GILSONITE IN CEMENTING

GILSONITE IN CEMENTING

DESCRIPTION OF GILSONITE IN CEMENTING

Gilsonite, also known as uintaite or asphaltum, is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon resin that is often used in the field of cementing in the oil and gas industry. It is a unique material that offers several benefits when incorporated into cementing operations.

Here is a description of Gilsonite’s use in cementing:

1. Rheological Modifier: Gilsonite acts as a rheological modifier in cement slurries. It can be added to cement blends to control the slurry’s viscosity and fluid loss properties. This is particularly useful in controlling the flow and placement of the cement during the cementing process.
2. Improved Fluid Loss Control: Gilsonite is highly effective at reducing fluid loss in cement slurries. When added to the cement mix, it forms a seal on the wellbore wall, preventing the loss of water from the slurry. This is crucial for maintaining the slurry’s integrity and preventing formation damage.
3. Temperature Resistance: Gilsonite has excellent temperature stability, making it suitable for use in high-temperature wells. It can withstand the elevated temperatures and pressures encountered in deep and challenging drilling environments without losing its properties.
4. Strength Enhancement: Incorporating Gilsonite into cement slurries can enhance the compressive strength of the set cement. This is important for ensuring the long-term integrity of the wellbore and casing.
5. Reduced Cementing Costs: By improving fluid loss control and enhancing cement strength, Gilsonite can lead to cost savings in cementing operations. It reduces the need for additives and additives dosages, ultimately making the cementing process more efficient and cost-effective.
6. Resistance to Chemicals: Gilsonite is resistant to various chemicals and additives commonly found in well fluids. This chemical resistance helps maintain the integrity of the cement slurry and prevents degradation over time.
7. Environmentally Friendly: Gilsonite is a natural, organic material, making it environmentally friendly compared to some synthetic additives. Its use in cementing can align with environmentally conscious practices in the industry.
8. Compatibility: Gilsonite is compatible with a wide range of cement types and additives, making it versatile and suitable for various cementing applications.
9. Reduced Risk of Gas Migration: The improved fluid loss control provided by Gilsonite can help mitigate the risk of gas migration during the cementing process. This is crucial for preventing wellbore instability and ensuring well safety.

In summary, Gilsonite plays a valuable role in cementing operations in the oil and gas industry. Its unique properties, including its ability to control fluid loss, enhance cement strength, and withstand high temperatures, make it a reliable additive for ensuring the successful placement and integrity of wellbore cement. Its use can lead to cost savings, improved well performance, and environmental benefits in cementing applications.

HOW TO USE GILSONITE IN CEMENTING?

To summarize, the steps to use Gilsonite in cementing are to determine the appropriate percentage to use, measure and mix it with the cement, add any additional cementing additives, and then pump the cement slurry into the wellbore while monitoring its pressure and flow rate. It is important to follow proper safety measures when handling Gilsonite, and to carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of using it in cementing operations.

GILSONITE IN OIL AND GAS WELL CEMENTING

Gilsonite is a naturally occurring solid hydrocarbon resin, also known as Uintahite or Asphaltite, found in various regions around the world. It is primarily composed of a complex mixture of polycyclic aromatic compounds and heterocyclic molecules, making it a unique and valuable material for several applications, including oil and gas well cementing.

In oil and gas well cementing, Gilsonite is used as an additive to improve the properties of cement slurries. Cement slurries are used to seal the wellbore and provide structural support to the casing, ensuring the integrity of the well. Adding Natural Bitumen to the cement slurry can enhance its performance in several ways:

Temperature resistance: Natural Bitumen is highly thermally stable, and its addition to cement helps the slurry maintain its integrity and mechanical properties even at high temperatures encountered in deep oil and gas wells.

Fluid loss control: Gilsonite acts as an effective fluid loss control additive, reducing the loss of water from the cement slurry into the formation during cement placement. This prevents formation damage and ensures proper cement coverage along the wellbore.

Increased compressive strength: The incorporation of Gilsonite into the cement slurry can enhance the compressive strength of the set cement. This results in a more robust and durable cement sheath around the casing, reducing the risk of casing failures or leaks over time.

Improved cement flexibility: The presence of  Natural Bitumen in the cement slurry increases the flexibility of the set cement, making it more resistant to mechanical stresses, such as vibration, and reducing the likelihood of cracking.

Reduced density: Gilsonite can also be used as a lightweight additive, reducing the density of the cement slurry. This is particularly useful in situations where low-density cement is required to avoid fracturing the formation or for specific wellbore design considerations.

Environmental benefits: Gilsonite is a naturally occurring material, and its use in cementing operations can be more environmentally friendly compared to synthetic additives that may have a higher environmental impact.

It is essential to carefully evaluate the specific well conditions and cementing requirements before incorporating Gilsonite into the cement slurry. Proper testing and monitoring are necessary to ensure that the desired properties are achieved and that the cement sheath meets the well’s specific needs. Additionally, manufacturers and service providers typically offer various grades of Gilsonite with different characteristics, allowing for tailored cement formulations based on the well’s unique challenges.

GILSONITE IN CEMENTING

Gilsonite plays a vital role in cementing slurries, serving multiple purposes such as controlling density, facilitating mud removal through scouring action, and supporting the development of compressive strength. Its unique interaction with shale further improves cement bond development and overall strength. The wellbore, the primary hole through which the final well is constructed, can be encased with steel or cement, depending on the specific situation. In the context of oil wells, cement encasement is necessary, and the addition of Gilsonite material during cementing not only enhances isolation characteristics but also reduces turbulent gas flows. These favorable attributes lead to more effective mud removal, which in turn positively impacts environmental factors. As global drilling environmental regulations become increasingly stringent, the use of Gilsonite in cementing operations gains significance.

