blend of the lime-stabilised spent synthetic-based mud. However, it was observed that concentrations of 10% and 20% blends of lime-stabilised mud with cement performed better with good potential to be considered in minor cementing works by the industry to help reduce the cost of waste management.

Cited as: Amorin, R., Opoku Appau, P., Osei, E. Evaluation of blended lime-stabilised spent synthetic-based drilling mud and cement for oil well cementing operations. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2019, 3(2): 141-148, doi: 10.26804/ager.2019.02.03

References

Abbas, G., Irawan, S., Kumar, S., et al. Characteristics of oil well cement slurry using hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. J. Appl. Sci. 2014, 14(11): 1154-1160.

Alp, B., Akin, S. Utilization of supplementary cementitious materials in geothermal well cementing. Proceedings of Thirty-Eighth Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, 2013, 1-7.

Amani, M., Al-Jubouri, M., Shadravan, A. Comparative study of using oil-based mud versus water-based mud in HPHT fields. Adv. Pet. Explor. Dev. 2012, 4(2): 18-27.

Ball, A.S., Stewart, R.J., Schliephake, K. A review of the current options for the treatment and safe disposal of drill cuttings. Waste Manage. Res. 2012, 30(5): 457-473.

Barnes, G.R., Hartley, D. Onsite treatment of oily drilling waste in remote areas. Paper AADE-05-NTCE-64 Pre-sented at the AADE 2005 National Technical Conference and Exhibition, Wyndam Greenspoint, Houston, Texas, USA, 5-7 April, 2005.

Bermudez, M. Effect of sugar on the thickening time of cement slurries. Paper SPE113024-STU Presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference Exhibition, Anaheim California, USA, 11-14 November, 2007.

Bett, E.K. Geothermal well cementing, materials and place-ment techniques. Geoth. Trai. Programme 2011, 99-130.

Boniface, O.A., Appah, D. Analysis of nigerian local cement for slurry design in oil and gas well cementation. Acad. Res. Int. 2014, 5(4): 176-181.

Broni-Bediako, E. Drilling Engineering. Tarkwa, University of Mines and Technology, 2015.

Broni-Bediako, E., Joel, O.F., Ofori-Sarpong, G. Oil well cement additives: A review of the common types. Oil Gas Res. 2016, 2(1): 1-7.

Caenn, R., Darley, H.C.H., Gray, G.R. Composition and Properties of Drilling and Completion Fluids. Houston, Texas, Gulf Publishing Company, 2011.

Chaineau, C.H., Vidalie, J.F., Geneste, P., et al. Bioremediation of crude oil polluted clay soil in a temperature zone. Paper SPE 61282 Presented at the SPE International Conference on Health, Safety, and the Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Stavanger, Norway, 26-28 June, 2000.

Coruh, S., Elevli, S., Ergun, O.N., et al. Assessment of leaching characteristics of heavy metals from industrial leach waste. Int. J. Miner. Process. 2013, 123: 165-171.

Crook, R. Cementing, in Petroleum Engineering Handbook Volume II Drilling Engineering, edited by L.W. Lake and R.F. Mitchell, Richardson, Texas, pp. 369-432, 2006.

Dankwa, O.K., Opoku Appau, P., Broni-Bediako, E. Evaluat-ing the effects of monovalent and divalent salts on the rheological properties of water based mud. The Open Pet. Eng. J. 2018b, 11(1): 98-106.

Dankwa, O.K., Opoku Appau, P., Tampuri, M. Performance evaluation of local cassava starch flour as a secondary viscosifier and fluid loss agent in water based drilling mud. Ghana Min. J. 2018a, 18(2): 68-76.

Dhiman, A.S. Rheological properties & corrosion charac-teristics of drilling mud additives. Halifax, Dalhousie University, 2012.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Effluent limitations guidelines and new source performance standards for the oil and gas extraction point source category. OMB Approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act: Technical Amendment, Part IV. 40 CFR Part 9 and 435, Federal Register, 2001, 66(14): 6850-6919.

Hamed, S.B., Belhadri. M. Rheological properties of biopoly-mers drilling fluids. J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 2009, 67(3-4): 84-90.

