Eutectic metal alloy-containing cement and methods of use thereof
A method for remediating fractures in a cement structure including heating the cement structure to a temperature at or above the melting temperature of the eutectic metal alloy particles to allow the particles to flow in liquid state into the fractures in the cement structure until the heat source is discontinued, allowing the particles to cool and solidify.
1 . A method of remediating fractures in a cement structure comprising a cement composition comprising solid eutectic metal alloy particles, the method comprising:
pumping the cement composition comprising solid eutectic metal alloy particles downhole;
curing the cement composition comprising the solid eutectic metal alloy particles downhole to provide the cement structure comprising solid eutectic metal alloy particles;
then heating the cement structure and the cement composition with an external heat source to a temperature at or above a melting temperature of the solid eutectic metal alloy particles;
melting the solid eutectic metal alloy particles within the cement composition to provide liquid eutectic metal alloy, thereby allowing flow of the liquid eutectic metal alloy into fractures in the cement structure;
discontinuing heating the cement structure; and
cooling and solidifying the liquid eutectic metal alloy in the fractures of the cement structure, wherein the solid eutectic metal alloy particles are present in a concentration ranging from 1 to 50 wt % based on the cement composition.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid eutectic metal alloy particles comprise one or more selected from the group consisting of lead, tin, bismuth, cadmium, and indium.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the solid eutectic metal alloy particles comprise bismuth and tin.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid eutectic metal alloy particles have an average particles size ranging from 100 to 3,000 microns.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the melting temperature of the solid eutectic metal alloy particles ranges from 45° C. to 280° C.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the melting temperature of the solid eutectic metal alloy particles ranges from 100° C. to 280° C.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the cement structure is a well casing.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the external heat source is a mineral insulated heater or a thermite heater.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising mixing a cement precursor with the cement composition.