Solving Dual Casing Zonal Isolation with the Deployment of a New Well Abandonment System. Rock-to-Rock Barriers Sets for Major Operators

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zafar Khan ◽  
Shantanu Swadi ◽  
Richard T Caminari ◽  
Timothy A Burdett ◽  
Graham Stronach
Keyword(s):  
Field Tests ◽  
Expansion Ratio ◽  
High Ratio ◽  
Section Mill ◽  
Unique System ◽  
Bottom Hole Assembly ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Manageable Level ◽  
To Come ◽  
Well Abandonment

Abstract The Plug and Abandonment (P&A) requirement stipulates a permanent barrier to be placed for restoring the cap rock during well abandonment. For a single casing, section milling has been successfully implemented and widely used for a number of years. For a dual casing string, this becomes particularly challenging when both casing strings are cemented. Conventional techniques require milling the entire inner casing from the top of cement followed by section milling the outer casing. This could require milling up thousands of feet on of the inner string and is not a cost-efficient solution. The service company has been heavily involved in a number of P&A campaigns, where the requirement was to come up with a solution for dual casing section milling. This paper discusses the design, technology, field runs and best practices developed to overcome this operational and economic challenge and save rig time in P&A operations. The challenge was to design a robust section mill that can drift through the inner casing restriction and expand to a high ratio to mill the outer casing. It was equally critical to manage shock and vibrations during the milling operation, ensure stability and, competitive ROP without incurring tool damage. To solve the operational and economic challenges, a unique system was developed to reduce the rig time. The system is a combination of the newly engineered high-ratio hydraulic section mill, with a 180% expansion ratio and a precisely oriented hydraulic stabilizer below it. This creates a unique 6-point stabilization system that helps to maintain the dynamic loads and vibrations to a manageable level. The system allows for a dual casing section window in few trips as compared to conventional techniques. In the first run, a window in the inner casing is milled by a section mill. During the second run, the High-Expansion Ratio Section Mill (HRSM) is run through the restriction, and mill the entire casing. A high ratio under reamer can be included in the bottom hole assembly to clean the section and expose the formation prior to the cementing operation. This completes achieving a rock-to-rock barrier in a dual cemented casing application. The new HRSM system has so far been 100% successful on the five challenging jobs completed in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, resulted in significant rig-time savings along with the added benefits of fewer trips and less swarf at the surface. Two sizes have been developed and tested for 7"x9-5/8" and 9-5/8"x13-3/8" applications. The success during the early jobs is largely due to the robustness of the mill design, proper pre-job planning, meticulous execution, and implementation of key learnings from in-house and prior field tests.

scholarly journals Technical Note: Evaluation of a low-cost evaporation protection method for portable water samplers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana von Freyberg ◽  
Julia L. A. Knapp ◽  
Andrea Rücker ◽  
Bjørn Studer ◽  
James W. Kirchner
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Isotopic Fractionation ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Isotopic Signature ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Protection Method ◽  
Cost Efficient

Abstract. Automated field sampling of streamwater or precipitation for subsequent analysis of stable water isotopes (2H and 18O) is often conducted with off-the-shelf automated samplers. However, water samples stored in the field for days and weeks in open bottles inside autosamplers undergo isotopic fractionation and vapor mixing, thus altering their isotopic signature. We therefore designed an evaporation protection method which modifies autosampler bottles using a syringe housing and silicone tube, and tested whether this method reduces evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing in water samples stored for up to 24 days in ISCO autosamplers (Teledyne ISCO., Lincoln, US). Laboratory and field tests under different temperature and humidity conditions showed that water samples in bottles with evaporation protection were far less altered by evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing than samples in conventional open bottles. Our design is a cost-efficient approach to upgrade the 1-litre sample bottles of ISCO 6712 Full-size Portable Samplers, allowing secure water sample collection in warm and dry environments. Our design can be readily adapted (e.g., by using a different syringe size) to fit the bottles used by many other field autosamplers.