Hodne, H. Rheological performance of cementitious materials used in well cementing. Stavanger, University of Stavanger, 2017.

Holmes, S. An introduction to building limes. United Kingdom, Manchester University, 2012.

Hossain, M.E., Al-Majed, A.A. Fundamentals of Sustainable Drilling Engineering. New Jersey, USA, John Wiley & Sons, 2015.

Huwel, J.P.E., Faustino, V., Roberts, R. Cement compressive strength development drastically affected by testing procedure. Paper AADE-14-FTCE-22 Presented at the 2014 AADE Fluids Technical Conference and Exhibition held at the Hilton Houston North Hotel, Houston, Texas, USA, 15-16 April, 2014.

Joel, O.F. The secondary effects of lignosulfonate cement retarder on cement slurry properties. ARPN J. Eng. Appl. Sci. 2009, 4(9): 1-7.

Kechouane, Z., Nechnech, A. Characterization of an expansive clay treated with lime: Effect of compaction on the swelling pressure. AIP Conf. Proc. 2014, 1653(1): 020057 Kenny, M., Oates, T. Lime and limestone, In KirkOthmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, (Ed.). New Jersey, USA, John Wiley & Sons, 2007.

Kyrilis, E. Fly ash-based geopolymer cement as an alternative to ordinary portland cement in oil well cementing operation. Aalborg, Aalborg University, 2016.

Labibzadeh, M., Zahabizadeh, B., Khajehdezfuly, A. Early-age compressive strength assessment of oil well class G cement due to borehole pressure and temperature changes. J. Am. Sci. 2010, 6(7): 38-47.

Nasser, J., Jesil, A., Mohiuddin, T., et al. Experimental inves-tigation of drilling fluid performance as nanoparticles. World J. Nano Sci. Eng. 2013, 3(3): 57-61.

Neff, J.M., McKelvie, S., Ayers Jr., R.C. Environmental impacts of synthetic based drilling fluids. New Orleans, Report prepared for MMS by Robert Ayers & Associates, U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 2000.

Nelson, E.B., Guillot, D. Well cementing. Texas, USA, Schlumberger, 2006.

Normann, S. Free water in cement slurry: why is it critical? Oghenejoboh, K.M., Ohimor, E.O., Olayebi, O. Application of re-refined used lubricating oil as base oil for the formulation of oil based drilling mud-a comparative study. J. Pet. Technol. Altern. Fuels 2013, 4(4): 78-84.

Onwukwe, S.I., Nwakwadu, M.S. Drilling wastes generation and management approach. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Dev. 2012, 3(3): 252-257.

Piklowska, A. Cement slurries used in drilling-types, proper-ties, application. World Sci. News 2017, 76: 149-165.

Roshan, R., Asef, M.R. Characteristics of oil well cement slurry using CMC. SPE Drill. Completion 2010, 25: 328-335.

Sasanian, S. The behaviour of cement stabilized clay at high water contents. London, The University of Western Ontario, 2011.

Shadizadeh, S.R., Kholghi, M., Kassaei, M.H. Experimental investigation of silica fume as a cement extender for liner cementing in Iranian Oil/Gas Wells. Iran. J. Chem. Eng. 2010, 7: 42-66.

Shahriar, A. Investigation on rheology of oil well cement slurries. London, The University of Western Ontario, 2011.

Shah, S.N., Shanker, N.H., Ogugbue, C.C. Future challenges of drilling fluids and their rheological measurements. Paper AADE-10-DF-HO-41 Presented at the 2010 AADE Fluids Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Texas, USA, 6-7 April, 2010.

Sharif, M.D.A., Nagalakshmi, N.V.R., Redd, S.S., et al. Drilling waste management and control the effects. J. Adv. Chem. Eng. 2017, 7: 166.

Tuncan, A., Tuncan, M., Koyuncu, H. Use of petroleum-contaminated drilling wastes as sub-base material for road construction. Waste Manage. Res. 2000, 18: 489-505.

Yadav, S.N., Singh, R.N. Effect of diesel oil, sodium oleate and hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) as retarders on hydration of lime. Univers. J. Appl. Sci. 2015, 3(2): 13-16.