Cementing operations are carried out on oil and gas wells at various stages. Primary cementing encases the well in a layer of cement. The purpose is to both seal the outside of the well and provide structural integrity. The impact of poor primary cementing is felt both economically (reduced production rates) and environmentally (leakage to surface). In extreme cases poor cement can be a contributing cause of a blowout, (e.g. BP’s Deepwater Horizon incident).
