Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Development of Geopolymer Cement Using Sugarcane Bagasse Ash for Application in Oil and Gas Well Cementing

Received: 22 April 2025     Accepted: 3 May 2025     Published: 2 September 2025
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Abstract

As the oil and gas industry moves towards sustainable solutions, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional Portland cement, a major CO2 emitter, are essential. Sugarcane bagasse ash-based geopolymer presents a promising option, also addressing agricultural waste management issues. In this work, sugarcane baggase was collected, washed, dried and ashed to obtain the baggase ash required for the sample formation. A total of 24 samples were prepared and they were tested for density, rheology, pH, fluid loss and compressive strength. Eight of the samples were formed using 10M NaOH (SCBA 1–8), another set of eight samples were formed using 5M NaOH (SCBA 9–16), while the remaining set of eight were formed using ordinary Portland cement OPC (OPC 1–8). Results from slurry density and rheology tests revealed that geopolymer samples had higher density, plastic viscosity, yield point, and pH compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), but with lower fluid loss and less filter cake formation. However, geopolymers cement exhibited rapid gelation at high temperatures. The compressive strength of Sugarcane Bagasse-based geopolymer cement increased with temperature, indicating stronger cement for deeper drilled holes. However, the strength decreased over time with higher NaOH concentrations, highlighting that cement must be formulated for specific applications.

Published in American Journal of Applied and Industrial Chemistry (Volume 8, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajaic.20250802.11
Page(s) 34-40
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Bagasse, Compressive Strength, Eco-friendly, Geopolymer, Plastic Viscosity, Temperature

