Methods of Extending the Shelf Life of and Revitalizing Lightweight Beads for Use in Cement Compositions

Abstract

In an embodiment, the shelf life of lightweight beads to be used in a cement composition may be extended by combining the lightweight beads with a fluid such as water to inhibit the lightweight beads from forming an agglomeration while they are being stored or transported. In another embodiment, lightweight beads that have already formed an agglomeration may be revitalized for use in a cement composition by adding a fluid such as water to the lightweight beads to reduce a size of the agglomeration. The agglomeration may originally have a width greater than or equal to about 1 inch. Adding the fluid to the lightweight beads may cause at least a portion of the beads to separate from the agglomeration into individual beads having a width of less than or equal to about 200 microns.

1 . A method of servicing a wellbore comprising:
 (a) transporting to a worksite proximate the wellbore a liquid additive comprising a quantity of lightweight beads and a quantity of liquid;   (b) preparing a pumpable cement composition comprising the liquid additive, cement, and optionally one or more additional liquids or additives;   (c) placing the cement composition in the wellbore; and   (d) allowing the cement composition to set.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid additive is stored for a period of time prior to and/or after arriving at the worksite. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the period of time is greater than or equal to 6 months. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising prior to (a), preparing the liquid additive by combining the quantity of lightweight beads and the quantity of liquid. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the quantity of lightweight beads comprises one or more agglomerations of beads prior to combining with the quantity of liquid. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein preparing the liquid additive further comprises:
 (a) selecting the quantity of the lightweight beads, which are separated by a volume of void space; and   (b) combining the lightweight beads with the quantity of fluid having a volume ranging from about equal to the volume of the void space to about 30% greater than the volume of the void space.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein preparing the liquid additive further comprises:
 (a) selecting the quantity of the lightweight beads, which are separated by a volume of void space; and   (b) combining the lightweight beads with the quantity of fluid having a volume ranging from about equal to the volume of the void space to about 30% greater than the volume of the void space.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid additive is transported in a vessel, and wherein the liquid additive is circulated from the bottom of the vessel to the top of the vessel while it is being transported. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the liquid additive is transported in a vessel, and wherein the liquid additive is circulated from the bottom of the vessel to the top of the vessel while it is being transported. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the liquid additive is transported in a vessel, and wherein the liquid additive is circulated from the bottom of the vessel to the top of the vessel while it is being transported. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid additive is agitated while it is being transported. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the liquid additive is agitated while it is being transported. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the liquid additive is agitated while it is being transported. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein preparing the cement composition further comprises adding the liquid additive to additional water before combining the additional water with the cement to from the pumpable cement composition. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid additive is added to the additional water by injecting it into a delivery pump that supplies the additional water to a cement mixing head. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein preparing the cement composition further comprises adding the liquid additive to additional water before combining the additional water with the cement to from the pumpable cement composition and wherein the liquid additive is added to the additional water by injecting it into a delivery pump that supplies the additional water to a cement mixing head. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein preparing the cement composition further comprises adding the liquid additive to additional water before combining the additional water with the cement to from the pumpable cement composition and wherein the liquid additive is added to the additional water by injecting it into a delivery pump that supplies the additional water to a cement mixing head. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein preparing the cement composition comprises adding the liquid additive to a slurry comprising the cement as the slurry is being pumped into the wellbore. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein preparing the cement composition comprises adding the liquid additive to a slurry comprising the cement as the slurry is being pumped into the wellbore. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein preparing the cement composition comprises adding the liquid additive to a slurry comprising the cement as the slurry is being pumped into the wellbore.