Clinker Slurry for Cementing Across Salt Formations

Abstract

Potassium chloride (KCl) is more effective in preventing salt layer dissolution than sodium chloride (NaCl) while cementing across salt formations. This paper studied the effect of KCl on the properties of cement slurry and found that KCl worsened the flowability of cement slurry. Experimental evidence confirmed that an alkaline environment promoted the dissolution of gypsum, leading to its reaction with KCl to produce syngenite. A large amount of needle-shaped syngenite caused the cement slurry to lose flowability. In addition, silica flour slurry was designed to prove the formation of syngenite and the effect of syngenite on the rheological property of the slurry. In a new way, clinker was used to prepare slurry containing KCl to prevent the generation of syngenite. The effect of KCl on the properties of clinker slurry was evaluated. The dissolution experiment of halite in clinker slurry filtrate proved that KCl had a strong ability to inhibit the dissolution of halite.