1. Introduction
The oil and gas industry seek innovative solutions to improve well integrity and sustainability. Traditional oil well cementing, primarily with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), faces challenges like cement degradation, limited durability, and vulnerability in acidic environments . Developed by Professor Joseph Davidovits in 1972, geopolymer cement offers a potential alternative . The industry’s environmental impact is under increasing scrutiny, highlighting the need for sustainable practices . Traditional Portland cement used in well cementing contributes significantly to carbon emissions, underscoring the importance of eco-friendly alternatives . Geopolymers offer a promising alternative with a reduced carbon footprint and the potential to utilize abundant waste materials . This study explores geopolymer cement for wells and examines how its mechanical properties vary with curing temperatures from ambient (23°C–80°C), reflecting the geothermal gradient of 30°C/km from surface to deep underground . OPC-based composites suffer strength loss above 230°F, limiting their performance in deep wells, geothermal wells, and thermally loaded wells like steam injection wells . The oil and gas industry rely on cementing operations for well intervention and drilling . However, Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) faces limitations in accessibility, adaptability across diverse environments, and sustainability . Cementing in injection or production wells is crucial for carbon capture and storage projects, yet OPC has shown instability in CO₂-rich environments, highlighting the need for improved preventive maintenance strategies .
In addition, the study adds to the current knowledge that a less cost and eco-friendly Sugarcane Bagasse based geopolymer can replace conventional cement in oil and gas well cementing in the near future. As a result, the study aims to develop environmentally sustainable geopolymer based cement formulations, utilizing sugarcane bagasse ash, for oil and gas well cementing. The integrity of the cement was examined by carrying out various physical and mechanical tests on formulated samples at relevant temperatures while comparing obtained results obtained result to that of ordinary Portland cement.
2. Materials and Methods
Sugarcane bagasse was gathered and dried under the sun to eliminate moisture. To obtain an appropriate particle size distribution, size reduction techniques, grinding or milling was also done on the sugarcane bagasse to form a powder which serve as the precursor material. The dried Sugarcane Bagasse was placed in ceramic container and positioned in a muffle furnace, at a temperature of 400°C to obtain the ash of the bagasse, the temperature was maintained for 2 hours and after 2 hours the furnace was turned off and allowed to cool to room temperature.
The grinded or milled sugarcane bagasse powder was collected for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and the analysis was done according to . The analysis was performed on the sample to characterize its chemical structure, composition, organic minerals and identify the presence of specific functional groups and bonds on each geopolymer based cement that was formed.
The alkaline solution was prepared according to by dissolving a measured quantity of sodium hydroxide in a distilled water and left for 24 hours for proper dissolution, The prepared alkaline solution was mixed with measured quantity of Sodium Silicate and laboratory mixer was used to blend both solutions together and the alkaline activator solution according to was added to the precursor material (Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA)) while stirring continuously using laboratory mixer. The amount of activator solution added depend on the desired consistency and workability of the geopolymer paste and was mixed until a homogeneous paste or slurry was formed and left for 24 hours. Equal mass or weight of sugarcane bagasse ash was measured for the OPC using weighing balance and was mixed together with equal volume of water as that of sugarcane bagasse where the OPC formulated serve as control sample and left for 24 hours. Various tests were carried on the samples ranges from:
1) Rheological Testing on Slurry Samples: Using a Fann viscometer, rheological properties were measured following precise calibration and setup instructions. Temperature control was emphasized to maintain consistency, often with a temperature-controlled chamber. Each sample’s Plastic Viscosity (PV) was calculated as the difference between the 600 rpm and 300 rpm readings, while the Yield Point (YP) was derived from the difference between the 300 rpm and 3 rpm readings.
2) Density Testing: The density test involved specific gravity determination. A 25 ml specific gravity bottle was weighed empty, then filled with slurry, weighed again, and the specific gravity was calculated.
3) pH Testing: The pH was measured using a calibrated pH meter, rinsing the electrode with distilled water between samples. The pH was recorded once stabilized.
4) Fluid Loss Test: A high-temperature, high-pressure fluid loss test was conducted at 1000 psi using an API filter press. The sample was poured into a filter press cup with a filter paper, sealed, and subjected to pressure. The fluid loss after 30 minutes was collected in a measuring cylinder.
5) Preparation of Core Samples: Samples of geopolymer cement were molded into 15mm x 15mm x 15mm cubes, which were left to solidify for 24 hours. Similar molds were used for OPC samples for consistency.
6) Curing of Samples: Molded samples were transferred to a vacuum oven with varying temperatures (100°C, 200°C, and 300°C) for specified durations (6, 24, or 72 hours) to examine the feasibility of using geopolymer cement for well abandonment.
7) Mechanical Testing: The core samples were then subjected to a compression test using Instron electromechanical testing machine to measure their mechanical strength, enabling a comparison between SCBA-based geopolymer and OPC samples.
3. Results and Discussion
Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrum Test: The FTIR spectrum of sugarcane bagasse (Figure 1) was analyzed from 4000 to 450cm-1, identifying four zones. Zone I (4000–2500cm-1) is the single bond region; Zone II (2500–2000cm-1), the triple bond region; Zone III (2000-1500cm-1), the double bond region; and Zone IV (<1500cm-1), the fingerprint region. Peaks were matched with reference data. A notable peak at 3250–3650cm-1 indicates hydroxyl (-OH) groups, suggesting hydrogen bonding and high moisture. Carbonyl (-C=O) groups appear at 1700–1750cm-1, likely from lignin and hemicellulose. Peaks at 900–1100cm-1 indicate possible silicate ions, while peaks at 1000–1100cm-1 suggest phosphate ions, likely from plant cellular components or soil contaminants. Other prominent peaks include C-S stretching (670–715cm-1), S-S stretching (430–500cm-1), and aromatic amine CN stretch (1250–1340cm-1). These findings provide insight into the chemical composition, lignin content, mineral contamination, and structural characteristics of sugarcane bagasse powder.
Figure 1. FTIR of sugarcane bagasse powder.
Slurry Density and Rheological Test: Cement slurries were mixed based on the geopolymer formulation. Industry standards require densities between 12.5 to 16 ppg. The density and rheological properties measured for the prepared samples are presented in Table 1. The average densities were 15.82 ppg for 10M NaOH, 14.73 ppg for 5M NaOH, and 13.09 ppg for OPC, with higher NaOH concentrations resulting in higher densities. Plastic viscosity and yield point followed the same trend, suggesting that increased NaOH enhances rheological properties. This is due to improved particle interactions and geopolymerization, which reduce circulation loss risk and improve compressive strength. Lower-density slurries may risk wellbore instability.
Table 1. Measured density and rheological properties for prepared samples.

