The effect of nanosilica on the physical properties of oil well cement

In this research, the performance of nanoscale SiO2 in cement mortars was experimentally studied. The experimental results illustrate that the SiO2 nanostructure, which was mixed with the cement mortars was highly beneficial in improving the rheological properties of drilling cement slurry, concurrently producing an increase in the compressive and flexural strengths of the cement mortar. In addition, there was no free water found in the designed slurries using nanosilica. Results indicated that by using this nanosilica, the setting time and the length of the dormant period were decreased. Also, studying the porosity of cements designed using nanosilica showed a decrease in cement porosity as the amount of nanosilica was increased in the investigated slurries. Moreover, cements designed by using these silica nanostructures had the lowest permeability among all examined ones, which were designed utilizing other methods. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.