Abstract:
Salt rock formations are commonly drilled during oil and gas production. Their creep characteristics exert continuous compressive forces on casings, leading to deformation or even failure, which severely impacts the lifespan and operational safety of oil and gas wells. To effectively mitigate the damage caused by salt rock creep to casings, this study focuses on a cement slurry system incorporating hollow microspheres. By leveraging the stress-relieving effect of microsphere fragmentation, the interfacial stress between the casing and cement sheath is reduced, and formation creep displacement is absorbed, thereby protecting the casing. Through laboratory evaluation tests, a salt rock creep environment was simulated to investigate the influence of cement with varying hollow microsphere content and particle size on casing deformation. The results indicate that during the initial stage of salt rock creep, the hollow microspheres in the cement absorb formation creep displacement through fragmentation, preventing casing deformation. When the creep displacement exceeds a critical threshold, the casing begins to deform, and the degree of deformation increases with further creep displacement. Increasing the content and particle size of hollow microspheres in the cement significantly enhances its ability to absorb critical salt rock creep displacement, effectively reducing the compressive effect of formation creep on the casing and lowering the risk of casing deformation.