Well cementing in permafrost

A process for cementing in the permafrost region of a wellbore comprising recovering at least part of the aqueous drilling fluid used in drilling a wellbore in the permafrost region, said drilling fluid containing from about 2 to about 16 volume percent solids, mixing with said drilling fluid an additive selected from the group consisting of lignosulfonate, lignite, tannin, and mixtures thereof in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 0.4 pounds per barrel per equivalent pounds per barrel of bentonite as determined by the methylene blue test, essentially contemporaneous with and/or subsequent to the addition of said additive, mixing with said drilling fluid sufficient of at least one base to raise the pH of the mixture into the range of from about 9 to about 12 and from about 50 to about 250 pounds per barrel of at least one cementitious material which will harden in from about 30 to about 40 hours at about 40.degree. F., pumping the resulting final mixture into the permafrost region of the wellbore to be cemented, and allowing said mixture to harden in said wellbore.