Abstract: A system and method to determine a non-plastic state shrinkage (NPSS) characteristic of a cement slurry. The system and method can include operations of transmitting an ultrasonic signal through the slurry, recording a transit time of the ultrasonic signal as the slurry cures, plotting the transit time, measuring and plotting a shrinkage of the slurry, determining a transition of the transit time from an increased rate of change to a decreased rate of change, determining a first curing time at the transition, determining the detected volume at the first curing time based on the second plot; and determining a change in the detected volume from the first curing time to a second curing time, wherein the second curing time is after the first curing time.

Abstract: A method to design a wellbore cement sheath in compacting or subsiding formations is provided. The method may include performing a field scale analysis on a formation surrounding a wellbore. The field scale analysis may output boundary conditions including a pore pressure of the formation and a three-dimensional movement of the formation. The method may also include performing a wellbore scale analysis based on the boundary conditions, a wellbore scale model, wellbore conditions, and cement material properties. The wellbore scale analysis may output an indication of stress applied over time to a cement sheath within the wellbore. Further, the method may include determining cement material properties of the cement sheath to withstand the stress applied over time output by the wellbore scale analysis, and the method may include installing the cement sheath within the wellbore. The cement sheath may include the cement material properties.

Abstract: Methods for producing a plug in a wellbore within a downhole environment are provided. The method includes introducing a magnetorheological fluid into the wellbore and exposing the magnetorheological fluid to a magnetic field to form a base plug within the wellbore. The base plug contains a viscoelastic solid derived from the magnetorheological fluid. The method also includes introducing a cement slurry into the wellbore and onto the base plug and forming a cement plug on the base plug from the cement slurry.

Abstract: A method for designing a cement composition may include: providing a target compressive strength and a target composition density; selecting at least one cementitious material from a plurality of cementitious materials; calculating a required amount of water to produce a cement composition with the target composition density, the cement composition comprising the water and the at least one cementitious material; calculating a compressive strength of the cement composition based at least in part on a model of compressive strength; comparing the calculated compressive strength to the target compressive strength; and preparing the cement composition with the calculated compressive strength.

Abstract: A method may include: providing a model of cement induction time; designing a cement composition, based at least partially, on the model of cement induction time; and preparing the cement composition.

Abstract: Methods for using treatment fluids comprising synthetic silicates in subterranean formations are provided. In some embodiments, the methods may comprise introducing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a synthetic silicate into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation comprising a loss zone; allowing the treatment fluid to displace at least a portion of a first fluid present in the wellbore; and allowing the treatment fluid to at least partially plug the loss zone.

Abstract: Methods and systems for characterizing multiple properties of a cement composition for use at downhole conditions using ultrasonic analysis tools are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: transmitting at least a first p-wave and a second p-wave having different frequencies through a cement composition; determining velocities of the first and second p-waves through the sample; transmitting at least a third p-wave having a third frequency through the cement composition while allowing the cement composition to at least partially hydrate, wherein the third frequency is higher than the second frequency; determining at least a velocity of the third p-wave through the cement composition; based at least in part on the velocities of the p-waves, determining at least the compressibility, Poisson's ratio, Young's modulus, and shear modulus of the cement composition.

Abstract: A system and method to determine a non-plastic state shrinkage (NPSS) characteristic of a cement slurry. The system and method can include operations of transmitting an ultrasonic signal through the slurry, recording a transit time of the ultrasonic signal as the slurry cures, plotting the transit time, measuring and plotting a shrinkage of the slurry, determining a transition of the transit time from an increased rate of change to a decreased rate of change, determining a first curing time at the transition, determining the detected volume at the first curing time based on the second plot; and determining a change in the detected volume from the first curing time to a second curing time, wherein the second curing time is after the first curing time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for cementing casing in a wellbore are described. The methods include introducing a modified biopolymer into an inner diameter of the casing, reverse-circulating a cement composition in the wellbore, permitting the modified biopolymer to contact the cement composition, and terminating the reverse-circulation upon detection of an increase in pressure in pumping the cement composition. The modified biopolymer includes a reaction product of a biopolymer and an organic carbonate, and the cement composition has a pH greater than 11.

Abstract: Methods for using treatment fluids comprising synthetic silicates in subterranean formations are provided. In some embodiments, the methods may comprise introducing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a synthetic silicate into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation comprising a loss zone; allowing the treatment fluid to displace at least a portion of a first fluid present in the wellbore; and allowing the treatment fluid to at least partially plug the loss zone.

