Introduction to Permanent Plug and Abandonment of Wells Ocean Engineering & Oceanography
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Ocean Engineering & Oceanography 12 Mahmoud Khalifeh Arild Saasen Introduction to Permanent Plug and Abandonment of Wells Ocean Engineering & Oceanography Volume 12 Series Editors Manhar R. Dhanak, Florida Atlantic University SeaTech, Dania Beach, USA Nikolas I. Xiros, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/10524 Mahmoud Khalifeh • Arild Saasen Introduction to Permanent Plug and Abandonment of Wells Mahmoud Khalifeh Arild Saasen Kjølv Egenlands hus Kjølv Egenlands hus Stavanger, Norway Stavanger, Norway ISSN 2194-6396 ISSN 2194-640X (electronic) Ocean Engineering & Oceanography ISBN 978-3-030-39969-6 ISBN 978-3-030-39970-2 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39970-2 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2020. This book is an open access publication. 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This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland Acknowledgements The book is based on research and literature review conducted on permanent plug and abandonment of hydrocarbon wells. Special thanks to the Norwegian Oil and Gas Plug and Abandonment Forum (PAF) for supporting the publication and helping the authors to publish the book as open access. We are also grateful for several colleagues helping and encouraging us to continue with the work and finally to publish it. We hereby would like to thank them by listing their names: Arne G. Larsen Atle J. Sørhus Dave Gardner Egil Thorstensen Farzad Shoghl Helge Hodne Ivar Blaauw Lars Hovda Martin K. Straume Michael T. Skjold Nils Opedal Odd G. Taule Øystein Arild Rune Godøy Steinar Strøm Tove Rørhuus Alex Osorio Arild Rasmussen Colin Beharie John Dale John Donachie Laurent Delabroy Luca Carazza v vi Acknowledgements Matus Gajdos Max B. Baumert Steffen K. Lindsø Steffen Kristiansen Sylvain Bedouet Tu N. Tran Vidar Rygg Contents 1 Introduction ........................................... 1 1.1 Abandonment Types ................................. 2 1.2 Asset Retirement Obligation ........................... 2 1.3 Prepared for Permanent Plug and Abandonment ............. 3 1.3.1 Plug and Abandonment Challenges ................ 3 1.4 Past, Present, and Future of Plugged and Abandoned Wells on the NCS .................................. 4 1.5 Digitalization in Plug and Abandonment .................. 4 1.6 The Regulatory Authorities ............................ 5 1.7 P&A Barrier Philosophy .............................. 6 1.8 The Beginning of the End—Decommissioning .............. 7 References ............................................. 8 2 General Principles of Well Barriers ......................... 11 2.1 Well Annuli ....................................... 11 2.2 Well Barrier Envelope ............................... 13 2.2.1 Primary and Secondary Well Barriers .............. 13 2.2.2 Environmental Plug ........................... 14 2.3 Well Barrier Element ................................ 14 2.4 Plug ............................................. 16 2.4.1 Bridge/Mechanical Plugs ....................... 16 2.5 Well Barrier Illustration .............................. 17 2.6 Prerequisites for Well Abandonment Design ................ 17 2.6.1 Well Configuration ............................ 17 2.6.2 Stratigraphic Sequences ........................ 18 2.6.3 Logs and Cementing Operation Data ............... 19 2.6.4 Formations with Suitable Well Barrier Element Properties .................................. 19 2.6.5 Specific Well Conditions ....................... 20 2.7 Well Abandonment Phases ............................ 26 vii viii Contents 2.7.1 Phase 1: Reservoir Abandonment ................. 27 2.7.2 Phase 2: Intermediate Abandonment ............... 27 2.7.3 Phase 3: Wellhead and Conductor Removals ......... 27 2.8 Disconnecting the Christmas Tree and Assembling Blowout Preventer ......................................... 28 2.8.1 Wellhead Systems ............................ 29 2.8.2 The Christmas Tree Systems ..................... 35 2.8.3 Assembling BOP ............................. 40 2.9 Special Considerations in Abandonment Design ............. 47 2.9.1 Control Lines ................................ 47 2.9.2 Well Design ................................. 50 2.9.3 Well Schematic .............................. 55 2.9.4 Horizontal Wells ............................. 55 2.9.5 High-Pressure High-Temperature Wells ............. 56 2.9.6 Shallow Permeable Zones ....................... 57 2.9.7 Multilateral Wells ............................. 58 2.9.8 Slot Recovery Sidetracks ....................... 59 2.9.9 Multiple Reservoirs ........................... 60 2.9.10 Slotted Liner ................................ 60 2.9.11 Inflow Control Device ......................... 61 2.9.12 Tubing Left in Hole ........................... 62 2.9.13 Hydrocarbons in the Overburden .................. 62 2.10 Requirements for Designing Permanent Barriers ............. 63 2.10.1 Well Cross Sectional Barrier ..................... 63 2.10.2 Plug Setting Depth—Formation Integrity ............ 63 References ............................................. 67 3 Specification for Permanent Plugging Materials ................ 71 3.1 Material Requirements for Permanent Barriers .............. 71 3.2 Functional Requirements of Permanent Well Barrier Elements ......................................... 71 3.2.1 Sealing Capability ............................ 72 3.2.2 Bonding ................................... 76 3.2.3 Placeability of Permanent Barrier Material ........... 85 3.2.4 Durability .................................. 86 3.2.5 Reparability ................................. 91 3.3 Qualification of New Plugging Materials .................. 92 References ............................................. 92 4 Types of Permanent Plugging Materials ...................... 97 4.1 Setting Materials .................................... 97 4.1.1 Portland Cement ............................. 97 4.2 In Situ Formation (Formation as Barrier) .................. 104 4.2.1 Durability .................................. 114 Contents ix 4.3 Non-setting (Grouts) ................................. 114 4.3.1 Unconsolidated Sand Slurries .................... 114 4.4 Thermosetting Polymers .............................. 118 4.4.1 Main Degradation Mechanisms ................... 121 4.4.2 Long-Term Integrity of Thermosetting Resins ........ 121 4.5 Metals ........................................... 126 4.6 Modified In Situ Materials ............................ 128 4.6.1 Barrier Establishment .......................... 131 References ............................................. 132 5 Different Categories of Working Units ....................... 137 5.1 Onshore Units ..................................... 137 5.1.1 Conventional Land Rigs ........................ 138 5.1.2 Mobile Land Rigs ............................ 138 5.2 Offshore Units ..................................... 139 5.2.1 Submersible/Barge Rigs ........................ 140 5.2.2 Semisubmersible Rigs ......................... 140 5.2.3 Drillship ................................... 141 5.2.4 Jackup Rig ................................. 142 5.2.5 Platform Rigs ................................ 142 5.2.6 Tendered Rigs ............................... 143 5.2.7 Vessels .................................... 143 5.3 Types of Offshore Wells .............................. 145 5.3.1 Subsea Wells ................................ 146 5.3.2 Platform Wells ............................... 148 5.4 Types of Offshore Production Units ...................... 148 5.4.1 Bottom Supported and Vertically Moored Structures .................................. 148 5.4.2 Floating Production Systems ..................... 150 5.5 Manned and Unmanned Platforms ....................... 152 5.5.1 Manned Platforms ............................ 152 5.5.2 Unmanned Platforms .......................... 152 5.6 Mooring