A method of sealing propagating cracks in a sensor-laden cement sheath comprising the steps of monitoring an electrical resistivity of the sensor-laden cement sheath to produce a measured value, wherein the sensor-laden cement sheath comprises a conductive sensor, an on-demand expanding agent, and a cement, activating a heat source when the measured value of the electrical resistivity is greater than an activation threshold, increasing a temperature of the sensor-laden cement sheath with the heat source to an activation temperature, wherein the activation temperature is operable to initiate a reaction between the on-demand expanding agent and water, wherein the activation temperature is greater than a formation temperature, reacting the on-demand expanding agent with water to produce a swelled agent, wherein the swelled agent occupies a greater volume than the on-demand expanding agent, and sealing the propagating cracks in the sensor-laden cement sheath with the swelled agent.

A method of sealing propagating cracks in a sensor-laden cement sheath comprising the steps of monitoring an electrical resistivity of the sensor-laden cement sheath to produce a measured value, wherein the sensor-laden cement sheath comprises a conductive sensor, an on-demand expanding agent, and a cement, activating a heat source when the measured value of the electrical resistivity is greater than an activation threshold, increasing a temperature of the sensor-laden cement sheath with the heat source to an activation temperature, wherein the activation temperature is operable to initiate a reaction between the on-demand expanding agent and water, wherein the activation temperature is greater than a formation temperature, reacting the on-demand expanding agent with water to produce a swelled agent, wherein the swelled agent occupies a greater volume than the on-demand expanding agent, and sealing the propagating cracks in the sensor-laden cement sheath with the swelled agent.

A liquid additive composition comprising a particulate material, an organic carrier fluid, a viscosifier, and an alcohol alkoxylate surfactant; wherein the particulate material is substantially insoluble in the organic carrier fluid; wherein the particulate material comprises a water-interactive material and/or a water-insoluble material; wherein the organic carrier fluid comprises a glycol and/or a glycol ether; and wherein the viscosifier comprises amorphous silica. A method comprising (a) contacting a particulate material, an organic carrier fluid, a viscosifier, and an alcohol alkoxylate surfactant to form a mixture; and (b) agitating the mixture to form the liquid additive composition.

A liquid additive composition comprising a particulate material, an organic carrier fluid, a viscosifier, and an alcohol alkoxylate surfactant; wherein the particulate material is substantially insoluble in the organic carrier fluid; wherein the particulate material comprises a water-interactive material and/or a water-insoluble material; wherein the organic carrier fluid comprises a glycol and/or a glycol ether; and wherein the viscosifier comprises amorphous silica. A method comprising (a) contacting a particulate material, an organic carrier fluid, a viscosifier, and an alcohol alkoxylate surfactant to form a mixture; and (b) agitating the mixture to form the liquid additive composition.

A method for processing incinerator bottom ash (IBA) comprises the steps of carbonating IBA aggregate material by CO.sub.2 sequestration and providing a stabilizing additive for mixing with the carbonated IBA aggregate material, wherein the additive comprises one or more components from group (b1) and one or more components from group (b2), wherein group (b1) consists of aluminium chloride and at least one other metal chloride, and wherein group (b2) consists of silica, zeolite and apatite. When the carbonated IBA and additive is mixed a stabilized IBA composition is formed, the stabilized IBA composition being suitable for use as a substitute for traditional aggregates in the manufacture of concrete and concrete products.

A method for processing incinerator bottom ash (IBA) comprises the steps of carbonating IBA aggregate material by CO.sub.2 sequestration and providing a stabilizing additive for mixing with the carbonated IBA aggregate material, wherein the additive comprises one or more components from group (b1) and one or more components from group (b2), wherein group (b1) consists of aluminium chloride and at least one other metal chloride, and wherein group (b2) consists of silica, zeolite and apatite. When the carbonated IBA and additive is mixed a stabilized IBA composition is formed, the stabilized IBA composition being suitable for use as a substitute for traditional aggregates in the manufacture of concrete and concrete products.

Embodiments may include cement compositions containing an expanding agent encapsulated with a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material is permeable to aqueous fluids. Methods may include emplacing a cement slurry into a wellbore traversing a subterranean formation, wherein the cement slurry contains an expanding agent encapsulated with a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material is permeable to aqueous fluids; allowing the cement slurry to harden; contacting the expanding agent encapsulated with a polymeric material with an aqueous fluid; and allowing the expanding agent to hydrate.

Embodiments may include cement compositions containing an expanding agent encapsulated with a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material is permeable to aqueous fluids. Methods may include emplacing a cement slurry into a wellbore traversing a subterranean formation, wherein the cement slurry contains an expanding agent encapsulated with a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material is permeable to aqueous fluids; allowing the cement slurry to harden; contacting the expanding agent encapsulated with a polymeric material with an aqueous fluid; and allowing the expanding agent to hydrate.

The effectiveness of expansive cement systems may be diluted when, during a well cementing operation, commingling takes place between the cement slurry and a spacer fluid, a drilling fluid, or both. Incorporating expansive agents in the spacer fluid or drilling fluid may reduce or negate the loss of expansion at the cement slurry/spacer interface or the cement slurry/drilling fluid interface, thereby promoting zonal isolation throughout the cemented interval.

The effectiveness of expansive cement systems may be diluted when, during a well cementing operation, commingling takes place between the cement slurry and a spacer fluid, a drilling fluid, or both. Incorporating expansive agents in the spacer fluid or drilling fluid may reduce or negate the loss of expansion at the cement slurry/spacer interface or the cement slurry/drilling fluid interface, thereby promoting zonal isolation throughout the cemented interval.