Abstract: Well cuttings are disposed of by solidification by combining the cuttings with water and blast furnace slag, and injection of the cuttings, water and slag into an annulus surrounding a wellbore casing and solidifying the cuttings, water and slag. Solidification in blast furnace slag cement is inexpensive, and the blast furnace slag is compatible with both oil and water based drilling muds. Drilling fluids therefore do not have to be removed from the drilling cuttings prior to solidification in the wellbore annulus.

Abstract: A method of cementing a casing in a wellbore is provided wherein a cement slurry is placed in the wellbore prior to inserting the casing into the wellbore. Voids in the resultant cement caused by poor centralization are eliminated by placement of the cement in the wellbore prior to insertion of the casing.

Abstract: Method for restoring drilling fluid circulation to a borehole having strata being invaded by the drilling fluid, by circulating a non-conventional cementitious slurry such as drilling fluid-blast furnace slag mixture into the strata, and allowing the mixture to solidify in situ.

Abstract: Squeeze cementing is conducted using non-conventional cements such as blast furnace slag--water base drilling fluid mixtures which are not adversely affected by brine or pockets of gelled drilling fluid beneath the primary cement.

Abstract: A method to determine the amount of blast furnace slag in a slurry sample. The slurry is preferably a drilling fluid or a wellbore cement slurry. The method comprises correlating the amount of hydrogen sulfide released from acidified slurries with the amount of blast furnace slag in the slurry and acidifying the sample and determining the amount of hydrogen sulfide released from the acidified sample.

Abstract: During directional drilling operation, in order to achieve the correct angle and direction when drilling through a soft formation, a plug of a non-conventional cement is set across the zone in order to achieve the desired course and target. The non-conventional cement is preferably blast furnace slag and a water base drilling fluid.

Abstract: A drilling fluid is diluted and a cementitious component added thereto. In a more specific embodiment the dilution is carried out by introducing liquid such as water to a flowing stream of the drilling fluid and thereafter a cementitious component is mixed therewith. Thus, the drilling fluid can be used in a conventional manner to drill a well and thereafter diluted and a cementitious component added to produce a cement for cementing operations such as setting a casing in the well and/or can be used for remedial cementing.In another embodiment of the invention, the drilling fluid itself contains a small amount of cementitious component and additional cementitious component is added after the dilution.

Abstract: A drilling and cementing process wherein a drilling fluid containing a metal compound which is a proton acceptor component is utilized, thereby laying down a filter cake. Thereafter, the drilling fluid can be combined with a phosphorus acid to give a cementitious slurry which is thereafter used in a cementing operation. Alternatively, a phosphorus acid such as polyphosphoric acid is circulated into contact with said filter cake.

Abstract: A cementitious slurry comprising microfine ground blast furnace slag and normally ground blast furnace slag. A microfine ground blast furnace slag is made of composition having a blaine specific surface area between 8,000 and 20,000 cm.sup.2 /g. By normally ground is meant slag compositions having a surface area of less than 8,000 cm.sup.2 /g. Such cementitious compositions have utility in construction, road building, and cementing wellbores.

Abstract: A method to cement wellbores in salt formations is provided using a cement slurry composition comprising blast furnace slag, water and salt. The salt improves compressive strength of blast furnace slag based cements. This method is useful in cementing wellbores within salt and potash formations because salt saturated cement slurries can be prepared without the need for expensive additives.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to cement a wellbore in the presence of carbon dioxide, or when the wellbore will subsequently be exposed to carbon dioxide. The wellbore is cemented using a blast furnace slag cement slurry, and the resulting set cement is considerably less susceptible to degradation by carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A drilling and cementing process wherein a drilling fluid containing a metal compound which is a proton acceptor component is utilized and thereafter combined with a water-soluble or water-dispersable polymer of the formula ##STR1## wherein A is ##STR2## or a mixture of ##STR3## and, wherein R is hydrogen or 1-10 carbon atom alkyl radical, to give a cementitious slurry which is thereafter used in a cementing operation.

Abstract: A drilling and cementing process wherein a drilling fluid containing blast furnace slag which serves as a a metal compound which is a proton acceptor component is utilized and thereafter combined with a water-soluble or water-dispersable polymer of the formula ##STR1## wherein A is ##STR2## or a mixture of ##STR3## and, wherein R is hydrogen or 1-10 carbon atom alkyl radical, to give a cementitious slurry which is thereafter used in a cementing operation. The metal oxide source and/or the cementitious component of the cement can be blast furnace slag.

Abstract: A drilling and cementing process wherein a drilling fluid containing a metal compound component is utilized and thereafter combined with a phosphorus acid to give a cementitious slurry which is thereafter used in a cementing operation. Blast furnace slag can be the source of the metal compound.

Abstract: A method is provided to determine the concentration of an amorphous material such as blast furnace slag in a slurry such as drilling fluid, completion fluid fluids. A sample is annealed at a temperature between about 800.degree. C. and about 1000.degree. C. for a time period of about six hours to form crystals from the amorphous material, and the sample along with a known amount of a standard is then analyzed by X-ray diffraction. This method is particularly useful in determining the amount of blast furnace slag in a drilling fluid prior to conversion of the drilling fluid to a wellbore cement slurry by addition of additional blast furnace slag.

Abstract: A cement slurry composition is provided comprising blast furnace slag, water and salt, and a hydraulic material comprising blast furnace slag and salt, and a cured cement therefrom. These compositions are particularly useful in cementing wellbores within salt formations because salt saturated cement slurries can be prepared without the need for expensive additives.

Abstract: A method for installing piles in offshore waters using a drill and grout technique. The method utilizes a drilling fluid for drilling the borehole for the pile that forms a cementitious filter cake on the borehole wall and a cement for grouting the pile that is compatible with both the filter cake and salt water.

Abstract: A method for strengthening the soil and rock formations forming the structural base of a structure wherein a cement slurry is injected into the soil and rock formations. The method is particularly useful in strengthening the foundations of offshore structures.

Abstract: An aqueous base drilling fluid additive composed of salt and lime or gypsum, and including an acyclic polyol and/or cyclicetherpolyol and salt.

Abstract: Oil in water emulsion drilling fluid properties are enhanced by incorporation thereinto of an alcohol such as glycerol or polycyclicpolyetherpolyol and salt.