Sample code

Density (ppg)

Specific Gravity

Yield Point (Ib/ft2)

Plastic Viscosity (cP)

Average Density

SCBA1

15.84

1.90

2.00

3.00

SCBA2

16.02

1.92

2.10

3.10

SCBA3

15.52

0.93

2.00

3.00

15.82

SCBA4

16.00

1.92

2.30

3.20

SCBA5

15.90

1.91

2.50

3.51

SCBA6

15.50

1.83

2.30

3.20

SCBA7

15.80

1.89

2.00

3.00

SCBA8

16.01

1.92

2.10

3.10

SCBA9

14.50

1.74

1.83

2.71

SCBA10

14.80

1.77

1.90

2.80

SCBA11

14.42

1.73

1.96

2.91

SCBA12

15.00

1.79

1.85

2.74

14.73

SCBA13

15.20

1.83

1.90

2.80

SCBA14

14.80

1.77

1.92

2.85

SCBA15

14.60

1.75

1.87

2.77

SCBA16

14.48

1.74

1.97

2.93

OPC1

13.24

1.59

1.08

1.60

OPC2

13.35

1.60

1.10

1.70

OPC3

13.10

1.57

1.09

1.60

OPC4

12.88

1.54

1.13

1.70

OPC5

12.68

1.52

1.20

1.80

13.09

OPC6

13.25

1.59

1.15

1.73

OPC7

13.30

1.60

1.08

1.60

OPC8

12.92

1.55

1.10

1.70

pH Test: The pH values of the three cement samples were compared: 13.55 for 10M NaOH geopolymer at 27.44°C, 13.39 for 5M NaOH geopolymer at 26.38°C, and 12.34 for OPC. The result is presented in Table 2. Geopolymer cements had significantly higher pH values, as expected due to the alkaline nature of the activator, while OPC had a lower pH due to its calcium oxide content. The geopolymer samples' pH values fall within the industry standard (12-14), indicating better pH stability, making them more suitable for high-performance cement applications. This improves settling time, durability, and minimizes corrosion risk. The chart presentation for pH is as shown in Figure 2.
Table 2. pH results and temperature of each sample.

Sample code

pH Range

Temperature °C

Average pH

SCBA1

13.5

27.4

SCBA2

13.61

27.5

SCBA3

13.52

27.4

13.55

SCBA4

13.46

27.3

SCBA5

13.74

27.6

SCBA6

13.46

27.3

SCBA7

13.40

27.1

SCBA8

13.71

27.6

SCBA9

13.51

26.80

SCBA10

13.52

26.80

SCBA11

13.40

26.50

13.39

SCBA12

13.38

26.00

SCBA13

13.36

26.20

SCBA14

13.55

26.80

SCBA15

13.00

25.40

SCBA16

13.42

26.50

OPC1

12.20

25.90

OPC2

12.24

26.00

OPC3

12.40

26.40

OPC4

12.34

26.20

12.34

OPC5

12.41

26.40

OPC6

12.23

26.00

OPC7

12.42

26.41

OPC8

12.45

26.50

Figure 2. Chart presentation for average pH.
Effect of Temperature on Compressive Strength: The compressive strength test was performed on SCBA 4-6, SCBA 12-14, and OPC 4-6 after passing the slurry density, pH, and fluid loss tests. The cement slurry was cured for 6 hours in a high-temperature curing chamber before testing. Curing temperatures of 100°C, 200°C, and 300°C were used to observe their effect on compressive strength. Results presented in Table 3 and Figure 3, shows that sugarcane bagasse-based geopolymer cement generally increased in compressive strength with higher curing temperatures . The 10M NaOH composition had an average compressive strength of 908.45 N/m² after 6 hours of curing at 100-300°C, confirming that compressive strength is temperature-dependent . Table 3 presents the results at various curing temperatures.
Table 3. Compressive strength of samples at various temperatures.

