Methods for Maintaining Zonal Isolation in A Subterranean Well

Abstract

A cement for use in wells in which carbon dioxide is injected, stored or extracted, comprises elastomer particles. In the event of cement-matrix failure, or bonding failure between the cement/casing interface or the cement/borehole-wall interface, the elastomer particles swell when contacted by carbon dioxide. The swelling seals voids in the cement matrix, or along the bonding interfaces, thereby restoring zonal isolation.

1 . A method for maintaining zonal isolation in a subterranean well having a borehole in which carbon dioxide is injected, stored, extracted or naturally present, comprising:
 (i) installing a tubular body inside the borehole of the well, or inside a previously installed tubular body;   (ii) pumping aqueous cement slurry comprising a material that swells when contacted by carbon dioxide into the borehole;   (iii) allowing the cement slurry to set and harden;   (iv) in the event of cement-matrix or bonding failure, exposing the set cement to wellbore fluids that contain carbon dioxide; and   (v) allowing the material to swell, thereby restoring zonal isolation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises an elastomer comprising chlorofluorocarbons, tetrafluoroethylene-propylene copolymers, ethylene-propylene copolymers, isobutene-isoprene rubbers, nitrile rubbers, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubbers, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinyl methyl ether copolymers and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the material in the cement slurry is between about 5 percent and about 50 percent by volume of solid blend (BVOB). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the average particle size of the material is between about 10 μm and about 1000 μm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide is supercritical, wet, dry or dissolved in an aqueous medium. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the borehole penetrates at least one fluid-containing reservoir, the reservoir containing fluid with a carbon dioxide concentration greater than about five moles per liter. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the injection of carbon dioxide into the well is performed as a remedial treatment to restore zonal isolation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cement comprises one or more members of the list comprising Portland cement, calcium aluminate cement, fly ash, blast furnace slag, lime-silica blends, zeolites, geopolymers, Sorel cements and chemically bonded phosphate ceramics. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cement slurry further comprises dispersing agents, fluid-loss-control agents, set retarders, set accelerators, foaming agents, gas generating agents, antifoaming agents, extenders, weighting agents, lost-circulation control agents and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body comprises one or more members of the list comprising drillpipe, casing, liner and coiled tubing. 
     
     
         11 . A method for cementing a subterranean well having a borehole in which carbon dioxide is injected, stored, extracted or naturally present, comprising:
 (i) installing a tubular body inside the borehole of the well, or inside a previously installed tubular body;   (ii) pumping aqueous cement slurry comprising a material that swells when contacted by carbon dioxide into the borehole; and   (iii) allowing the cement slurry to set and harden inside the annular region.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the material comprises an elastomer comprising chlorofluorocarbons, tetrafluoroethylene-propylene copolymers, ethylene-propylene copolymers, isobutene-isoprene rubbers, nitrile rubbers, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubbers, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluorovinyl methyl ether copolymers and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the concentration of the material in the cement slurry is between about 5 percent and about 50 percent by volume of solid blend (BVOB). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the average particle size of the material is between about 10 μm and about 1000 μm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the carbon dioxide is supercritical, wet, dry or dissolved in an aqueous medium. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the borehole penetrates at least one fluid-containing reservoir, the reservoir containing fluid with a carbon dioxide concentration greater than about five moles per liter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the injection of carbon dioxide into the well is performed as a remedial treatment to restore zonal isolation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cement comprises one or more members of the list comprising Portland cement, calcium aluminate cement, fly ash, blast furnace slag, lime-silica blends, zeolites, geopolymers, Sorel cements and chemically bonded phosphate ceramics. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cement slurry further comprises dispersing agents, fluid-loss-control agents, set retarders, set accelerators, foaming agents, gas generating agents, antifoaming agents, extenders, weighting agents, lost-circulation control agents and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tubular body comprises one or more members of the list comprising drillpipe, casing, liner and coiled tubing.