Contamination resistant phosphate ceramic cement for arctic applications

Designing an effective cement for arctic applications is challenging. The ideal arctic cement needs to have a unique combination of physical properties, which are difficult to achieve simultaneously. Even though custom designed formulations of conventional API Portland cements are often used in the arctic, such cements have limited applicability. A novel chemically bonded phosphate cement was recently developed, and was shown to provide superior characteristics for arctic applications. However, in the course of normal field practice when a slurry of the new ceramic cement is prepared using on site equipment, there is a good possibility of its being contaminated by leftover Portland cements in the mixing equipment. Some preliminary tests conducted by an oilfield service provider showed that the contamination of ceramic cement by Portland cements could significantly reduce the ceramic cement?s applicability in arctic conditions. In order to investigate this matter further and develop possible remedies, effect of Portland cement contamination on ceramic cement was studied using new formulations of ceramic cement. The results from this study showed that contamination of these ceramic cement formulations by Portland cement did not adversely affect the desirable properties of the ceramic cement. In fact, in some cases, the "contaminated" ceramic cement showed superior properties than the pure ceramic cement.