What is Conventional Top & Bottom Plug Cementing Tool?
The Conventional Top & Bottom Plug Cementing Tool is not a single tool, but rather the standard two-plug system used in primary cementing operations. It refers to the set of two disposable wiper plugs—the Bottom Plug cementing and the Top Plug cementing —which are launched from the Cementing Head at the surface.
This system is crucial for achieving zonal isolation and is a fundamental part of the primary cementing process.
Bottom Plug Cementing Tool
Bottom Plug Cementing plug is usually Red or Orange. It launched before the cement. Separates drilling mud from the lead edge of the cement slurry and wipes the casing ID.. It has a rupture diaphragm/membrane that bursts open when seated, allowing the cement to flow through it and into the annulus.
Top Plug Cementing Tool
Top Plug Cementing plug is usually Black or Blue. It launched after the cement. Separates the cement slurry from the following displacement fluid (mud or water). It lands on the bottom plug, sealing the internal casing volume and creating a final pressure seal.
Once the plugs are bumped (landed) in the float equipment (float collar, float shoe) at the bottom of the casing, they seal the casing interior and are later drilled out.
Key advantages of Conventional Type Top & Bottom Plug Cementing Tool
- Minimizes Contamination (Bottom Plug): By placing a physical barrier (the bottom plug) between the preceding drilling mud and the cement slurry, it prevents the two fluids from mixing. This maintains the cement’s integrity, density, and strength properties.
- Efficient Casing Wiping: Both plugs have multiple elastomeric fins or wipers that scrape the inside surface of the casing. This action removes drilling mud filter cake and debris, ensuring the cement has a cleaner surface to bond to, which is vital for long-term well integrity.
- Positive Indication of Cement Placement (Top Plug): Because the top plug has a solid body, when it lands on the bottom plug/float collar, the flow is completely blocked. This causes a sudden and distinct increase in pump pressure at the surface (the “plug bump” or “plug landing”), providing positive confirmation that the cement job is complete and the calculated volume of cement has been placed.
- PDC Drillable Materials: Most modern conventional plugs are made from easily drillable materials (like composite plastics, rubber, or phenolic/aluminum cores) to minimize the time required to drill them out after the cement sets, reducing rig costs.
Conventional Top & Bottom Plug Cementing Tool is suitable for
All Primary Cementing Operations: It is the industry standard method for running and cementing nearly all casing strings, including conductor, surface, intermediate, and production casings.
Controlling Fluid Integrity: Any cementing job where the strict separation between the drilling mud, spacer fluids, and cement slurry is non-negotiable to ensure cement quality.
Achieving Zonal Isolation: The final seal created by the landed top plug is integral to the entire cementing system that provides zonal isolation—the separation of different fluid zones in the wellbore.
data sheet of Conventional Top & Bottom Plug Cementing Tool
| Size (mm) / (in) | OD (mm) | Body Diameter (mm) | Height (mm) | Casing Weight (IB/FT) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 114 | 4-1/2 | 114 | 76 | 206 | 9.5~15.1 |
| 127 | 5 | 127 | 94 | 210 | 11.5~21.4 |
| 140 | 5-1/2 | 141 | 105 | 212 | 14~23 |
| 168 | 6-5/8 | 168 | 120 | 245 | 12~40.2 |
| 178 | 7 | 178 | 135 | 241 | 17~38 |
| 194 | 7-5/8 | 185 | 145 | 247 | 26.4~47.1 |
| 219 | 8-5/8 | 210 | 163 | 230 | 24~49 |
| 244 | 9-5/8 | 243 | 195 | 255 | 32.3~58.4 |
| 273 | 10-3/4 | 273 | 212 | 292 | 32.75~65.7 |
| 298 | 11-3/4 | 298 | 236 | 260 | 42~60 |
| 340 | 13-3/8 | 332 | 276 | 365 | 48~72 |
| 406 | 16 | 403 | 338 | 400 | 65~109 |
| 508 | 20 | 498 | 412 | 433 | 87.5~133 |
Do you have other types cementing plugs?
Yes! as professional API and ISO certified manufacturer since 1997, we have all types of different cementing tools for your option. Below we have listed a chart to tell the difference of different types. Please choose according to your demand!
| Plug Type | Core Differentiating Feature | Key Advantage Over Conventional |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Rotating (NR) Plugs | Contains interlocking teeth that engage with a specialized NR Float Collar. | Reduces Drill-Out Time. The locking teeth prevent the plug from spinning while being drilled out by a PDC bit, significantly speeding up the operation. |
| Drill Pipe Plugs | Designed to be pumped down the drill pipe (used for running liners) and land in a liner wiper plug receptacle. | Used for Liner Cementing. Allows the cement job to be executed through the drill pipe/running string rather than the entire casing string. |
| Composite Plugs | Plug core is made entirely of non-metallic, highly frangible composite material. | Fastest Drill-Out. Superior to conventional plugs with aluminum or phenolic cores, offering maximum speed and minimizing the risk of metal parts damaging PDC bits. |
| Selective-Release/Stage Plugs | Used in conjunction with a multi-stage cementing tool (e.g., DV Tool). | Allows Two-Stage Cementing. Enables the casing to be cemented in two separate stages, typically used to reduce hydrostatic pressure on weak formations or isolate two separate zones. |
Can i buy only the top cement plug?
Yes, it is absolutely no problem to purchase just the top cement plug individually!
While top and bottom cement plugs are typically supplied and used as a matched set for conventional primary cementing operations, there are several scenarios where only a top plug is required. These include the replacement of a lost or damaged component, or for specific job designs that call for a single-plug system. In such operations, the risk of slurry contamination from the fluids ahead is deemed negligible, and the primary objectives are to wipe the casing ID clean behind the slurry and to receive a definitive pressure indication upon landing. Furthermore, top plugs are frequently used alone in remedial operations, such as setting a balanced cement plug for well abandonment or sidetracking, where a bottom plug is not part of the procedure. We can readily supply top plugs as standalone items to accommodate these specific operational requirements.
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Conventional Top & Bottom Plug Cementing Tool
why choose puyang zhongshi co ltd?
Premier Authority and Most Capable Supplier in Oilfield
Established in 1996 through the SINOPEC Central Plains Oilfield restructure, Puyang Zhongshi Group Co Ltd operates with a registered capital of 130 million RMB and an annual output of 200 million RMB. We employ over 580 staff, including 160+ technical experts.
Our main product is Oil Machinery, supported by over 10 specialized companies (including cementing tools, pumping units, and wellhead systems) and five international trade departments. For cementing tools, we have a robust monthly capacity of 500 sets of float equipment and 30,000 centralizers.
We have built long-term strategic partnerships across major global markets, including USA, Russia, Kazakhstan, Sudan, Indonesia, Iran, and Venezuela.
fully certified by API & ISO
The API (American Petroleum Institute) certifications our company Puyang Zhongshi Group holds are excellent and position us very strongly in the global oil and gas market. They provide an authoritative, third-party validation of our product quality and system reliability.
Having the API Q1 certification immediately places our company Puyang zhongshi group co ltd in the top tier of suppliers. Many smaller manufacturers only hold ISO 9001, but the Q1 certification signals a commitment to the oil and gas industry’s most demanding quality requirements, especially relevant for services and complex equipment.
Supplier of the SLB, Halliburton & Baker Hughes
We are the stable supplier of the International Big Three—Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Baker Hughes. Our established partnership with these global leaders means our products and services are proven to meet the industry’s most rigorous standards. Our clients include many top oil service companies in the world.
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