CEMENT COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS

A "basic" cement of enhanced properties particularly useful in the cementing of wells, methods of making it, and methods of cementing geologic formations traversed by well bores are disclosed. The cement composition comprises a hydraulic cement intimately pretreated with a small amount of water and aged or cured for at least 30 minutes. The preferred amount of water is from about 0.5 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight of the cement; although higher and lesser amounts of water may be used. As much as about 5% water is satisfactory if the aged cement is used within a relatively short period of time, but there should not be enough water added to provide substantial lumping or hydration of the cement. The "basic" cement composition when pretreated with water has good compatibility with various additives, retarders and the like, good viscosity and strength, increased thickening times, and a reduced amount of mix water may be used thereby increasing the weight of the cement slurry.