Measurement of properties of sample of curing compositions under high pressure

1. A method for testing a curing composition, the method comprising:

(a) providing a curing composition;

(b) injecting the curing composition into a hollow body of a mold so that the curing composition contacts the hollow body, the hollow body having a main axis and comprising:

a flexible internal layer radially deformable to the main axis when subjected to a controlled test pressure; and

a rigid external wall adapted to be in contact with the flexible internal layer in a removable way;

(c) curing the curing composition into a cured sample, in the mold, at a controlled curing pressure;

(d) wherein the flexible internal layer is not capable of deforming radially to the main axis when subjected to the controlled curing pressure during the curing step due to the support of the rigid internal wall;

(e) removing the rigid external wall; and

(f) measuring at least one physical or mechanical property of the cured sample at a controlled test pressure, in the mold.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mold includes a main axis, further comprising controlling the curing pressure by a stress exerted on the sample along the main axis of the mold.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow body of the mold includes a stainless steel wall.

4. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising controlling the test pressure through at least one of: (a) by injecting an internal fluid into the mold, and (b) by a stress exerted on the sample along the main axis of the mold.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the curing composition is selected from compositions of gels, resins, muds and hydraulic binders.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mold is of cylindrical shape.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising regulating the temperature of the sample during at least one of: (a) the curing step, and (b) the measurement step, by maintaining the sample under adiabatic conditions.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measurement step comprises at least one measurement selected from acoustic, displacement, pressure, electric resistivity, temperature, permeability measurements and combinations thereof.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising controlling the test pressure by at least one of: (a) injecting an internal fluid into the internal jacket of the mold, (b) a stress exerted on the sample along the main axis of the mold, and (c) injecting a confinement fluid into a confinement enclosure surrounding the mold.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising inserting acid gas into the mold containing the curing composition sample.

11. A device for testing a curing composition, the device comprising:

(a) a confinement enclosure;

(b) a mold adapted to receive a curing composition sample within a hollow body, the mold being positioned in the confinement enclosure, the hollow body having a main axis and comprising:

a flexible internal jacket adapted to radially deform to the main axis when subjected to a controlled test pressure; and

a rigid external shell adapted to be in contact with the flexible internal jacket in a removable way so that the flexible internal layer is not capable of deforming radially to the main axis when subjected to a controlled curing pressure during curing due to the support of the rigid external wall;

(c) an upper base and a lower base for compressing the sample by exerting a stress along the main axis of the mold, the upper and lower bases being located at two ends of the hollow body with respect to the main axis; and

(d) a confinement fluid injector for compressing the sample by injecting a confinement fluid into the confinement enclosure around the mold.

12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the upper base or the lower base comprises a connector for compressing the sample by injecting, via the connector, an internal fluid into the internal jacket of the mold.

13. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the mold is of a cylindrical shape.

14. The device according to claim 11 , comprising at least one acoustic, displacement, pressure, electric resistivity and/or temperature sensor.

15. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the external shell comprises two half-shells which are porous, the device further comprising at least one actuator operably separating the half-shells.

16. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the curing composition sample is oil well casing cement.

17. The device according to claim 11 , wherein acid gas is inserted into the mold containing the curing composition sample.

18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the curing composition sample is oil well casing cement.