Equipment

Introduction
Cementing requires specially designed equipment. Equipment may be high-powered like the
CPF-376 double-pump cement trailer or CPT-372 double-pump cement truck or highly versatile
to accomplish numerous cementing operations each day, like the CemSTREAK cementing unit.
Even more specialized equipment is required for use offshore, with the skids designed to deliver
high power with high reliability. In many cases, offshore cementing is done using liquid additives
and LAS* liquid additive systems are used for precise delivery of the additives to the mixing system. When subsea heads are used, the DeepSea EXPRESS plug launching system is used for reliable wiper plug launching. Monitoring and recording of the cementing operation is done using
the CemCAT computer-aided treatment software and a portable computer. Innovative mixing
control is accomplished using the SFM* Solids Fraction Monitor.

CemSTREAK land cementing unit

The CemSTREAK land cementing unit is a lightweight, low-maintenance truck with four-wheel
drive that can be used for almost any cementing application. Its rugged, compact design enables
operation even in hard-to-reach locations. The simplicity of design and extensive test program
provide a high level of reliability over rough terrain and in bad weather and allow quick rig-up,
rig-down and cleanup. This unit enables as many as six jobs to be performed in one day.

The compact CemSTREAK unit can service wells in difficult-to-reach locations.

Designed for fast rig-up and rig-down, the unit can perform multiple jobs in one day.

Cementing Services and Products

Equipment

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The CemSTREAK unit is equipped with one triplex pump and two 1.1-m3 [6.9-bbl] displacement tanks, one of which doubles as the mix tank. The hydraulically driven triplex pump allows
control of flow rates and pressures and delivers 127 kW [170 hhp] of power. Two centrifugal
pumps enable high-energy mixing, pressurizing the triplex pump as well as bringing water onto
the unit.
The unit carries 38 m [125 ft] of treating hose, rated to 20.7-MPa [3,000-psi] working pressure,
to serve as the high-pressure conduit to the well. The hose is stored on an automated reel for fast
deployment and retrieval.
A nonradioactive mass-flow meter provides accurate measurements of slurry density, flow rate
and fluid volume even during U-tubing of fluids in the well.
Cleaning of the unit starts with the displacement tanks, which minimizes wastewater and
hence environmental impact.

Applications

Cementing services
Low- and intermediate-range pumping services
Remedial cementing operations requiring very low pump rates
Low-range pressure testing

Benefits

Ability to reach difficult locations

Savings in rig time through rapid rig-up and rig-down
Minimal environmental impact
Weight compliant with various road ban rules
Crew of only two operators for improved logistics, reduced risks and costs
Downtime probability reduced or eliminated by reliability of equipment
Ability to mix all slurry types

Features

78

Four-wheel drive
127-kW [170-hhp] triplex pump
Rating of 20.7-MPa [3,000-psi] working pressure
38 m [125 ft] of 50.8-mm [2-in.] hose rated to 20.7-MPa [3,000-psi] working pressure
Powered reel for hose storage, deployment and retrieval
1.11-m3/min [7-bbl/min] pump rate
Nonradioactive densitometer
SLURRY CHIEF Mark III cement mixer
Oilfield or metric gauges
Integrated data-acquisition system
Two 1.1-m3 [6.9-bbl] displacement tanks
CemCAT real-time monitoring
Four separate systems for pressure relief
Self-sufficient unit, including cement head and extra treating iron

Cementing Services and Products

CPF-376 double-pump cement trailer

This cement trailer is a state-of-the-art mixing and pumping unit for land operations. The highpower unit allows mixing and pumping cement at rates to 2.7 m3 [17 bbl/min] and at pressures
to 68.95 MPa [10,000 psi]. Pumps are available with rating to 137.9 MPa [20,000 psi]. The unit is
fully redundant, allowing operations to continue in the event of failure of one of its components.

The CPF-376 double-pump cement truck delivers high reliability in high-pressure pumping operations.

A SLURRY CHIEF mixer with automated density control is used in conjunction with
a 0.95-m3 [6-bbl] mixing tub and a 2.2-m3 [14-bbl] averaging tank. This arrangement produces
superior density control and separates the critical mixing stage from downhole pumping.
It also provides the ability to mix 3.2 m3 [20 bbl] of cement in batch mode for squeeze and plug
operations.The CemCAT system is used to monitor and record treatment parameters and to
provide a job report.

