PERFORMING A TEST
1.
Before starting a test turn all electrical switches to the "OFF" position and close all
valves.
2.
Turn the "MAIN SWITCH" to the "ON" position.
3.
Prepare the cement molds as outlined below. Note that these procedures are stated
within API Specification 10.
PREPARATION OF MOLDS
The interior faces of the molds and the contact surfaces of the plates shall be thinly
covered with grease. The contact surfaces of the halves of each mold shall also be
coated with grease to make the joint water tight when assembled. Excess grease shall
be removed from the interior faces of the assembled molds, giving particular attention
to the corners. The molds shall be placed on a thinly greased plate. It is necessary that
grease be applied to the exterior contact line of the mold and the base plate.
PREPARATION OF SLURRY
The cement slurry shall be prepared in accordance with Sect. 5 of API Specification
10.
FILLING SLURRY MOLDS
The slurry shall be placed in the prepared molds in a layer equal to one-half of the mold
depth and puddled 25 times per specimen with a puddling rod. The slurry shall be
placed in all the specimen compartments before commencing the puddling operation.
After puddling the layer, the remaining slurry shall be stirred by hand using a puddling
rod or spatula to eliminate segregation, the molds filled to overflowing, and puddled as
for the first layer. After puddling, the excess slurry shall be struck off even with the top of
the mold, using a straight-edge. Specimens in molds which show evidence of leaking
shall be discarded. A greased cover plate shall be placed on top of the mold. For one
test determination, not less than three specimens shall be employed.
LOADING THE TEST CELL
A.
Carefully lower the cement molds into the test cell insuring that the thermocouple port is
aligned correctly.
B.
Remove the handle and the wing nuts from the mold. The sealing ring and threads
should be lubricated periodically with a high temperature grease.
C.
The test cell cap should be screwed into the test cell as far as possible.
