Abstract: A method of well completion is provided which enables much of the well casing to be later recovered from the well in the event the well is later abandoned, or where intermediate casing must be run during drilling of the well but may later be removed when the liner is in place. The well is completed by any of several embodiments of manipulative steps, leaving the lower portion of the annulus filled with a conventional cementitious material and the upper portion of the annulus filled with an aqueous gel comprising effective quantities of water, a water soluble alkali metal silicate, and a water soluble metal compound capable of releasing a multivalent metal cation to react with the water soluble silicate. An economically significant portion of the casing can thereafter be recovered if necessary after first severing the casing above that portion adjacent the set cementitious material.

Abstract: In cementing a well with a thixotropic cement, such as with the portland cement/CaSO.sub.4.1/2H.sub.2 O/water slurry described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,313, an effective means for controlling fluid loss from the slurry is to precede the slurry with a fluid comprising water, a water soluble alkali metal compound capable of releasing a multivalent metal cation to react with the soluble silicate to form a pumpable gel, and a water dispersible cellulose compound and an inert particulate which together impart fluid loss control to the fluid. Optionally, the fluid may contain one or more of: a chelating agent for polyvalent metal cations; a weighing material; a material to minimize lost circulation, and a salt to stabilize fresh water sensitive sandstones and shales, e.g., those having a high clay content.