Applications

Cementing services
High-power pumping services
Remedial cementing operations

Benefits

Equipment

Full redundancy ensures ability to complete job

Downtime reduced or eliminated by reliability of equipment
Ability to mix all slurry types

79

Features

194-kW [260-hhp] power per triplex pump, for a total of 388 kW [520 hhp]
2.7-m3/min [17-bbl/min] pump rate
Working pressure rating to 137.9 MPa [20,000 psi]
Fully redundant for high reliability
SLURRY CHIEF Mark III cement mixer
Automatic density control system
Two nonradioactive densitometers
Oilfield or metric gauges
Underdrive for pumping at low rates
Direct drive centrifugal pumps for reliability
Integrated data-acquisition system
CemCAT real-time monitoring
Self-sufficient unit, including treating iron

CPT-372 double-pump cement truck

The CPT-372 truck is a high-power cement mixing and pumping unit that allows mixing and
pumping at rates to 2.7 m3 [17 bbl/min] and at pressures to 68.95 MPa [10,000 psi]. The unit is
fully redundant, allowing operations to continue even if one component fails.

The CPT-372 double-pump cement truck delivers high reliability in high-pressure

pumping operations.

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Cementing Services and Products

A SLURRY CHIEF mixer is used in conjunction with a 0.95-m3 [6-bbl] mixing tub. This arrangement produces superior density control and separates the critical mixing stage from downhole
pumping. It also provides ability to mix a maximum of 3.2 m3 [20 bbl] of cement in batch mode
for squeeze and plug operations.
The CemCAT system is used to monitor and record treatment parameters and to provide
a job report.

Applications

Cementing services
High-power pumping services
Remedial cementing operations

Benefits

Full redundancy ensures ability to complete job

Downtime reduced or eliminated by reliability of equipment
Ability to mix all slurry types

Features

Power to 388 kW [520 hhp]

Pump rate to 2.7 m3/min [14 bbl/min]
Working pressure rating of 68.95 MPa [10,000 psi]
Fully redundant for high reliability
SLURRY CHIEF Mark III cement mixer
Nonradioactive densitometer
Oilfield or metric gauges
Integrated data-acquisition system
CemCAT real-time monitoring
Self-sufficient unit, including treating iron

Offshore cementing skids

Schlumberger provides a versatile line of CPS* cement pumping skids specially designed to meet
all offshore cement mixing and pumping requirements. These skids can produce up to 1,490 kW
[2,000 hhp] for high-pressure pumping.
Two triplex pumps equip the unit for simultaneous high-energy mixing and downhole pumping or for parallel downhole pumping. Two engines (diesel or electric) power the unit. The design
focuses on reliability, redundancy and noise reduction. The units are typically controlled from a
local console but optional remote control packages are available. Optional marine cooling kits
and a helicopter lift unit are available.
Cement slurries are mixed using the SLURRY CHIEF recirculating mixer fitted with an SFM
quality control monitor or an SFM-C* process control unit for automatic density control. The
SLURRY CHIEF unit mixes consistent slurries at rates to 1.75 m3/min [11 bbl/min]. Equalizing
tubs provide excellent slurry uniformity (3 m3 [19 bbl]).

Equipment

81

CPS cement pumping skids are available in a number of configurations to fit any requirement.

Offshore cementing skids are fitted with all sensors necessary for direct connection to the
CemCAT data-acquisition and monitoring system. The CemCAT system monitors and records
the critical job parameters including rate, pressure and slurry density.
Batch mixers, such as the CBS-961 twin 50-bbl mixer, are available for mixing of cement
slurries or other fluids. The CBS-961 unit features two centrifugal pumps for picking up fluids
from remote tanks, recirculating for mixing and for delivering fluid to high-pressure pumps.

Standard equipment

SLURRY CHIEF cement mixer

Nonradioactive densitometer
Two triplex pumps
Stainless-steel displacement tanks
Slurry pump
Recirculation pump
Two mixing water pumps
Full selection of fluid ends

Optional equipment

82

SFM package
Automatic density control
Zone II-certified engine package
Remote control package
Split skid with bulkhead
Optional loose equipment skid
Marine cool kit
Liquid additive metering system
Soundproof enclosure (for CPS-601 and CPS-665 units)

Cementing Services and Products

Applications

All cementing jobs

High-pressure pumping services
Fluid pickup from remote sources
Metering of mixing fluids
Metering and pumping of displacement fluids
Downhole pumping using one or both triplex pumps

Table 6-1. Dimensions of Offshore Cementing Units

CPS 361

CPS 601

CPS 665

CPS 763AC

CPS 763DC

CPS 2000

Length (mm [in.])

