# US 9,038,450 B2 · Method and apparatus for characterizing fluid channeling through a cement formation interface of a subterranian wellbore > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,450 B2 - Document ID: US9038450B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/745,456 - Filed: 2013-01-18 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-18 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Sairam K S Pindiprolu; Abhinandan Chiney; Venkata Gopala Rao Palla - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038450B2 ## CPC - G01N 15/0826: {and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change} - E21B 33/13: Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like - E21B 33/14: for cementing casings into boreholes - G01N 15/0806: {Details, e.g. sample holders, mounting samples for testing} - G01N 33/383: {Concrete or cement} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract Disclosed is an apparatus and method for testing a cemented bonding with the formation under wellbore pressure conditions. The apparatus comprises a pressure chamber containing a core of formation material. The cement material to be tested is allowed to set or bond to one side of the core while formation fluids under wellbore pressure conditions are present on the other side. Leakage of formation fluids is measured to evaluate the quality of the interface between the cement and formation materials. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for qualifying the fluid influx through the interface between the cement material to a formation material that is exposed to formation fluids at pressures present in a wellbore at a subterranean location, comprising the steps of: providing a pressure vessel; creating a formation interface in the vessel between a slurry of the cement material and the formation material; maintaining the pressure in the vessel above atmospheric pressure while allowing the cement material to harden; and measuring the quantity of fluid that has seeped in through the interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the formation material is rock. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising the step of contacting the formation material with formation fluid while hardening the cement material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the formation fluid and cement slurry are maintained at the same pressure while the cement hardens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the formation fluid and cement slurry are maintained at the different pressures while the cement hardens. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the formation fluid is maintained at a pressure higher than the pressure of the cement slurry while the cement hardens. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the formation fluid is maintained at a pressure lower than the pressure of the cement slurry while the cement hardens. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating a cement formation material interface comprises inserting a cylindrical shaped formation material and placing cement slurry around the formation material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, additionally comprising inserting formation fluids into the interior of the formation material cylinder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the formation fluid and cement slurry are maintained at the same pressure while the cement hardens. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the formation fluid and cement slurry are maintained at the different pressures while the cement hardens. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the formation fluid is maintained at a pressure higher than the pressure of the cement slurry while the cement hardens. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the formation fluid is maintained at a pressure lower than the pressure of the cement slurry while the cement hardens. ### Claim 14 An apparatus for use in testing the bonding of a cement material to a sample of formation material, comprising: a pressure vessel defining a sealed vessel chamber for receiving a cement slurry; and a formation sample in the vessel chamber, a sealed chamber formed inside the formation sample. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, where in the formation sample is cylindrical shaped. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, additionally comprising plugs located in the ends of the cylindrical shaped formation sample to close off the end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, additionally comprising a pump connected to chamber in the pressure vessel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, additionally comprising a pump connected to chamber in the formation sample vessel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, additionally comprising a piston reciprocally mounted in the chamber of the pressure vessel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus according to claim 19, where in a plurality of pistons are reciprocally mounted in the chamber of the pressure vessel.