Sample code

Compressive Strength (N/m2)

Temperature (°C)

SCBA4

720.41

SCBA12

662.23

100

OPC4

626.82

SCBA5

978.03

SCBA13

889.31

200

OPC5

748.73

SCBA6

1001.92

SCBA14

978.45

300

OPC6

937.78

Figure 3. Compressive strength of samples at various temperature.
Effect of Time variation on compressive strength: The compressive strength test was conducted on SCBA 7-8, SCBA 15-16, and OPC 7-8 after passing the slurry density, pH, and fluid loss tests. Cement slurry compositions were cured at 200°C for 24 and 72 hours in a curing chamber. Results presented in Table 4 as well as Figure 4, shows that compressive strength increased with NaOH concentration at 200°C for the 24-hour curing period . However, at 72 hours, the compressive strength of the 10M NaOH sample decreased, while the 5M NaOH sample showed higher strength than both the 10M NaOH and OPC systems. This indicates that no single cement formula is universally applicable, and it must be tailored to specific operational needs, such as well plug and abandonment jobs.
Table 4. Compressive strength of samples at various times.

Sample code

Compressive Strength (N/m2)

Time (hrs)

SCBA4

1250.34

SCBA12

1120.35

24

OPC4

996.78

SCBA5

1023.87

SCBA13

1243.56

72

OPC5

1123.56

Figure 4. Compressive strength of samples at various time.
4. Conclusion
The production of geopolymer cement using agricultural waste material (Sugarcane Bagasse ash) was studied. Chemical and mineral analyses confirmed that the sugarcane bagasse ash contained the necessary functional groups for cement production. Slurry density and rheology tests revealed that geopolymer samples had higher density, plastic viscosity, yield point, and pH compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), but with lower fluid loss and less filter cake formation. Geopolymers exhibited rapid gelation at high temperatures. The compressive strength of Sugarcane Bagasse-based geopolymer cement increased with temperature, indicating stronger cement for deeper drilled holes. However, the strength decreased over time with higher NaOH concentrations, highlighting that cement must be formulated for specific applications. Overall, Sugarcane Bagasse-based geopolymer cement outperformed OPC in cementing operations due to its lower shrinkage and higher shear bond strength, making it suitable for zonal isolation and well-plugging operations. Additionally, the increased strength with temperature due to enhanced polymerization suggests its viability in steam injection wells.
Abbreviations

OPC

Ordinary Portland Cement

PV

Plastic Viscosity

YP

Yield Point

FTIR

Fourier Transform Infrared

Author Contributions
Oluwasanmi Samuel Teniola: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing – review & editing
Ebenezer Leke Odekanle: Supervision, Validation
Felix Arome Iyalla: Investigation, Writing – original draft
Mazeed Saka: Investigation, Writing – original draft
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
References
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[7] Yan, Y., Guan, Z., Yan, W., and Wang, H., 2020. Mechanical response and damage mechanism of cement sheath during perforation in oil and gas well. J. Petrol. Sci. Eng. 188, 106924.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Teniola, O. S., Odekanle, E. L., Iyalla, F. A., Saka, M. (2025). Development of Geopolymer Cement Using Sugarcane Bagasse Ash for Application in Oil and Gas Well Cementing. American Journal of Applied and Industrial Chemistry, 8(2), 34-40. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaic.20250802.11

