Extended-life cement compositions comprising red mud solids

1. A method of cementing comprising:

providing an extended-life cement composition comprising a cementitious component, water, and a cement set retarder, wherein the cementitious component comprises red mud solids and a hydraulic cement, wherein the red mud solids are present in an amount of about 50% to about 90% by weight of the cementitious component, and wherein the hydraulic cement is present in an amount of about 10% to about 50% by weight of the cementitious component;

activating the extended-life cement composition;

introducing the extended-life cement composition into a subterranean formation; and

allowing the extended-life cement composition to set in the subterranean formation.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the red mud solids are an insoluble residue from extraction of alumina from bauxite ore.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the red mud solids are provided in a red mud having a water content up to 25% by weight of the red mud.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic cement comprises a Portland cement.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the cement set retarder is selected from the group consisting of a phosphonic acid, a phosphonic acid derivative, a lignosulfonate, a salt, an organic acid, a cellulose derivative, a synthetic co- or ter-polymer comprising sulfonate and carboxylic acid groups, a borate compound, and any combination thereof.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the extended-life cement composition further comprises a dispersant.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the cement set retarder comprises a phosphonic acid derivative, and wherein the extended-life cement composition further comprises a polycarboxylated ether dispersant.

8. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising storing the extended-life cement composition for a period of about 1 day or longer before the step of introducing the cement composition into the subterranean formation.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of activating the extended-life cement composition comprise adding a cement set activator to the extended-life cement composition.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of introducing the extended-life cement composition comprises pumping the extended-life cement composition through a feed pipe and into a wellbore annulus.

11. A cement composition comprising:

a cementitious component comprising red mud solids and a hydraulic cement, wherein the red mud solids are present in an amount of about 50% to about 90% by weight of the cementitious component, and wherein the hydraulic cement is present in an amount of about 10% to about 50% by weight of the cementitious component;

water; and

a cement set retarder,

wherein the cement composition is an extended-life cement composition that is capable of remaining in a pumpable fluid state for about 1 day or longer at 80° F.

12. A cement composition according to claim 11 , wherein the red mud solids are an insoluble residue from extraction of alumina from bauxite ore.

13. A cement composition according to claim 11 , wherein the red mud solids are present in an amount of about 50% to about 90% by weight of the cementitious component, and wherein the hydraulic cement is present in an amount of about 10% to about 50% by weight of the cementitious component.

14. A cement composition according to claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic cement comprises a Portland cement.

15. A cement composition according to claim 11 , wherein the cement set retarder comprises a phosphonic acid derivative, and wherein the extended-life cement composition further comprises a polycarboxylated ether dispersant.

16. A system for cementing comprising:

an extended-life cement composition that is capable of remaining in a pumpable fluid state for about 1 day or longer at 80° F., wherein the extended-life cement composition comprises a cementitious component, water, and a cement set retarder, wherein the cementitious component comprises red mud solids and a hydraulic cement, wherein the red mud solids are present in an amount of about 50% to about 90% by weight of the cementitious component, and wherein the hydraulic cement is present in an amount of about 10% to about 50% by weight of the cementitious component; and

a cement set activator for activating the extended-life cement composition.

17. A system according to claim 16 , further comprising a vessel containing the extended-life cement composition and a pump coupled to the vessel for delivering the extended-life cement composition into a well bore.

18. A system according to claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first cement set retarder or the second cement set retarder is selected from the group consisting of a phosphonic acid, a phosphonic acid derivative, a lignosulfonate, a salt, an organic acid, a cellulose derivative, a synthetic co- or ter-polymer comprising sulfonate and carboxylic acid groups, a borate compound, and any combination thereof.

19. A system according to claim 16 , wherein the cement set retarder comprises a phosphonic acid derivative, and wherein the extended-life cement composition further comprises a polycarboxylated ether dispersant.