6,511 [256]

7,710 [304]

7,863 [310]

8,180 [322]

7,823 [308]

7,164 [282]

Width (mm [in.])

2,578 [102]

3,011 [119]

2,898 [114]

3,007 [118]

3,150 [124]

3,841 [151]

Height (mm [in.])

3,043 [120]

3,467 [136]

3,333 [131]

3,339 [132]

3,323 [131]

3,267 [129]

32,180 [70,960]

33,840 [74,600]

37,360 [82,380]

38,010 [83,810]

46,795 [103,180]

Operating weight (kg [lbm]) 20,658 [45,550]

Table 6-2. Performance of Offshore Cementing Units

CPS 361

CPS 601

CPS 665

CPS 763AC

CPS 763DC

CPS 2000

Power (kW [hhp])

410 [550]

626 [840]

1,044 [1400]

1,194 [1600]

1,194 [1600]

1,490 [2000]

Max. rate at
41.4 MPa [6,000 psi]
(m3/min [bbl/min])

1.6 [10]

3.1 [19.7]
at 46.9 MPa
[6,800 psi]

2.9 [18.3]

2.9 [18.3]

2.9 [18.3]

3.8 [24.0]

LAS liquid additive system

Modular systems, such as the CMP-351 unit, deliver metered amounts of liquid additives to the
cement slurry as it is mixed. Metering of liquid additives adds versatility to the mixing process,
enabling the mixing of various slurry systems from bulk storage of neat cement. Metering can be
manual, or automatic when the CMP-751 LAS metering unit is used. With the CMP-751 unit, electromagnetic flow meters control the additive metered into the displacement tanks.

Applications

Offshore cementing operations

Operations in remote areas

Benefits

Equipment

Allows use of neat (unblended) cement for all operations

Provides high versatility in slurry designs
Simplifies logistics
Enables last-minute design without regard to time of transport from base
Eliminates waste of unused blended cement
Enables decisions on treatment volumes at time of job

83

Features

Meters up to four different additives into mixer

Stainless-steel construction for durability
Remote control of additive addition
Certified for Zone II operations
Electromagnetic flow meters

CemCAT cementing computer-aided treatment software

The CemCAT system is a quality control (QC) and data-acquisition software for acquiring, recording, displaying, and reporting cementing and related pumping treatment data in real time.
CemCAT system real-time displays and plots present detailed job information to decision-makers.
User friendly and quickly accessible, the CemCAT system provides enough defaults for the system
to be used quickly with a minimum of user input, or it can be completely customized.
By acquiring data from existing hardware on cementing units, the CemCAT system provides
efficient data transfer between the Wellsite Reporting System and Schlumberger CemCADE
cementing design software. Integration of up-to-the-minute data with design and evaluation software results in precise treatment design and execution. During the job, the CemCAT system
tracks the design and displays actual job parameters compared with planned values.
With the CemCAT system, quality assurance (QA)/QC plots can be generated at the end of
each treatment to determine if a job was pumped within the designed density range. Internet
connectivity allows the transmission of data from a remote wellsite to anywhere in the world for
real-time analysis. The CemCAT system also provides the means to easily archive job data for
future use.

Applications

Primary and remedial cementing operations

Miscellaneous high-pressure pumping services for testing blowout preventers or for leakoff or
formation integrity tests
Matrix acidizing and coiled tubing services

Benefits

Superior QC during all treatment phases

Precise treatments that follow job design
Immediate data for job-critical decisions, thus reducing risk
Exceptional flexibility, performance and reliability

Features

84

Complete integration with CemCADE design and evaluation software

Clear, customizable digital displays and plots of job data
Real-time data transmission from wellsite to any location worldwide
Detailed postjob plots including QA and QC plots and reports
Archive of job data for future use