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    ACS Style

    Teniola, O. S.; Odekanle, E. L.; Iyalla, F. A.; Saka, M. Development of Geopolymer Cement Using Sugarcane Bagasse Ash for Application in Oil and Gas Well Cementing. Am. J. Appl. Ind. Chem. 2025, 8(2), 34-40. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaic.20250802.11

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    AMA Style

    Teniola OS, Odekanle EL, Iyalla FA, Saka M. Development of Geopolymer Cement Using Sugarcane Bagasse Ash for Application in Oil and Gas Well Cementing. Am J Appl Ind Chem. 2025;8(2):34-40. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaic.20250802.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajaic.20250802.11,
      author = {Oluwasanmi Samuel Teniola and Ebenezer Leke Odekanle and Felix Arome Iyalla and Mazeed Saka},
      title = {Development of Geopolymer Cement Using Sugarcane Bagasse Ash for Application in Oil and Gas Well Cementing
    },
      journal = {American Journal of Applied and Industrial Chemistry},
      volume = {8},
      number = {2},
      pages = {34-40},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajaic.20250802.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaic.20250802.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaic.20250802.11},
      abstract = {As the oil and gas industry moves towards sustainable solutions, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional Portland cement, a major CO2 emitter, are essential. Sugarcane bagasse ash-based geopolymer presents a promising option, also addressing agricultural waste management issues. In this work, sugarcane baggase was collected, washed, dried and ashed to obtain the baggase ash required for the sample formation. A total of 24 samples were prepared and they were tested for density, rheology, pH, fluid loss and compressive strength. Eight of the samples were formed using 10M NaOH (SCBA 1–8), another set of eight samples were formed using 5M NaOH (SCBA 9–16), while the remaining set of eight were formed using ordinary Portland cement OPC (OPC 1–8). Results from slurry density and rheology tests revealed that geopolymer samples had higher density, plastic viscosity, yield point, and pH compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), but with lower fluid loss and less filter cake formation. However, geopolymers cement exhibited rapid gelation at high temperatures. The compressive strength of Sugarcane Bagasse-based geopolymer cement increased with temperature, indicating stronger cement for deeper drilled holes. However, the strength decreased over time with higher NaOH concentrations, highlighting that cement must be formulated for specific applications.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Development of Geopolymer Cement Using Sugarcane Bagasse Ash for Application in Oil and Gas Well Cementing
    
    AU  - Oluwasanmi Samuel Teniola
    AU  - Ebenezer Leke Odekanle
    AU  - Felix Arome Iyalla
    AU  - Mazeed Saka
    Y1  - 2025/09/02
    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaic.20250802.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaic.20250802.11
    T2  - American Journal of Applied and Industrial Chemistry
    JF  - American Journal of Applied and Industrial Chemistry
    JO  - American Journal of Applied and Industrial Chemistry
    SP  - 34
    EP  - 40
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2994-7294
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaic.20250802.11
    AB  - As the oil and gas industry moves towards sustainable solutions, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional Portland cement, a major CO2 emitter, are essential. Sugarcane bagasse ash-based geopolymer presents a promising option, also addressing agricultural waste management issues. In this work, sugarcane baggase was collected, washed, dried and ashed to obtain the baggase ash required for the sample formation. A total of 24 samples were prepared and they were tested for density, rheology, pH, fluid loss and compressive strength. Eight of the samples were formed using 10M NaOH (SCBA 1–8), another set of eight samples were formed using 5M NaOH (SCBA 9–16), while the remaining set of eight were formed using ordinary Portland cement OPC (OPC 1–8). Results from slurry density and rheology tests revealed that geopolymer samples had higher density, plastic viscosity, yield point, and pH compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), but with lower fluid loss and less filter cake formation. However, geopolymers cement exhibited rapid gelation at high temperatures. The compressive strength of Sugarcane Bagasse-based geopolymer cement increased with temperature, indicating stronger cement for deeper drilled holes. However, the strength decreased over time with higher NaOH concentrations, highlighting that cement must be formulated for specific applications.
    
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, Nigeria