WorldOil

Lightweight cementing seals depeleted zones

Because of the cyclical nature of the commodity market and the constant change in commodity prices, operators must reduce the overall cost while pursuing more challenging wells. One such environment is the Wolfberry play in West Texas, Fig. 1. Because of the rapid early production decline in these wells, they must be drilled and completed as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. This includes drilling to total depth quickly, running affordable casing and successfully isolating zones in a severely underpressured environment. Single-stage production cementing is a must to maintain the economic viability of these wells.