| abstract |
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dry, agglomerated cement material, a method of preparing the dry, agglomerated cement material, a method of cementing, and an apparatus for agglomerating particulate materials. The dry, agglomerated cement material comprises a plurality of particles of a cement bonded together by a water-soluble binder material. The dry, agglomerated cement material is prepared by depositing the water-soluble binder material on the particles such that the binder material bonds the particles together. The inventive agglomerated cement material can be conveniently transported by both pneumatic and non-pneumatic means. The method of cementing comprises the step of mixing the agglomerated cement material with water to form a cement slurry. The agglomerating apparatus comprises: a vessel; a cone blender associated with the vessel such that the cone blender is operable for fluidizing a particulate material placed in the vessel; a fluidizing gas delivery system for delivering a fluidizing gas to the cone blender; and a binder solution delivery system for delivering a binder solution into the vessel. |