Traceable well cement compositions and methods

An improved method of cementing a zone in a well utilizing a hydraulic cement composition and subsequently detecting the subterranean location of the cement composition therein comprising the steps of:

• combining with said cement composition a normally non-radioactive tracer compound which becomes radioactive and emits detectible rays when exposed to neutrons, wherein said tracer compound accelerates the early strength development of said cement composition;
• introducing said cement composition into said zone to be cemented;
• emitting neutrons from a source thereof in said well whereby said tracer compound becomes radioactive and emits detectible rays;
• and
• detecting the presence of said detectible rays and thereby determining the location of said cement composition in said well.

An improved method of cementing a subterranean zone in a well comprising the steps of:

• introducing a traceable cement composition into the subterranean zone to be cemented, said cement composition comprising:
• a hydraulic cement;
• sufficient water to form a pumpable slurry;
• and
• a normally non-radioactive tracer compound which accelerates the early strength development of the cement composition and which becomes radioactive when exposed to neutrons whereby detectible rays are emitted;
• emitting neutrons from a source thereof in the well whereby said tracer compound becomes radioactive and emits detectible rays;
• and
• detecting the presence of said detectible rays and thereby determining the location of said cement composition in the well.

A method of cementing a zone in a well utilizing a hydraulic cement composition and subsequently detecting the subterranean location of the cement composition therein comprising the steps of:

• combining with said cement composition a normally non-radioactive tracer which becomes radioactive and emits detectible rays when exposed to neutrons, wherein said tracer is a vanadium compound;
• introducing said cement composition into said zone to be cemented;
• emitting neutrons from a source thereof in said well whereby said tracer compound becomes radioactive and emits detectible rays;
• and
• detecting the presence of said detectible rays and thereby determining the location of said cement composition in said well.