Cementing Services and Products

SFM-C process control

An important element of successful low-density slurry placement and ideal set-cement properties is QC. A key measure of quality in cement slurries is the solids fraction, which is the percent
of dry components in the slurry. In a conventional cementing operation, densitometers measure
slurry density, and the solids fraction can be calculated from the density measurements.
Variation in the solids fraction of the slurry affects all the cement properties. Too many solids and
the slurry will be too viscous and set early. Too few solids and free fluid will be high and the compressive strength will be low and develop late. For certain slurries, such as very low density slurries, slurry quality cannot be determined using density measurements.
In ultralightweight slurries, the densities of the dry blend and the mix water can be nearly the
same, so density measurements cannot discriminate between water and solids. The density
would be the same, even if the slurry consisted entirely of water. For example, a slurry designed
at 1020 kg/m3 [8.5 lbm/gal] with 57% solids content and monitored using only a densitometer
with a variation of 12 kg/m3 [0.1 lbm/gal] in density will have a solids content ranging from 24%
to 84%.
The SFM-C process control system provides a new method for real-time slurry QC that accurately determines and controls solid/liquid ratios without making density measurements. The
system measures the rate of mix water and slurry flows and calculates the solids fraction from
those measurements. From this determination, the fluid density is easily computed. The solids
fraction is automatically maintained by process control of the water and cement flow into
the mixer.

SFM-C system instantly displays critical data in convenient, readable formats.

Equipment

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Slurry density
Slurry rate
Solid fraction

Solid
fraction
(%)

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Slurry density
(lbm/gal)
Slurry rate
(bbl/min)

45

Time (min)

Volume
(%)

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

88% of volume 2% of the solid-fraction target

99% of volume 0.2 lbm/gal

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Solid fraction (%)

The SFM-C system controls the solids fraction, which in turn controls the density.

The SFM-C system is a complementary technology, designed to provide QC for very low density
LiteCRETE slurry systems. Although SFM-C technology was developed specifically for lightweight-cement operations, it is effective for slurries of any density.
This new SFM-C technology allows cementing crews to maintain slurry properties while continuously mixing and pumping large slurry volumes. The system requires a slurry flow meter, such
as the nonradioactive densitometer already available on cementing units, a residence tank sensor, a water flow meter and process-controlled valves. These retrofits can be added easily to land
or offshore mixing equipment.
User-friendly software helps cementing crews monitor and easily switch between automatic
and manual control.

Applications

86

All cementing operations

Slurries with very low densities (less than 1,320 kg/m3 [11 lbm/gal])

Cementing Services and Products

Benefit

Excellent QC

Features

Continuous-mixing control of all slurries, even at densities equal to or lower than that of water
More sensitive method for controlling cement mixing than by density measurement
Independent of specific gravity of components
Automatic control of slurry quality
Real-time monitoring
Complete compatibility with all data-acquisition systems
Easy installation on conventional mixing equipment

Nonradioactive densitometer
Density measurement and control in the oil industry have traditionally been accomplished by
using radioactive densitometers, mainly because they are nonintrusive, durable and easy to use.
Unfortunately, the radioactive technique has several major drawbacks; the radioactive source
presents safety and environmental concerns, and the required accuracy (12 kg/m3 [0.1 lbm/gal])
is difficult to attain.
Because of the deficiencies of radioactive densitometers, Schlumberger uses a nonradioactive
densitometer that employs a proven method; poses no health, safety, or environmental hazard;
and provides direct density measurements with an accuracy of better than 12 kg/m3 [0.1 lbm/gal].
The nonradioactive densitometer is extremely reliable, easy to use and requires no on-site calibration. Additionally, it measures flow rate with an accuracy of 0.5% of reading and can be used
as a flow-measurement instrument for acidizing service. The vibrating tube principle governs the
density measurement in the nonradioactive densitometer.

The nonradioactive densitometer is a rugged, field-proven instrument with excellent reliability.

Equipment

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Applications

Cementing operations with slurry density over 1,200 kg/m3 [10 lbm/gal]
Land and offshore (including Zone II)
Process controlled operations
Can be used for acidizing service

Benefits

Accurate density measurement

Reliability, requires no on-site calibration
Minimal environmental and safety concerns

Features

88

No radioactive source
Superior accuracy and field-proven reliability for measuring density and flow rate
Accuracy greater than 12.0 kg/m3 [0.1 lbm/gal]
Virtually maintenance-free
Easy configuration; easily drained and cleaned in place
Output (density, rate) independent of changes in temperature, pressure, flow profile
or viscosity
Fast response time

Cementing Services and Products