ISO 18165:2001
(Main)Petroleum and natural gas industries — Performance testing of cementing float equipment
Petroleum and natural gas industries — Performance testing of cementing float equipment
Industries du pétrole et du gaz naturel — Mode opératoire des tests des équipements de cimentation des cuvelages
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Standards Content (Sample)
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 18165
First edition
2001-06-01
Petroleum and natural gas industries —
Performance testing of cementing float
equipment
Industries du pétrole et du gaz naturel — Mode opératoire des tests des
équipements de cimentation des cuvelages
Reference number
ISO 18165:2001(E)
©
ISO 2001
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ISO 18165:2001(E)
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ii © ISO 2001 – All rights reserved
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ISO 18165:2001(E)
Contents Page
Foreword.iv
Introduction.v
1 Scope .1
2 Functions of cementing float equipment .1
3 Float equipment performance criteria .2
3.1 General.2
3.2 Durability under downhole conditions .2
3.3 Differential pressure capability from below.2
3.4 Ability to withstand force exerted through cementing plugs from above.2
3.5 Drillability of the equipment .2
3.6 Ability to pass lost circulation materials.2
3.7 Flow coefficient of the valve.2
3.8 Reverse-flow resistance of casing fill-up valves.2
4 Apparatus and materials.3
4.1 Flow loop .3
4.2 Circulating test fluid .4
4.3 High-temperature/high-pressure test cell .5
5 Durability test.7
5.1 Test set-up.7
5.2 Test categories.7
5.3 Procedure .8
6 Static high-temperature/high-pressure test.8
6.1 Test categories.8
6.2 Procedure .9
7 Test results.9
Annex A (informative) Results of performance tests on cementing float equipment.10
Bibliography.12
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ISO 18165:2001(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO
member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard ISO 18165 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 67, Materials, equipment and
offshore structures for petroleum and natural gas industries, Subcommittee SC 3, Drilling and completion fluids,
and well cements.
Annex A of this International Standard is for information only.
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ISO 18165:2001(E)
Introduction
This International Standard is based on API Recommended Practice 10F, second edition, November, 1995.
Users of this International Standard should be aware that further or differing requirements may be needed for
individual applications. This International Standard is not intended to inhibit a vendor from offering, or the purchaser
from accepting, alternative equipment or engineering solutions for the individual application. This may be
particularly applicable where there is innovative or developing technology. Where an alternative is offered, the
vendor should identify any variations from this International Standard and provide details.
In this International Standard, where practical, U.S. Customary units are included in brackets for information.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 18165:2001(E)
Petroleum and natural gas industries — Performance testing of
cementing float equipment
1 Scope
This International Standard describes testing practices to evaluate the performance of cementing float equipment
for the petroleum and natural gas industries.
This International Standard is applicable to float equipment that will be in contact with water-based fluids used for
drilling and cementing wells. It is not applicable to float equipment performance in non-water-based fluids.
2 Functions of cementing float equipment
The term “cementing float equipment” refers to one or more check valves incorporated into a well casing string that
prevent fluid flow up the casing while allowing fluid flow down the casing. The primary purpose of cementing float
equipment is to prevent cement that has been placed in the casing/wellbore annulus from flowing up the casing
(U-tubing). In some cases, such as liner cementing, float equipment may be the only practical means of preventing
U-tubing. In other cases, the float equipment serves to allow the cement to set in the annulus without having to
increase the pressure inside the casing to prevent U-tubing. Increased pressure in the casing while cement sets is
generally undesirable because it can result in gaps (micro-annuli) in the cemented annulus.
Float equipment is also sometimes used for the purpose of lessening the load on the drilling rig. Since float
equipment blocks fluid flow up the casing, the buoyant force acting on casing run with float equipment is greater
than the buoyant force acting on casing run without float equipment. If either the height or the density of the fluid
placed inside casing equipped with float equipment while the casing is being run is less than that of the fluid
outside the casing, the suspended weight of the casing is reduced compared with what it would be without the float
equipment.
The ability of float equipment to prevent fluid flow up the casing is also important in certain well control situations. If
the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid inside the casing becomes less than the pressure of formation fluids in
formations near the bottom of the casing, fluids from the well may try to flow up the casing. In such a situation, the
float equipment becomes a primary well control device.
Float equipment is also sometimes used as a device to assist in pressure-testing of casing. This is normally done
by landing one or more cementing plugs on top of the float equipment assembly. The plugs seal the casing so that
the pressure integrity of the casing may be tested.
Float equipment is also used by some operators as a device to lessen the free fall of cement inside the casing. The
free fall of cement is the tendency of cement to initially fall due to the density differences between the cement and
the fluid in the well. The float equipment lessens the free fall, to some extent, by providing a constriction in the flow
path.
Casing fill-up float equipment is a special type of float equipment that allows the casing to fill from the bottom as the
casing is run. This is desirable, in some cases, to help reduce pressure surges as the casing is lowered. Fill-up
type float equipment also helps ensure that the collapse pressure of the casing is not exceeded. Once the casing is
run, the check valve mechanism of fill-up type float equipment is activated. This is normally done by either pumping
a surface-released ball through the equipment or by circulating above a certain rate.
