Suggestion – Consider regrouping checklist by topic or issue such as mud,

tools, hole conditioning, accessories, etc, etc.

Cementing Casing Checklist

General Considerations

 Review the program to ensure requirements are understood and obtainable.

 Lower mud gel strength, yield point, and plastic viscosity to within value
range specified before removing the drill pipe. Be careful not to impair
mud’s ability to suspend the weighting agent.

 Clean and inspect all bulk tanks prior to blowing cement in.

 Confirm thickening time sufficient for the job requirements.

 Ensure cement & water samples are forwarded in adequate time for testing.
Review written results as soon as available w/ engineering & service
company

 Tanks used for mix water should be clean.

 Ensure actual mix water temperature is within design parameter

 Verify stand back area boards are in good condition.

 Verify rig equipment adequate for the pumping rate & pressure rating.

 Confirm tubing and handling tools are on location for possible top job.

 Verify rig handling capacities, slings, spreader bars, space for tubulars,
sufficient Chicksans & lines are fit for purpose.

 Confirm pipe movement effects - check V-door tail rope for length, defects,
etc. Replace if necessary.

 Check preventive maintenance for permanently installed equipment.

 Confirm cementing lines secured, flushed & tested

 Ensure stage collar, first stage plug, opening bomb, and closing plug are on
location prior to pull out of hole with drill pipe (if stage cement job is
planned). Confirm that all are fit for purpose.

Cmt._Casing_Checklist - IPM
  Correct stinger, cementing head & plugs, equipment for running retainer
(connections for cementing kelly, top drive side swivel, or power swivel).

1. Proper connections

2. Both top and bottom plugs are correct size and compatible for seating
and sealing.

3. Plugs are compatible with bit to be utilized on drill out.

 Ensure that Surface Dart Launcher and SST are checked and loaded.

1. Proper connections

2. Both top and bottom plugs are correct size and compatible for seating
and sealing.

3. Plugs are compatible with bit to be utilized on drill out.

 Have a good (at least 3” hose) with ¼ turn valve running off a dedicated
centrifugal pump to fill casing.

 If the pipe is to be reciprocated during the job, ensure the air hoist is installed
on the chiksans/cementing hose to assist in raising and lowering.

 Prior to loading cement, ensure tanks are clean and free of moisture. Ensure
all spiders (air jets) are clean and in good shape.

 Prior to taking cement from boats, ensure all hoses are in good shape. Blow
air through to tanks prior to blowing any bulk. Ensure no obstructions.

 Check back-up equipment (if/when available) for bulk air compressor, mix
water lines/pumps, etc.

 Ensure provisions have been made to handle displaced fluids during

cementing job (lower mud tank levels if needed).

 Safety Sub: Have a X-over from the casing thread to the drill pipe

 Ensure Safety Sub ID is full opening & OD will allow casing to be run to
bottom without clearance problems. Ensure top of X-over is beveled to allow
ease of pulling out of hole.

 Verify sufficient cement & additives for casing job & squeeze work, if required

Cmt._Casing_Checklist - IPM
  Use cement unit for displacing, i.e. using a barrel counter and a marked tank
for cross check

 Verify that there are proper plans for all related transportation matters, such
as cement barge, workboats, and helicopters.

 Be sure that dry air is always used to handle cement.

 Verify cement location i.e. silos, permanent tanks, multiple tanks.

 Be prepared to handle the large mud volume that will be displaced from the
hole during the cementing operation. Plan for disposal or storage.

 Collect a sample (a minimum of 1 gallon) from each compartment of each

bulk tanks. Collect a minimum of 2 gallons of the mix water for the same
purpose.

 Review hole geometry and mud properties to determine potential for

problems.

 Prior to the job, review the requirement for additional personnel needed such
as toolhands, field engineer, cementing supervisor, helpers, casing crews,
mud engineer, etc.

 Discuss and develop contingencies with well site team: Do you need a wiper
trip after logging? What action will be taken if: some of the major pumping is
lost, lose returns, early returns, inadequate density maintenance, plug
doesn't bump, stage cementing tools fails to open, casing doesn't reach
bottom, floats don't hold, backside flow after job, casing parts or splits,
plugged floats, lost foreign material, weather.

 Ensure that there are at least two independent mixing & displacement
calculations for comparison.

 Liquid Additive Systems (L.A.S.). Check and understand the type system to
be used. Refer to: LAS Checklists

 Confirm correct volumes & sufficient quantity (excess if required) of mix

water additives, cement, pit volume, plugs, spacers, and displacement fluids.

 Recheck volume & temperature determinations for the job. It is very

important to have very accurate displacement calculations

 If drill pipe is used as a landing string, use the tooljoint corrected volumes.

 Well site Supervisor & Cementer must prepare & compare independent
mixing & displacement calculations.
Cmt._Casing_Checklist - IPM
  Ensure that the program volumes been adjusted based on the caliper
information.

