A retarder mixture for oil and gas well cementing includes a lignosulfonate compound and at least one hydrolyzed carbohydrate. A method includes blending the retarder mixture and a cement precursor to form a cement precursor mixture and introducing water into the cement precursor mixture to form a cement mixture. The cement mixture is pumped down a well and cures to form a cement sheath containing the cement precursor and the retarder mixture.

A retarder mixture for oil and gas well cementing includes a lignosulfonate compound and at least one hydrolyzed carbohydrate. A method includes blending the retarder mixture and a cement precursor to form a cement precursor mixture and introducing water into the cement precursor mixture to form a cement mixture. The cement mixture is pumped down a well and cures to form a cement sheath containing the cement precursor and the retarder mixture.

A retarder mixture for oil and gas well cementing includes a lignosulfonate compound and at least one hydrolyzed carbohydrate. A method includes blending the retarder mixture and a cement precursor to form a cement precursor mixture and introducing water into the cement precursor mixture to form a cement mixture. The cement mixture is pumped down a well and cures to form a cement sheath containing the cement precursor and the retarder mixture.

Methods of obtaining aggregates and/or pulverulent mineral material from a starting material comprising hardened mineral binder and aggregates utilizing process auxiliaries selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylate ethers and/or esters (PCE), glycols, organic amines, especially alkanolamines, ammonium salts of organic amines with carboxylic acids, surfactants, especially nonionic surfactants, gemini surfactants, calcium stearate, alkoxylated phosphonic or phosphoric esters, propane-1,3-diol, carboxylic acids, sulfonated amino alcohols, boric acid, salts of boric acid, borax, salts of phosphoric acid, gluconate, iron sulfate, tin sulfate, antimony salts, alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, lignosulfonates, glycerol, melamine, melamine sulfonates, water absorbents in the form of a superabsorbent polymer or in the form of a sheet silicate, anticaking agents, sugars, sugar acids, sugar alcohols, phosphates, phosphonates, and mixtures thereof.

Methods of obtaining aggregates and/or pulverulent mineral material from a starting material comprising hardened mineral binder and aggregates utilizing process auxiliaries selected from the group consisting of polycarboxylate ethers and/or esters (PCE), glycols, organic amines, especially alkanolamines, ammonium salts of organic amines with carboxylic acids, surfactants, especially nonionic surfactants, gemini surfactants, calcium stearate, alkoxylated phosphonic or phosphoric esters, propane-1,3-diol, carboxylic acids, sulfonated amino alcohols, boric acid, salts of boric acid, borax, salts of phosphoric acid, gluconate, iron sulfate, tin sulfate, antimony salts, alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, lignosulfonates, glycerol, melamine, melamine sulfonates, water absorbents in the form of a superabsorbent polymer or in the form of a sheet silicate, anticaking agents, sugars, sugar acids, sugar alcohols, phosphates, phosphonates, and mixtures thereof.

A delivery device for concrete admixtures, in the form of a film of watersoluble material, having a concrete admixture incorporated within the film. The film can be attached to a formwork for concrete and has a protective layer, which is removable to allow the water in the concrete to dissolve the film and release the admixture into the concrete. The film contains the required quantity of admixture and is weather-resistant and substantially time-insensitive. The delivery device is used in a process to retard the setting portion of a surface of concrete.

A delivery device for concrete admixtures, in the form of a film of watersoluble material, having a concrete admixture incorporated within the film. The film can be attached to a formwork for concrete and has a protective layer, which is removable to allow the water in the concrete to dissolve the film and release the admixture into the concrete. The film contains the required quantity of admixture and is weather-resistant and substantially time-insensitive. The delivery device is used in a process to retard the setting portion of a surface of concrete.

A cement slurry in a downhole well has a composition that includes a cement in an amount of 60% to 80% by weight of the cement slurry, water in an amount of 20% to 40% by weight of the cement slurry, and a retarder in an amount of 0.1% to 2% by weight of the cement slurry. The cement includes 70% to 90% of at least one silicate by weight of the cement. The retarder includes sodium lignosulfonate with an alkali content of no more than 5.0 g Na.sub.2O equivalent/liter of admixture.

A cement slurry in a downhole well has a composition that includes a cement in an amount of 60% to 80% by weight of the cement slurry, water in an amount of 20% to 40% by weight of the cement slurry, and a retarder in an amount of 0.1% to 2% by weight of the cement slurry. The cement includes 70% to 90% of at least one silicate by weight of the cement. The retarder includes sodium lignosulfonate with an alkali content of no more than 5.0 g Na.sub.2O equivalent/liter of admixture.

A method for using an extended-life settable composition is disclosed. The method includes providing an extended-life settable composition comprising red mud, calcium hydroxide, water, and a cement set retarder. The method further includes activating the extended-life settable composition. The method additionally includes introducing the extended-life settable composition into a subterranean formation and allowing the extended-life settable composition to set in the subterranean formation.