| Title | Top Squeeze or Top Fill: Improved Secondary Cementing for Geothermal Wells |
|---|---|
| Authors | William M. RICKARD, Sam ABRAHAM and Ernesto RIVAS |
| Year | 2020 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | cement, top-fill, top squeeze |
| Abstract | Ensuring mechanical integrity of the wellbore, in all geothermal wells is critical. This is achieved by ensuring good cement bond in the casing by casing annulus and casing by open hole. Complete cementing of casing strings is a critical component of geothermal well completions. With any cement job, incomplete cementing may result, requiring remedial cementing Unfortunately, typical geothermal formations are highly fractured or poorly consolidated thus complete cementing of a casing string is not always achievable and remedial cementing operations must be performed. Drilling personnel rely on surface indications to select the best method for these remedial operations. The ‘top fill’ method is selected when cement is observed at the surface during the primary cement job, but the cement subsequently falls down the annulus. The ‘top squeeze’ method is selected when there are no cement returns to surface during the primary cement job. For each case, specific procedures must be followed to successfully complete a remedial cement job. These procedures should be planned in advance. In addition, these procedures are not dependent on the primary cementing technique. Either ‘top squeeze’ and/or ‘top fill’ may be used for any casing string that is run with a previously cemented casing string in place that has an annular preventer installed. |