Potential Utilization of Rock-Based Geopolymers for Oil Well Cementing at Cold Areas

Geopolymers are class of inorganic polymers developed from aluminosilicate materials. Application of geopolymers in oil and gas industry has gotten the attention of engineers due to mechanical properties and their durability in corrosive environments. All the experiments conducted are in lab scale and elevated temperatures. However, their performance at low temperatures has not been tested. In this article, properties of rock-based geopolymers, liquid state and solid state, developed for well cementing is measured at 4-30ᵒC whereas called low temperature. Viscosity, consistency, static gel strength, and strength development are among the properties measured. Viscosity of the slurry was increased as temperature was reduced. The lower the temperature the longer the setting time. When the slurry started to set, static gel strength development was relatively fast. The geopolymer developed strength at low temperatures and the right-angle-set properties was remained. Strength development does not have linear relationship with temperature.