Complex Subsurface Well Abandonments Using Relief Well Methodologies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Dorey ◽  
Georgy Rassadkin ◽  
Douglas Ridgway
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Gas Seepage ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Well Abandonment ◽  
Efficient Option ◽  
Practice Methods

Abstract The field experience in the continental US suggests that approximately 33% of plug and abandonment operations are non-routine, and 5% require re-entry (Greer C.R., 2018). In some scenarios, the most cost-efficient option for the intervention is drilling an intercept well to re-enter the target well or multiple wells externally using advanced survey management and magnetic ranging techniques. This paper presents the methods applied of relief well methodologies from the planning to execution of a complex multiple-well abandonment project. Improvements in Active Magnetic Ranging sensor design and applications have improved the availability of highly precise tools for the purpose of locating and intercepting wellbores where access is not possible. These instruments were commonplace on relief well interventions, however, have found a new application in solving one of the major issues facing the oil and gas industry. Subsurface abandonments are a complex task that requires a robust methodology. In this paper, we describe the techniques that have been built upon the best practices from industry experience (ISCWSA WISC eBook). This paper also illustrates how the combination of advanced survey management, gyro surveying, and magnetic ranging can be used following the best industry practices for fast and cost-efficient non-routine plug and abandonment. Case studies of several abandonment projects are presented showing the various technical challenges which are common on idle and legacy wells. The projects include wells that are currently under the ownership of an operator and orphaned wells that have been insufficiently abandoned and left idle over many decades. The case studies outline how the application of relief well methodologies to the execution of complex sub surface interventions led to the successful outcomes of meeting environmental and government regulations for wellbore abandonment. This includes performing multiple zonal isolations between reservoirs, water zones and preventing oil and gas seepage to the surface. The projects and their outcomes prove economically viable strategies for tackling the growing issue of idle and orphaned wells globally in a fiscally responsible manner. Combining industry best practice methods for relief well drilling, along with the technological advancements in magnetic ranging systems is a solution for one of the largest dilemmas facing the oil and gas industry in relation to idle and orphaned wellbores. These applications allow previously considered impossible abandonments to be completed with a high probability of long-term success in permanent abandonment.

scholarly journals Enhanced Foamability with Shrinking Microfibers in Linear Polymer

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Kim ◽  
Heon Park ◽  
Carlos Lopez-Barron ◽  
Patrick Lee
Keyword(s):  
Strain Hardening ◽  
Polymer Processing ◽  
Expansion Ratio ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Extensional Rheometry ◽  
Enhanced Strain ◽  
Linear Viscoelastic ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Strain Hardening Behavior

Strain hardening has important roles in understanding material structures and polymer processing methods, such as foaming, film forming, and fiber extruding. A common method to improve strain hardening behavior is to chemically branch polymer structures, which is costly, thus preventing users from controlling the degree of behavior. A smart microfiber blending technology, however, would allow cost-efficient tuning of the degree of strain hardening. In this study, we investigated the effects of compounding polymers with microfibers for both shear and extensional rheological behaviors and characteristics and thus for the final foam morphologies formed by batch physical foaming with carbon dioxide. Extensional rheometry showed that compounding of in situ shrinking microfibers significantly enhanced strain hardening compared to compounding of nonshrinking microfibers. Shear rheometry with linear viscoelastic data showed a greater increase in both the loss and storage modulus in composites with shrinking microfibers than in those with nonshrinking microfibers at low frequencies. The batch physical foaming results demonstrated a greater increase in the cell population density and expansion ratio with in situ shrinking microfibers than with nonshrinking microfibers. The enhancement due to the shrinkage of compounded microfibers decreasing with temperature implies that the strain hardening can be tailored by changing processing conditions.

scholarly journals Long-Term Observation of the Quasi-3-Hour Large-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances by the Oblique-Incidence Ionosonde Network in North China

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Ruijiao Zhang ◽  
Gang Chen ◽  
Yaxian Li ◽  
Shaodong Zhang ◽  
Wanlin Gong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oblique Incidence ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
North China ◽  
Statistical Characteristics ◽  
Ionospheric Disturbances ◽  
Quiet Time ◽  
Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances ◽  
Unique System ◽  
To Come ◽  
Long Term Observation

The oblique-incidence ionosonde network in North China is a very unique system for regional ionospheric observation. It contains 5 transmitters and 20 receivers, and it has 99 ionospheric observation points between 22.40° N and 33.19° N geomagnetic latitudes. The data of the ionosonde network were used to investigate the statistical characteristics of the quasi-3-h large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (LSTIDs). From September 2009 to August 2011, 157 cases of the quiet-time LSTIDs were recorded; 110 cases traveled southward, 46 cases traveled southwestward and only 1 case traveled southeastward. The LSTIDs mainly appeared between 10:00 and 19:00 LT in the months from September to the following May. We compared the data of the Beijing, Mohe and Yakutsk digisondes and found that the LSTIDs are most likely to come from the northern auroral region. These LSTIDs may be induced by the atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) and presented obvious seasonal and diurnal varying features, indicating that the thermospheric wind field has played an important role.

