CEMENTING

Product Information

PRODUCTS

AND

SERVICES

A-3L
General

In cementing pipe in many types of wells, it is usually desirable to place a long solid column of cement in the
annulus up into the last string of pipe, or up to the surface. The use of a neat cement slurry to fill this column is,
in most cases, impractical due to the economics of pumping large quantities of neat cement when its properties
of very high strength are only required at the very bottom of the casing. In these cases, it is normal to pump an
extended cement slurry to fill most of the annulus, followed by a higher strength, neat cement slurry which will fill
the area around the bottom of the pipe. A difficulty, associated with long cement columns and/or weak
formations, is the potential loss of circulation if the hydrostatic pressure exceeds the strength of the formation.
An extended cement slurry, due to its lower density, will exert less hydrostatic pressure than an equivalent column
of neat slurry; thus a longer column of cement can be placed above the weak zone(s).

Thus, a cement extender will perform three functions:

1. Favorable economics, due to a lower cost per cubic foot of slurry;
2. Reduced storage, due to the increase of cubic feet of slurry per cubic foot of dry cement;
3. Reduced hydrostatic pressure, due to the lower density of an extended slurry.

Additive Description
A-3L is a clear to slightly cloudy liquid which has a viscosity similar to maple syrup and has a density of about
11.7 to 12.8 pounds per gallon (1402 to 1533 KGR/M). It is designed to be effective at all temperatures where
the cement can be sufficiently retarded. A-3L is a caustic compound, therefore, contact with the skin should be
avoided.

Applications
A-3L performs best in sea water or in fresh water to which calcium chloride (A-7 or A-7L) has been added. The
quantity of A-7L to add is roughly the same as the quantity of A-3L to be used. In some cases, A-3L may perform
satisfactorily in fresh water, but extensive testing is required. A-3L slurries do not respond well to A-7 or A-7L
accelerators. Neither do they respond well to the turbulizer-dispersants D-31 and D-31L. A-3L slurry will respond
to retarders, but not quite as well as a neat slurry would. Because of this, slightly higher concentrations of
retarder may be required. A-3L slurries are normally prepared at three different concentrations. These are:
LODENSE I:
LODENSE II:
LODENSE III:

23 GHS (Gallons per Hundred Sacks) A-3L

46 GHS A-3L
68 GHS A-3L

Advantages
1. A-3L slurries are low density which reduces the hydrostatic pressure from that of a neat slurry. Slurries as
light as 11.4 ppg (1370 KGR/M) 11.6 ppg with sea water (1390 KGR/M) can be prepared using the
LODENSE III system.
2. Relatively high strength cements result from using LODENSE. The strength is normally higher than for a
comparable weight slurry using other extenders.
3. The water ratio is somewhat variable. In some slurries it can be varied as much as 5 gallons per sack
without causing excessive changes in the slurry consistency.

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A-3L
Product Information

4. Bulk cement storage is minimized. The higher yields of LODENSE slurries results in large slurry volumes
from relatively small dry bulk storage.

Physical Properties
Appearance and odor:
Specific Gravity:
Boiling Point:
Solubility in W
ater:
Water:
pH:
Safety Precaution:

colorless, turbid liquid with no odor

1.40 - 1.54
214F - 216F (101C - 102C)
complete
12.0 - 14.0
A-3L is caustic compound, avoid contact with the skin and eyes. Wash with plenty of
water and seek medical attention if contacted.

Charts
RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF LODENSE WITH FRESH W
ATER
WA
Cement
Class

Lodense
System

Free W
ater
Water
% by
Volume

BC

0'

20'

N'

K'

Minimum V
elocity For
Velocity
Turbulence, Ft/Sec De As Shown
1"

2"

3"

4"

.8

.283

.1150

9.5

8.5

7.9

7.5

II

.6

.273

.0727

7.5

6.7

6.3

6.0

III

.3

.370

.0308

6.9

5.9

5.4

5.1

RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF LIQUID LODENSE WITH SEA W

ATER
WA
Cement
Class

Lodense
System

Free W
ater
Water
% by
Volume

BC

0'

20'

N'

K'

Minimum V
elocity For
Velocity
Turbulence, Ft/Sec De As Shown
1"

2"

3"

4"

.177

.3086

10.9

10.2

9.8

9.5

II

.302

.0572

7.2

6.4

6.0

5.7

III

.526

.0073

5.1

4.0

3.5

3.1

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A-3L
Product Information

CLASS G CEMENT - LIQUID LODENSE WITH FRESH W

ATER
WA
Liquid
Lodense
System

Gals Per 100 SK

Cem
A-3L

A-7L

23

20

II

46

III

68

Water
Gal Per SK of Cem

Yield
Cu Ft Per SK of Cem

Slurry Density

PCF

PPG

7.33

106.4

14.2

1.46

30

11.8

93.56

12.5

2.06

40

17.5

85.22

11.4

2.81

THICKENING TIME
I

II

CIRCULATING BHT, deg F

150

135

120

105

90

75
0

Thickening tim e, Hours

24 HOUR STRENGTH
I

II

III

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH, PS

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
50

100

150

STATIC TEMPERATURE, deg F

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200

A-3L
Product Information

CLASS G CEMENT - LIQUID LODENSE WITH SEA W

ATER
WA
Liquid
Lodense
System

A-3L
Gals Per 100 SK
Cem

23.0

7.33

107.7

14.4

1.46

II

46.0

11.8

95.0

12.7

2.06

III

68.0

17.5

86.8

11.6

2.81

Water
Gal Per SK of Cem

Slurry Density

Yield
Cu Ft Per SK of Cem

THICKENING TIME
I

II

III

175

CIRCULATING BHT, deg F

160

145

130

115

100
0

Thickening time, Hours

24 HOUR STRENGTH
I

II

III

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH, PS

3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
100

150

200

250

STATIC TEMPERATURE, deg F

The above features and/or data are supplied solely for informational purposes and BJ Services Company makes no guarantees or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to their accuracy or use. All product warranties and guarantees
shall be governed by the BJ Services Company standard at the time of sale or delivery of service. Actual product performance or availability depends on the timing and location of the job, the type of job and the particular characteristics of each job.
This document is controlled by the reference date. To ensure that this is the current version, please reference the Services section of the BJ Services Website (www.bjservices.com) or ask your BJ representative.

7/16/01

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