Assistant Driller Module

Workbook 9

Sedco Forex
Modular Training Program

Ref.: DRLWB.DOC
Section: 4 Page: 1
Issued: 01 May 1999
Revision: 01

Cementing
Workbook Questions
Refer to PETEX Drilling Technology Series Segment II, Routine Drilling Operations: Cementing.
Some questions have multiple answers.
Section: Mixing Cement
1. In addition to providing support for casing, primary cementing is essential to the well because it:
A.
B.
C.
D.

2.

prevents casing corrosion.

allows formation fluids from different zones to mix and flow to the surface.
prevents the hole from caving below the casing.
makes drilling the well easier.

If a well has a high-quality casing job, cement is usually not needed.

A. True
B. False

3.

A cementing crew may not wish to use water from a stock tank near a well site because
A. the water might contain organic chemicals that affect the setting properties of cement.
B. the water might foul pumping equipment.
C. the water supply might be inadequate.
D. all of the above

4.

The use of seawater with cement will

A. decrease the early strength of the cement.
B. result in a stronger cement over a long period (say 28 days) of time.
C. prevent the cement from setting.
D. increase the early strength of the cement.

5.

The best temperature range for slurry is

A. below 60F to prevent water loss from evaporation.
B. between 60F and 90F as it goes into the well.
C. between 90F and 100F as it goes into the well.
D. higher than 100F to ensure proper viscosity.

6.

Experience from the field suggests that the best water-cement ratio is approximately
A. 10 gallons per sack of cement.
B. 11 gallons per sack of cement.
C. 5 gallons per sack of cement.
D. 8 gallons per sack of cement.

7.

Given water requirements of 500 gallons per cementing unit and 500 gallons for safety and
error and assuming that two cementing units dispatched to a location require 1,500 sacks of
cement, the minimum amount of water needed to safely complete the job would be
A. 9,250 gallons.
B. 9,750 gallons.
C. 10,250 gallons.
D. 10,000 gallons.

Assistant Driller Module

Workbook 9

Sedco Forex
Modular Training Program

Ref.: DRLWB.DOC
Section: 4 Page: 2
Issued: 01 May 1999
Revision: 01

Cementing
Workbook Questions
8.

The recirculating mixer is the most widely used cement mixer because
A. it employs a partial vacuum in the hopper, which is a desirable element for cement
mixing.
B. cement and water are blended by a stream of air, and this produces a smoother slurry.
C. it was the first system widely used, and repair parts are easy to obtain.
D. it produces a smooth and homogeneous cement slurry due to the process of mixing the
wet cement with recirculated slurry.

Sections: Pumping Cement and Cement Volume Requirements

9.

The purpose of using a preflush in cementing operations is to

A. accelerate the setting time.
B. remove some of the wall cake.
C. provide a spacer between the drilling mud and the slurry.
D. increase the density of the slurry.

10. Slurry density can be checked with

A. a mud balance.
B. a Marsh funnel.
C. an automatic recorder.
D. all of the above

11. Each of the following is considered a benefit derived by pumping water as a flushing agent
ahead of the cement except
A. it reduces cement contamination.
B. it can be put into turbulent flow at a low circulation rate.
C. it decreases cement setting time.
D. it is easy to obtain.

12. In order to achieve the maximum amount of mud removal and also some reduction in the
amount of filter cake, operators should
A. obtain turbulent flow while pumping cement.
B. obtain laminar flow while pumping cement.
C. obtain plug flow while pumping cement.
D. add friction-reducing chemicals to the cement.

13. Slurry density should be carefully controlled by the cementer because

A. it is a direct indication of the water-cement ratio that affects hydration.
B. it should always be kept lower than 12 ppg.
C. it indicates slurry volume.
D. it may be particularly important when lost circulation is a factor.

14. The bottom plug is ruptured by pump pressure, but the solid top plug is not.
A. True
B. False

Assistant Driller Module

Workbook 9

Sedco Forex
Modular Training Program

Ref.: DRLWB.DOC
Section: 4 Page: 3
Issued: 01 May 1999
Revision: 01

Cementing
Workbook Questions
15. An improved cement job results if the operator pumps the slurry
A. at the lowest rate possible with no delays.
B. at the highest rate possible with intermittent delays.
C. at a moderate rate, changing frequently from the highest rate possible to the lowest
rate possible with no delays.
D. at the highest rate possible with no delays.

