Bridging Experiments and Reality: 3D Simulation of Cement Slurry Injection in Plug Placement

Abstract Numerical modeling plays a vital role in improving the reliability and efficiency of Plug and Abandonment (P&A) operations by enabling accurate assessments of plug placement quality prior to field implementation. However, precise characterization of cement slurry rheology and its faithful replication in experimental studies remain significant challenges. In this study, we present three-dimensional numerical simulations of the dump bailing plug placement in an inclined well section. The accuracy of the hydrodynamic model is established through comparison with experiments conducted using Newtonian fluids. The cement slurry is modeled as a Bingham fluid, and we examine the influence of yield stress on flow dynamics and mixing behavior between the cement slurry and wellbore fluids during placement. A sensitivity study is also conducted to evaluate how variations in operational parameters impact plug integrity, particularly in terms of slurry placement efficiency and mixing control. By bridging the gap between experimental limitations and field-relevant conditions, the proposed numerical framework provides a robust foundation for developing progressively more advanced engineering models aimed at improving the predictability of P&A operations across a range of scenarios.