Polymer-cement composites with adhesion and re-adhesion (healing) to casing capability for geothermal wellbore applications. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rod, Kenton A.; Fernandez, Carlos A.; Nguyen, Manh-Thuong; Gardiner, James B.; Huerta, Nicolas J.; Glezakou, Vassiliki-Alexandra; Varga, Tamas; Rousseau, Roger; Koech, Phillip K.
• Is Part Of: Cement & concrete composites. Volume 107(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Cement-casing -- Bond strength -- Polymers -- Composite -- Oil well cement -- Geothermal; Composite-reinforced concrete -- Periodicals; Concrete -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composites de ciment -- Périodiques; Béton -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Béton léger -- Périodiques; Cement composites; Composite materials; Composite-reinforced concrete; Concrete; Lightweight concrete; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2019.103490
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-9465

Abstract

Abstract: Deterioration of cement/casing adhesion in wellbore scenarios can result in unwanted and potentially harmful leakage with the potential of serious repair costs. In this work, the authors explore the use of self-healing polymers added to conventional wellbore cements as a way to bring about self-healing and readhering (to casing) properties to the composite. Self-healing capability was demonstrated by permeability analysis showing that polymer-cement composites reduce flow by 50–70% at cement bulk and at the cement/steel interface. Use of atomistic simulations imply that these polymers have good wetting properties on the steel surfaces. Interactions between steel/polymer and cement/polymer are complementary, resulting in a wider range of bonding patterns. Cracks seem to expose under-coordinated sites that result in more bonding interactions, which agrees well with the permeability measurements showing high degree of healed cracks and cement-steel interfacial gaps together with an overall increased in structural integrity of these advanced polymer-cement composite materials.