Experimental research on reinforced lightweight plugging composites

Practical aspects of the well construction show that the use of conventional cementing materials do not always provide the necessary level of quality of well casing when the requirements to resources conservation are enhanced. This is true for such complex geological conditions as the alternation of beds with different formation pressures, low fracturing pressure gradients, drilling with ERD etc. The main problems in well casing under these conditions are the losses of cement slurries, low cement top, low-quality formation isolation, and as the result of this – the emergence of cross-flows. The high quality of well casing will be provided only by means of safe contact between cement stone and limiting surfaces (casing and rock), therefore to use expansion materials for cementing is a well-recognized method [1, 2]. Thus, it is obvious that their application does not give positive results for intervals with a thick filter cake or intervals with cavities, i.e. where space for expansion is greater than the magnitude of the expansion. At the same time it is very challenging to create high-quality cement in formations with abnormally low formation pressure or low fracture gradient. The solution of this problem is the use of lightweight cements, which scarcely expand while hardening. This is due to the fact that lightweight cement slurries are generally obtained by increasing the content of grouting fluid in the solution, resulting in increase of the distance between the crystal hydrates – hardening products, that leads to decrease of crystallization pressure of expansion agents on the space frame of the cement stone [3, 4]. Moreover, such works as secondary reservoir developing (perforation), well completion and fracturing operations create high dynamic load on the cement stone, which leads to its destruction. The stone can be completely destroyed, that often causes premature flooding of wells and incurring additional costs. In this regard, it is necessary to improve the formulation of oil-well cement in order to enhance the properties of the stone in relation to high dynamic loads. Thus, the crucial task is to create lightweight expanded cements with improved processing properties.