Mud conversion well cementing technology: comparative study of the use of electric arc furnace slag and blast furnace slag

The mud-to-cement conversion or 'slag-mix' technology displays several advantages when compared to conventional well cementing operations. This alternative method means to combine drilling fluids, accelerators, and finely granulated slag as the hydraulic material. This work compares the use of two slag-mix systems containing an amorphous electric arc furnace slag and a vitrified blast furnace slag, respectively, during well cementing operations in the Amana field near Maracaibo. It can be concluded that low iron electric arc furnace slag may be suitable to be used in the application of the mentioned-above technology, although providing lower values of early compressive strength than the blast furnace slag. Nevertheless, slag-mud slurries containing electric arc furnace slag are more advantageous for well cementing when a low fracture gradient is predicted. [Received: December 2, 2014; Accepted: May 2, 2015]