16. Benefits derived from using a bottom plug in the cementing operation include
A. wiping mud film from inside casing.
B. reducing slurry contamination.
C. preventing entry of air into slurry.
D. all of the above

17. Pressure should be bled off the casing before

A. the top plug ruptures.
B. the cement sets, so the pipe will not bulge.
C. the valve in the float collar closes.
D. none of the above

18. Which of the following substances can be used as displacement fluid?

A. Seawater
B. Fresh water
C. Drilling fluid
D. all of the above

19. Using the rule-of-thumb method to calculate the capacity of a 15,000-ft open hole, the
diameter of which is 8 5/8 inches, the amount of fluid needed to fill the hole is
approximately
A. 1,350 barrels.
B. 1,000 barrels.
C. 1,500 barrels.
D. 1,215 barrels.

20. Using the information in question 19, assume that 7-in. OD casing, J-55, 26 lb/ft, was run in
the hole. Using the rule-of-thumb method, the volume (cubic feet) of fluid required to fill the
annular space is
A. 3,400 cubic feet.
B. 2,688 cubic feet.
C. 2,500 cubic feet.
D. 2,000 cubic feet.
E. none of the above

21. To ensure effective cement bonds to casing strings, operators usually cement each casing
string from the bottom to the top.
A. True
B. False

Assistant Driller Module

Workbook 9

Sedco Forex
Modular Training Program

Ref.: DRLWB.DOC
Section: 4 Page: 4
Issued: 01 May 1999
Revision: 01

Cementing
Workbook Questions
22. In determining the volume of an open hole with the diameter-squared method, a slightly
larger figure for diameter should be used to allow for
A. larger casing OD.
B. hole enlargement.
C. errors in calculation.
D. an extra amount of cement slurry as a safety factor.

23. Using the rule-of-thumb method, determine the amount of fluid needed to cement a 9 7/8
hole with 7 casing over a 5,000-foot interval.
A. 255 cu ft.
B. 1,428 cu ft.
C. 1,714 cu ft.
D. 14,280 cu ft.

24. The casing string most often cemented from the shoe to the surface is the
A. intermediate string.
B. oil string.
C. surface string.
D. conductor pipe.

Sections: Considerations after Cementing and Oilwell Cement and Cement Additives
25. Operators who bleed off some of the pressure on the casing following pump shutdown gain
some desirable results, including
A. positive or negative feedback on holding condition of back-pressure valve in the string.
B. possibility of immediate nippling-up.
C. minimized risk of loosening cement bond after cement hardens.
D. all of the above

26. Since regulations leave waiting-on-cement (WOC) time open when there is a float valve in
the string, an operator will probably start drilling out
A. immediately after a reasonable WOC time expires.
B. about 8 hours after WOC time starts.
C. about 12 hours after WOC time starts.
D. at his own discretion.

27. WOC time generally begins

A. when surface returns are seen around the surface casing.
B. after the cement plug is drilled out.
C. at a time designated by the operator.
D. when the plug bumps the float collar.

Assistant Driller Module

Workbook 9

Sedco Forex
Modular Training Program

Ref.: DRLWB.DOC
Section: 4 Page: 5
Issued: 01 May 1999
Revision: 01

Cementing
Workbook Questions
28. A problem concerning the height of cement in the annulus may best be solved, shortly after
the slurry is displaced, by conducting
A. bond logs.
B. radioactive tracers.
C. temperature surveys.
D. any of the above

29. An operator desiring to lower the density of cement slurry may do so by adding all of the
following except
A. perlite.
B. bentonite.
C. barite.
D. salt.

30. A temperature survey may be used to determine the top of cement because
A. cement absorbs heat as it sets.
B. the empty spaces above the cement are of a higher temperature than the cement.
C. cement gives off heat as it sets.
D. of none of the above.

31. Cement additives may be used to

A. increase setting time.
B. decrease setting time.
C. increase density.
D. all of the above

Section: Secondary Cementing

32. Plug-back cementing is used for each of the following except
A. repairing leaks in casing.
B. sealing off a dry hole.
C. shutting off depleted formation so that production can be taken from a higher zone.
D. repairing primary cementing failure.

33. The packer squeeze technique differs from the bradenhead technique in that
A. high-squeeze pressure may be achieved.
B. greater control over squeeze operation is available.
C. the zone to be treated is not isolated from the surface.
D. tubing and casing pressures are not tested for leaks.

34. Squeeze cementing is considered a method of

A. primary cementing.
B. plug-back cementing.
C. secondary cementing.
D. none of the above.

Assistant Driller Module

Workbook 9

Sedco Forex
Modular Training Program

Ref.: DRLWB.DOC
Section: 4 Page: 6
Issued: 01 May 1999
Revision: 01

Cementing
Workbook Questions
35. It is generally not necessary to move the pipe (by either rotation or reciprocation) when
setting a cement plug.
A. True
B. False