Cement fluid loss reduction

A method for preparing an aqueous oil field cement slurry for injection between a borehole and a pipe within the borehole, comprising:

• preparing an effective amount of polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl acetate functional to reduce fluid loss of the cement slurry;
• preparing an effective amount of a surfactant functional 1) to interact with said polymer to reduce fluid loss of the cement slurry, 2) to disperse the cement in the slurry, and 3) to improve interfacial sealing between the cement and at least one of a) the pipe, and b) the borehole, said surfactant reducing the surface tension of the aqueous phase of the slurry by from about 20 to 55 dynes/centimeter, said surfactant being selected from the group consisting of sodium decyl sulfate, sodium tridecyl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate a C.sub.12 -C.sub.13 linear alcohol ethoxylate with about 3 moles ethylene oxide, a C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 linear alcohol ethoxylate sulfate with about 3 moles ethylene oxide, a C.sub.14 -C.sub.15 linear alcohol ethoxylate sulfate with about 2.5 moles ethylene oxide, a sodium salt of alkyl aryl polyether sulfonate, cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate;
• and
• blending the polymer, surfactant, water and cement to form the cement slurry.