Geopolymer as the future oil-well cement: A review

The petroleum and cement manufacturing industries have been accused of contributing substantial quantities of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere. Additionally, Portland cement systems suffer carbonation and degradation in high saline and acidic environments. Geopolymer, a much cleaner cementitious binder, synthesized through the reaction of aluminosilicate materials and alkaline solution has been a leading alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The feasibility of using geopolymer in oil-well cementing is still being explored. The objective of this review study is to provide a single document that summarizes the findings from these studies. In general, researchers have explored geopolymer application in aggressive environments and well plug and abandonment operations, the effect of temperature, and its compatibility with drilling fluid. Compared to OPC systems, geopolymer is more resistant to acidic environments, performs better in high saline conditions, and is highly compatible with drilling mud. The geopolymer being a green technology coupled with its optimized properties implies that it is the future of oil-well cement. For further studies, we suggest in-depth characterization of lightweight geopolymers.