Title: Mud conversion well cementing technology: comparative study of the use of electric arc furnace slag and blast furnace slag

Authors: Gonzalo Márquez Martínez; Juan Jesús Martin Del Río; Fco. Javier Alejandre Sánchez; Francisco Javier Blasco Lopez; Erika Lorenzo García; Maria Rosalia Bencomo; Vicente Flores Alés

Addresses: Department of Mining, Mechanical and Energetic Engineering, University of Huelva, Palos de Fra., 21819 Huelva, Spain ' Department of Architectonic Constructions II, University of Seville, Reina Mercedes 4, 41012 Sevilla, Spain ' Department of Architectonic Constructions II, University of Seville, Reina Mercedes 4, 41012 Sevilla, Spain ' Department of Architectonic Constructions II, University of Seville, Reina Mercedes 4, 41012 Sevilla, Spain ' Department of Mining, Mechanical and Energetic Engineering, University of Huelva, Palos de Fra., 21819 Huelva, Spain ' School of Environmental Engineering, Experimental University of Caribbe, Catia La Mar, Vargas, 1160, Venezuela ' Department of Architectonic Constructions II, University of Seville, Reina Mercedes 4, 41012 Sevilla, Spain

Abstract: The mud-to-cement conversion or 'slag-mix' technology displays several advantages when compared to conventional well cementing operations. This alternative method means to combine drilling fluids, accelerators, and finely granulated slag as the hydraulic material. This work compares the use of two slag-mix systems containing an amorphous electric arc furnace slag and a vitrified blast furnace slag, respectively, during well cementing operations in the Amana field near Maracaibo. It can be concluded that low iron electric arc furnace slag may be suitable to be used in the application of the mentioned-above technology, although providing lower values of early compressive strength than the blast furnace slag. Nevertheless, slag-mud slurries containing electric arc furnace slag are more advantageous for well cementing when a low fracture gradient is predicted. [Received: December 2, 2014; Accepted: May 2, 2015]

Keywords: electric arc furnace slag; EAFS; blast furnace slag; BFS; slag-mud slurry; API class B cement; Amana oilwells; mud conversion well cementing; mud-to-cement conversion; slag mix technology; drilling fluids; accelerators; finely granulated slag; hydraulic material; oil industry; Venezuela; compressive strength; fracture gradient.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2015.072115

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2015 Vol.10 No.4, pp.359 - 368

Received: 11 Dec 2014
Accepted: 02 May 2015

Published online: 30 Sep 2015 *

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