 Verify the following cementing calculations:

1. Weight of casing prior to landing & equipment safety factors.

2. Weight of casing at the hanger when cement is in place.

3. Landing string buoyed weight when SSR in use.

4. Circulation volume.

5. Volume and density of preflush.

6. Reduction, if any, of hydrostatic head due to preflush, assuming

gauge hole. Ensure sufficient overbalance is maintained.

7. Lead & tail slurry volume including excess

8. Hydrostatic pressure when cement fully displaced. Check against

expected frac pressure @ shoe or weakest zone.

9. Mix water, cement, & additives requirements for all slurries.

10. Minimum slurry volumes ignoring excesses.

11. Capacity of cement lines & displacement volumes

12. Time for bottom plug to bump.

13. Slurry mixing time.

14. Displacement time & strokes.

15. Total job time compared to thickening time.

16. Anticipated and maximum (if gauge) TOC.

17. Calculate the maximum tension applied to top of casing when plug
bumps & when casing is pressure tested. The values are theoretical,
and actual well conditions must be monitored.

 Confirm the following calculations (Cementing program & cementing

engineer):

Cmt._Casing_Checklist - IPM
 1. Theoretical pumping pressures versus slurry & displacement
volumes.

2. Maximum possible returns from the cement job, ignoring circulating

losses, and the maximum displacement volume required to catch up
with "U" tubed cement.

3. Theoretical static differential pressure to bump plug.

 Maximum circulating & displacing rates which will not cause the ECD to
exceed formation allowable pressures.

 Ensure good communications between the rig floor and the cementing unit.

 Perform Pre Job Safety Meeting.

 Collect samples of cement, blend, and mixed water.

 If displacing with rig pumps, test pump efficiency prior to the cement job.

 Verify specifications for mud properties prior to cementing.

 Verify criteria for reciprocating casing during cement job.

 Ensure that the mudloggers monitor for returns during job, reporting losses,
gases, etc, to the Driller, Mud Engineer, Drilling Supervisor.

 Ensure to lower closing pressure for annular preventer for casing as per the
chart (no chart specified or attached??).

 Consider using the actual ID of the casing, need to micrometer, for

displacement volumes, especially for 9 5/8" casing.

Job Execution

 Collect a dry sample during the job when 15-20%, 45-50%, and 80-85% of
the cement being used for a total of 3 samples minimum. Collect a liquid
additive samples prior to job and mix water w/ additives during job. The
cementing contractor should advise on the amount of sample required.

 The Mud Engineer shall record initial pit levels. He shall be present at the
mud pits during the whole cementing and displacement operations reporting
any loss on returns, pertinent facts and data.

 Ensure to take samples of the mixed cement at the START, MIDDLE and
END of each stage (lead & tail) of the cement job.

Cmt._Casing_Checklist - IPM
  Use pressurized balances & ensure that they were calibrated.

 Verify loading order of plugs and integrity of bottom plug. Note on the job log.

 Verify two plug cementing head for proper operation and special bail
requirements, if required. The Cementing Operator shall personally release
the top plug and the Well Site Supervisor shall personally witness the
process.

 If a two plug head is unavailable, load the top plug into the head after kicking
out the bottom plug with pre-flush.

 Ensure adequate spacer mixing facilities on the rig.

 If using stab-in tools be careful to prevent casing collapse should hole bridge
off.

 Surface lines should be manifolded in advance to facilitate plug release

without having to break connections to drop plugs.

 Consult design to confirm order of additives for addition to mix water or

cement.

 Ensure that every effort is made to keep the air dry for blowing the cement.

 Prepare for cement returns to surface and determine in advance where to

put it.

 Do not pull the bulk tank(s) dry

 Confirm that the top plug will be displaced until it bumps (or over-
displacement volume established).

 Upon displacement of the top plug, test casing after the floats have been
checked. Record final pressure just prior to bumping plug to determine TOC.

 After landing the top plug, check for backflow. If none occurs, leave the
casing open and flow check for 30 min. If the float doesn't hold, close the
casing, but monitor pressure build-up until the cement sets up. Do not let the
pressure build-up in the casing exceed the differential pressure required to
displace the plug to the float collar (the maximum surface pressure just
before the plug bumps).

 Upon conclusion, measure & record cement and mix water volumes. Use
material balance calculations to confirm cement was pumped as designed.
Make note of differences on job report.

Cmt._Casing_Checklist - IPM
  The job is not finished until all reporting has been completed!

General References:

Cement Slurry Design (IPM-WELL-S023)

Cement Placement (IPM-WELL-S024)

Setting and Verification of Cement Plugs (IPM-WELL-S025)

Leak Off Test or Shoe Test (IPM-WELL-S026)

Cmt._Casing_Checklist - IPM