Methods and systems for plug-and-abandon applications are included. A method comprises providing an extended-life cement composition comprising calcium aluminate cement, water, and a cement set retarder. The method further comprises mixing the extended-life cement composition with a cement set activator to activate the extended-life cement composition, introducing the activated extended-life cement composition into a wellbore, and allowing the activated extended-life cement composition to set in the wellbore to form a plug in the wellbore. The plug has a permeability of less than 0.1 millidarcy.