Development of software application for optimization of primary cementing operations using visual basic

Abstract

Scientific software development is a multi-step process, involving good understanding of the mathematical model, development of an algorithm and subsequently its implementation as a computational code. Using these methodologies an open source Cementing Operations software library has been coded. A software application "Cementing Operations Calculator" has been developed over this library, which efficiently provides solutions for primary cementing operations. The software helps in selecting optimum parameters for primary cementing operations such as Displacement Volume, Lead Slurry Total Volume, Tail Slurry Total Volume, Lead Slurry Composition (quantity of cement & cement additives), Tail Slurry Composition (quantity of cement & cement additives), Lead Slurry Composition (Dead Volume), Tail Slurry Composition (Dead Volume) and finally the Chemicals required for performing the primary cementing operations job. A number of geoscientific computational libraries are available in the public domain which have been initiated by various universities and developed and maintained by a large community of developers. Keeping in view the same trend, there is a need for developing open source libraries for petroleum engineering. Thus the aim of this research is to provide open source code which is publicly available to the others to enhance and incorporate new functionality. In addition the software tools are also publicly available which can be used by students and researchers for analysis of their data. The use of the software is demonstrated with real field data examples.