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ISO 18165:2001(E)
3 Float equipment performance criteria
3.1 General
There are a number of performance criteria, listed below, that may be used to evaluate the suitability of a particular
piece of float equipment for a given well.
3.2 Durability under downhole conditions
Float equipment should still function after a fluid containing abrasive solids has been circulated through the
equipment for a period of time. The equipment should function in various orientations and while exposed to
elevated temperatures and pressures.
3.3 Differential pressure capability from below
Float equipment should be capable of withstanding a differential pressure with the higher pressure being exerted
from below the check valve, because the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid occupying the annulus immediately after
the cement has been placed is usually greater than the hydrostatic pressure of the corresponding column of fluid
inside the casing, or while the casing is being run.
3.4 Ability to withstand force exerted through cementing plugs from above
Float equipment should be able to withstand a force exerted through cementing plugs from above. Some operators
occasionally pressure-test the casing by increasing the pressure shortly after a cementing plug (top plug) used to
separate the cement from the displacement fluid has landed downhole. This can cause a force to be applied to the
float equipment that could cause the equipment to fail.
3.5 Drillability of the equipment
Float equipment should be easy to drill through, since in many cases, float equipment must be drilled out after
cementing.
3.6 Ability to pass lost circulation materials
Float equipment may be required to allow easy passage of lost circulation material (LCM). On occasion, the fluid
that is circulated through cementing float equipment contains LCM designed to bridge on highly permeable, vugular
or fractured formations to lessen the amount of fluid that is lost to the formations. Since float equipment generally
provides a constricted flow area for fluid passage, there can be a tendency for the LCM to bridge on the float
equipment valve and partially or totally block fluid circulation. Therefore, the ease with which the LCM can pass
through the float equipment may be a performance criterion for some wells.
3.7 Flow coefficient of the valve
Since float equipment provides a constriction in the flow path, there will be a pressure loss associated with
circulating fluid through the float valve. If the pressure loss through the float equipment is too high, circulation rates
can be limited. In some cases, however, a large pressure loss is desirable to reduce free fall of the cement. The
flow coefficient of the valve provides a means of estimating the pressure loss for a given fluid density and a given
rate.
3.8 Reverse-flow resistance of casing fill-up valves
One of the functions of casing fill-up float equipment is to reduce pressure surges as the casing is run by allowing
flow into the casing from the bottom. Therefore, the resistance of the valve to reverse flow is indicative of the
relative performance of the valve in reducing surge pressure.
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ISO 18165:2001(E)
4 Apparatus and materials
4.1 Flow loop
4.1.1 General
Figure 1 shows a diagram of one possible configuration of a flow loop for durability testing. Other configurations are
possible. The major components of the loop are the mud tank, the piping network, the pump and the
instrumentation. These components are discussed in the following paragraphs.
Key
1 Hopper 8 Flow meter
2 Compartment 1 9 LP safety valve
3 Agitator 10 Pressure transducer
4 Compartment 2 11 Hose
5 Mud tank 12 Float collar
6 Temperature probe 13 HP safety valve
7 Triplex pump 14 High-pressure line
Figure 1 — Suggested layout for cementing float equipment test flow loop
4.1.2 Mud tank
It is suggested that the mud tank consist of two compartments, with each compartment capable of holding about
3
15,9 m (100 bbl) of fluid. Each compartment should be fitted with adequate agitation and mixing devices to ensure
that the fluids remain well mixed. A valve should be arranged to allow communication between the compartments
so that the volume of fluid in the active tank can be adjusted. This will facilitate temperature regulation during a test.
A mud hopper should be arranged to facilitate the mixing of mud chemicals.
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ISO 18165:2001(E)
4.1.3 The piping network
The piping network should consist of 101,6 mm to 152,4 mm (4 in to 6 in) diameter pipe and valves. It is suggested
that the low-pressure portion of the piping network be rated to allow an operating pressure of at least 3 400 kPa
(500 psi), and it is suggested that the high-pressure portion of the flow loop, as shown in Figure 1, be rated to at
least 34 500 kPa (5 000 psi) working pressure. To facilitate testing fill-up type float equipment, it is suggested that
the piping be laid out in such a manner that the flow direction through the float equipment can easily be changed.
Both the high-pressure and the low-pressure portions of the flow loop should be equipped with pressure-release
type safety valves. It is suggested that a portion of the low-pressure side of the flow loop be made from a flexible
hose or an expansion joint to facilitate spacing out different length float equipment.
4.1.4 The pump
A triplex pump is suggested as the primary pump for the flow loop. The pump should be capable of pumping at
3
least 1,6 m /min (10 bbl/min) and pressure testing to 34 500 kPa (5 000 psi). As an alternative, a centrifugal type
pump may be used. However, this will necessitate the use of a second high-pressure type pump to perform the
back-pressure tests. It is suggested that a backup primary pump be available during testing periods.
4.1.5 The instrumentation
The instrumentation for the flow loop should consist of a flowrate meter, temperature probes and pressure
transducers, located as shown in Figure 1. It is suggested that a data acquisition system be provided for recording
the outputs from these devices during testing.
4.1.6 Safety precautions
In designing and operating the flow loop, the following safety precautions should be followed:
a) the flow loop should be constructed in a c
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