TECHNIQUES FOR MINIMIZING

ANNULAR GAS PROBLEMS

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TECHNIQUES FOR MINIMISING ANNULAR GAS PROBLEMS

In areas where annular gas migration may be a problem, every effort should be made to ensure that good
cementing practices are used and that the slurry is designed with the likely cause.
of gas migration in mind. The automatic use of a gas-block slurry will not solve annular gas problems.
MUD DISPLACEMENT
The best possible mud displacement practices should be used when cementing. In particular,
attention should be paid to:
Mud conditioning (before running casing)
Casing centralisation
Casing movement
Proper choice of spacers and washes
Proper choice of spacer and wash volume (contact time)
Annular flow rates (use a computer simulation)
DENSITY CONTROL
Density differences between the mud, spacer, and cement slurry will affect the hydraulic pressure exerted on the
formation during cement placement. If, during cement placement, the hydrostatic pressure falls below the
formation pressure then gas can enter the well. Any gas entering the well will flow upwards, expanding and
permanently damaging the cement
sheath. The U-tubing that often occurs during cement placement further complicates the pressure analysis.
CEMENT GEL STRENGTH
During and immediately after placement, the cement slurry behaves as a liquid and so fully transfers hydrostatic
pressure. At this point, any reduction in cement slurry volume, through filtrate loss and hydration, will be fully
compensated for by downward movement of the cement slurry. As the cement hydrates, gelation between the
particles in the cement slurry
begins, resulting in shear stresses at the walls of the annulus that eventually become high enough to support the
cement column. The resulting fall in the hydrostatic pressure transmitted by the cement column may allow gas to
enter the annulus and create a migration path. The period from the start of gelation until the slurry is sufficiently
set to prevent gas
percolation is known as the transition time.
Where gas migration is a possible problem short transition time slurries should be used (see below: Right-Angle
Set Cements). Thixotropic and high gel strength slurries can also be effective in certain circumstances.
FLUID LOSS
Loss of fluid from the slurry reduces the slurry volume and may also cause localised rapid hydration of the
cement. Loss of slurry volume lowers the hydrostatic head of the whole cement column, possibly allowing gas to
enter the slurry. Localised rapid hydration can lead to patches of prematurely set cement that can cause
hydrostatic isolation of the cement beneath with the same result. To reduce the possibility of gas invasion and
lower the cement permeability, the 30 minute
High Pressure/High Temperature (HP/HT) API fluid loss should be below 50ml.
FREE WATER
For a deviated gas-prone well the free water should be as low as possible. Any free water in the cement slurry
will migrate to the top side of the annulus and form an uncemented channel the length of the cement sheath. Gas
will readily flow through such a channel.
APPLIED ANNULUS PRESSURE

Pump pressure applied to the annulus from the surface can be effective in preventing annular gas flow. However,
the potential of lost circulation limits the maximum allowable pump pressure. Pressure should be applied soon
after the top wiper plug bumps and held at least until the cement begins to set.
MICRO-ANNULI (FORMATION AND CASING BONDS)
If a micro-annulus has developed at the cement to casing or the cement to formation contact, then gas will flow
along it. Gas may also break down weak cement to casing and cement to formation bonds.
Lack of casing and formation roughness
Cement bulk volume shrinkage
Mud films or channels at the cement to casing and cement to formation surface contacts
Free water layers in deviated wells
Downhole thermal stresses
Downhole hydraulic stresses
Downhole mechanical stresses.
Cement shrinkage after initial setting is only a few tenths of a per cent and not likely to produce a significant
continuous micro-annulus. Increasing the casing roughness can help reduce these localised flaws in the bond.
Downhole temperature and pressure changes will cause the casing to deform. These deformations may degrade
the cement to formation and cement to casing bond. Any actions which may generate mechanical stresses in the
casing should be eliminated until the cement has set. Any pressure testing after the cement has set should be
carried out in a manner that minimises the pressures seen by the casing.