Work method to design extended life slurries

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 using a model of compressive strength, wherein the model of compressive strength includes a model element of sensitivity to change in water content in the cement slurry, wherein the model element of sensitivity to change in water amount in the cement slurry comprises an exponential term, a power law term, and/or a polynomial term relating an effect of water content in the cement slurry to compressive strength;
• (d) comparing the compressive strength of the cement slurry to the compressive strength requirement and either 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 compressive strength requirement;
• (e) calculating a storage time of the cement slurry, using a storage time mode, wherein the model of storage time includes a model element of sensitivity to change in water content in the cement slurry, wherein the model element of sensitivity to change in water amount in the cement slurry comprises an exponential term, a power law term, and/or a polynomial term relating an effect of water content in the cement slurry to storage time;
• (f) comparing the storage time to the storage time requirement and repeating steps (b)-(f) if the storage time does not meet or exceed the storage time requirement, or performing step (g) if the compressive strength meets or exceeds the required compressive strength;
• and
• (g) preparing the cement slurry.