Abstract: Methods including experimentally determining a salt creep profile for a single salt or intercalated salts in a subterranean formation, designing a proposed cement slurry based on the salt creep profile, experimentally determining whether the proposed cement slurry is capable of forming a wellbore load resistant cement sheath based on actual thermal and thermo-mechanical properties of the proposed cement slurry, theoretically determining whether the proposed cement slurry is capable of forming the wellbore load resistant cement sheath by designing an electronic, cross-section geometric model of the subterranean salt formation and simulating a condition of the wellbore loads on the cured proposed cement slurry using the geometric model, establishing a final cement slurry capable of forming the wellbore load resistant cement sheath, and performing a final cementing operation with the final cement slurry in the subterranean salt formation.

Abstract: A method of treating lost circulation issues stemming from loss zones during the drilling and cementing process through the utilization of a thixotropic cement. The method comprises the steps of encountering a loss zone in a bore hole during drilling or running casing and pumping a treatment fluid into the loss zone, wherein the treatment fluid is a gel capable of gelling, breaking when sheared, and building back shear strength after shearing is removed.

Abstract: An optical measurement system comprising a vessel for non-invasively testing a sample material composition in-situ and in real time. The test chamber is configured to hold a sample material composition for a wellbore. The optical measurement system is configured to provide in-situ monitoring of the sample material composition in real time and at high temperature and high pressure. Dimensional and geometrical changes occurring within the sample material composition are monitored using the optical measurement system. The system further performs goniometry on a sample.

Abstract: Methods and systems for cementing casing in a wellbore are described. The methods include introducing a modified biopolymer into an inner diameter of the casing, reverse-circulating a cement composition in the wellbore, permitting the modified biopolymer to contact the cement composition, and terminating the reverse-circulation upon detection of an increase in pressure in pumping the cement composition. The modified biopolymer includes a reaction product of a biopolymer and an organic carbonate, and the cement composition has a pH greater than 11.

Abstract: Methods of formulating a cement slurry for use in a subterranean salt formation, including methods for formulating a cement slurry capable of providing long-term zonal isolation within a subterranean salt formation. The methods also take into account the effects of treatment fluids on the cement slurry, such as drilling fluids, spacer fluids, flush fluids, or other relevant fluids used to perform a subterranean formation operation.

Abstract: Methods of formulating a cement slurry for use in a subterranean salt formation, including methods for formulating a cement slurry capable of providing long-term zonal isolation within a subterranean salt formation. The methods also take into account the effects of treatment fluids on the cement slurry, such as drilling fluids, spacer fluids, flush fluids, or other relevant fluids used to perform a subterranean formation operation.

Abstract: Methods including experimentally determining a salt creep profile for a single salt or intercalated salts in a subterranean formation, designing a proposed cement slurry based on the salt creep profile, experimentally determining whether the proposed cement slurry is capable of forming a wellbore load resistant cement sheath based on actual thermal and thereto-mechanical properties of the proposed cement slurry, theoretically determining whether the proposed cement slurry is capable of forming the wellbore load resistant cement sheath by designing an electronic, cross-section geometric model of the subterranean salt formation and simulating a condition of the wellbore loads on the cured proposed cement slurry using the geometric model, establishing a final cement slurry capable of forming the wellbore load resistant cement sheath, and performing a final cementing operation with the final cement slurry in the subterranean salt formation.

Abstract: A method of treating lost circulation issues stemming from loss zones during the drilling and cementing process through the utilization of a thixotropic cement. The method comprises the steps of encountering a loss zone in a bore hole during drilling or running casing and pumping a treatment fluid into the loss zone, wherein the treatment fluid is a gel capable of gelling, breaking when sheared, and building back shear strength after shearing is removed.

Abstract: Methods of formulating a cement slurry for use in a subterranean salt formation, including methods for formulating a cement slurry capable of providing long-term zonal isolation within a subterranean salt formation. The methods also take into account the effects of treatment fluids on the cement slurry, such as drilling fluids, spacer fluids, flush fluids, or other relevant fluids used to perform a subterranean formation operation.

Abstract: An optical measurement system comprising a vessel for non-invasively testing a sample material composition in-situ and in real time. The test chamber is configured to hold a sample material composition for a wellbore. The optical measurement system is configured to provide in-situ monitoring of the sample material composition in real time and at high temperature and high pressure. Dimensional and geometrical changes occurring within the sample material composition are monitored using the optical measurement system. The system further performs goniometry on a sample.