GILSONITE IN OIL WELL CEMETING ADVANTAGES

Gilsonite offers numerous advantages in oil well cementing. Its unique chemical properties and physical characteristics make it an ideal cement additive for various wellbore configurations. By enhancing cement properties and compatibility with oil matters, Gilsonite ensures zonal isolation, reduces environmental risks, and improves ultimate recovery while lowering overall costs. Its specific gravity of 1.04 allows for easy pumping down the well, and its application decreases gas return to the surface. Depending on the desired outcome, the amount of Gilsonite used in the cementing composition can range from approximately one-half to ten times the volume of cement. The particle size and distribution of Natural Bitumen influence the set cement’s strength and porosity-permeability characteristics for different mix ratios. This versatile material provides cost-effective solutions, allowing for efficient cementing in a variety of scenarios.

CEMENT SLURRY

In the field, cement slurry requires specific particle size combinations for optimal pumpability. Coarser aggregates must be carefully balanced to avoid impeding the pumping process. For instance, a cement-Gilsonite ratio of 1:4 with coarse aggregate can be challenging to pump and may cause blockages. On the other hand, using fine aggregate in the same mix, along with a higher water-cement ratio, ensures smooth pumping without plugging. Adding a petroleum solvent to the wet or dry mix, depending on the amount of Gilsonite present, helps form a strong bond between Gilsonite particles and the casing and borehole walls, preventing corrosion and minimizing cement shrinkage. Alternatively, the solvent can be pumped ahead of the Gilsonite-cement slurry into the cementing zone.

SET CEMENT APPLICATION

• Enhanced compressive strength (unlike coal or fly ash)
• Improved flexibility
• Reduced cracking and micro fissures
• Lower permeability
• Stronger bond to formation and casing
• Minimized environmental risk
• Ensured zonal isolation

CEMENT SLURRY USAGE

• Increased yield
• Reduced weight
• Controlled free water
• Lower water ratio
• Favorable rheologies for lower ECDs
• Prevention of lost circulation
• Enhanced wellbore scouring and mud removal

GILSONITE’S VITAL ROLE IN CEMENTING

In the expanding oil industry, the need for lightweight cement slurries with lost-circulation control is clear. This is critical in primary cementing due to diverse challenging formations, from porous to weak ones unable to support drilling pressure. Lost circulation can lead to increased costs, reduced drilling efficiency, and even well abandonment. Gilsonite, a solid hydrocarbon, has been a key player in this field for over 50 years. Added to cement, it reduces slurry weight, combats lost circulation, and enhances density control, mud removal, and compressive strength. Gilsonite’s unique interaction with shale improves cement bonding, crucial for wellbore integrity. It aids well casing isolation, reducing gas flow, improving mud removal, and meeting stringent environmental regulations.

GILSONITE: A KEY LOST- CIRCULATION SOLUTION

Gilsonite is a granular asphaltene hydrocarbon with a particle size ranging from 4 to 100 mesh. It’s a valuable tool for managing lost circulation challenges, especially in temperature conditions between 60°F and 230°F (16°C and 110°C). Typically, it’s added to cement at concentrations between 5 to 50 lbs/sk.

Gilsonite’s low specific gravity enhances its lost-circulation control capabilities, although it can tend to separate in thin slurries or those with dispersants. To prevent separation, adding 2% or more bentonite to the slurry is advisable.

BENEFITS OF GILSONITE ADDITIVE INCLUDE

• Shatter resistance when perforated.
• Minimal impact on cement setting time.
• Ability to provide higher strength compared to heavier additives with higher water requirements.

Successful primary cementing operations are crucial for establishing a robust cement sheath, ensuring casing support, zonal isolation, and overall well integrity, all of which are essential for controlling inter-zonal flow, reducing water production, and optimizing stimulation treatments.

GILSNOTE CEMENTING GRADE FOR OIL AND GAS WELL

Gilsonite Cementing Grade stands out as a highly effective and environmentally friendly solution for insulation purposes. It is not only efficient in its application but also environmentally sustainable, contributing to a significant reduction in the risk of environmental harm.

In the context of the oil and gas industry, deep well insulation during drilling has posed significant challenges, often relying on chemical agents that have proven to be detrimental to the environment. This has led to concerns from environmental advocates.

For numerous years, the drilling sector has turned to Gilsonite Cementing Grade as a dependable and eco-friendly solution for cementing oil well walls, even in the harshest global environments. The primary advantage of incorporating Gilsonite as an additive in oil well wall cementing operations is its ability to effectively contain gas and hydrocarbon emissions, thereby preventing environmental contamination.

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET OF NATURAL BITUMEN (GILSONITE)

TEST	RESULT	TEST METHOD
ASH CONTENT,WT%	5	ASTM-D3174
MOISTURE CONTENT,WT	1	ASTM-D3173
VOLATILE MATTER,WT%	63	ASTM-D3175
SOLUBILITY IS CS2,WT%	81	ASTM-D4
SPECIFIC GRAVITY @25C	1.11	ASTM-D3289
NORMA NEPTHAN INSOLUBLES,WT%	79	ASTM-D3279
COLOR IS MASS	BLACK	—
COLOR IN STREAK OR POWDER	BLACK	—
SOFTENING POINT,C	205	ASTM-D36
PENETRATION @25C	0	ASTM-D5

ELEMENT ANALYSIS

CARBON,WT%	84	ASTM-D5291
HYDROGEN,WT%	7.1	ASTM-D5291
NITROGEN,WT%	3.67	ASTM-D5291
OXYGEN,WT%	3.1	ASTM-D5291
SULPHURE,WT%	4	LEGO(S)ANALYSER