Method for designing low portland liquid cement with long shelf life

A method of preparing a cement comprising:

• (a) defining engineering parameters of a proposed cement slurry, wherein the engineering parameters comprise at least a density requirement, a compressive strength requirement, and a storage time requirement;
• (b) selecting at least a cement and mass fraction thereof, at least one supplementary cementitious material and mass fraction thereof, and a water and mass fraction thereof, such that a cement slurry formed from the cement, the at least one supplementary cementitious material, and the water meet or exceed the density requirement;
• (c) calculating a compressive strength of the cement slurry;
• (d) comparing the compressive strength of the cement slurry to the compressive strength requirement and repeating steps (b)-(d) if the compressive strength does not meet or exceed the compressive strength requirement, or performing step(e) if the compressive strength meets or exceeds the required compressive strength;
• (e) selecting a cement retarder and mass fraction thereof based at least in part on a thickening time model, the storage time requirement, an estimated daily high temperature, and an estimated daily low temperature;
• and
• (f) preparing the cement slurry comprising the cement and mass fraction thereof, the at least one supplementary cementitious material and mass fraction thereof, the water and mass fraction thereof, and the cement retarder and mass fraction thereof.