scholarly journals Technical note: Evaluation of a low-cost evaporation protection method for portable water samplers

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 5821-5834
Author(s):  
Jana von Freyberg ◽  
Julia L. A. Knapp ◽  
Andrea Rücker ◽  
Bjørn Studer ◽  
James W. Kirchner
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Water Isotopes ◽  
Stable Water Isotopes ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Protection Method ◽  
Cost Efficient

Abstract. Automated field sampling of streamwater or precipitation for subsequent analysis of stable water isotopes (2H and 18O) is often conducted with off-the-shelf automated samplers. However, when water samples are stored in the field for days and weeks in open bottles inside autosamplers, their isotopic signatures can be altered by evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing. We therefore designed an evaporation protection method which modifies autosampler bottles using a syringe housing and silicone tube, and we tested whether this method reduces evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing in water samples stored for up to 24 d in 6712 full-size portable samplers (Teledyne ISCO, Lincoln, USA). Laboratory and field tests under different temperature and humidity conditions showed that water samples in bottles with evaporation protection were far less altered by evaporative fractionation and vapor mixing than samples in conventional open bottles. Our design is a cost-efficient approach to upgrade the 1 L sample bottles of the ISCO autosamplers, allowing secure water sample collection in warm and dry environments. Our design can be readily adapted (e.g., by using a different syringe size) to fit the bottles used by many other field autosamplers.

Enabling Safe and Efficient Well Plug & Abandonments Through Use of Rigless Technologies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleksandr Spuskanyuk ◽  
David C Haeberle ◽  
Brandon Max Baumert ◽  
Brian Matthew King ◽  
Benjamin T Hillier
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Significant Cost ◽  
Coiled Tubing ◽  
Well Integrity ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Well Abandonment

Abstract The growing number of upcoming well abandonments has become an important driver to seek efficiencies in optimizing abandonment costs while establishing long term well integrity and complying with local regulatory requirements. With an increasing global inventory of Plug and Abandonment (P&A) candidates, Exxonmobil has been driven to look for the most reliable, safe, and cost-efficient P&A technologies. ExxonMobil's P&A guidelines are consistent with and often more stringent than the local regulatory requirements but are also achievable, at least in part, with rigless technologies, leading to a more cost-efficient approach while ensuring well integrity. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the success of rigless abandonments and their benefits compared to rig-based solutions. When developing a well abandonment plan, it is essential to consider a number of factors. These include local regulations, identification of zones to be isolated and suitable caprocks, and recognition of constraints including well history, conditions and uncertainties. Teams should begin with low cost operations without a rig if possible, estimate costs and effectiveness to achieve the barrier requirements, and evaluate batch operation opportunities for multi-well programs. ExxonMobil case studies are shown to help describe in detail how to make decisions about applicability of rigless abandonment options and how to properly execute such abandonments to achieve compliance with the barrier requirements. It has been demonstrated that significant cost savings can be achieved by staging the abandonment program in a way that lower cost technologies are utilized during the early stages of well abandonment, starting with wireline where possible, followed by coiled tubing and finally by a pulling unit, as appropriate. P&A execution could be achieved without a rig in a majority of cases, including most offshore wells, with the need to use a rig only in special circumstances or phases of execution. It is important to note that the barrier placement and safety of rigless P&A execution will not be compromised, as compared to the rig-based P&As. Additional cost savings could be achieved by further optimizing P&A design at the well design stage, ensuring that there are no built-in limiters that would prevent rigless P&A execution at the end of well life. Several case studies from ExxonMobil's global offshore experience demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of rigless P&A operations, with significant cost savings compared to rig-based P&As. It has been evident that rigless P&A choice is applicable to the variety of ExxonMobil's P&A projects of different complexities, with the same or superior quality of abandonment and safety record.

A Study of Possible Solutions for Cost Efficient Subsea Well Abandonment

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Moeinikia ◽  
Kjell Kåre Fjelde ◽  
Jostein Sørbø ◽  
Arild Saasen ◽  
Torbjørn Vrålstad
Keyword(s):  
Cost Saving ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Probabilistic Approach ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Alternative Technologies ◽  
Production Wells ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Well Abandonment ◽  
Production Tubing

There is a large number of subsea production wells offshore Norway approaching the end of their lifetime. Considering high spread rate of semisubmersible rigs, abandonment operations of these wells will be quite expensive. Moreover, Plug and abandonment (P&A) can easily contribute with 25% of the total costs of drilling for exploration wells offshore Norway. Hence it is of great importance to seek approaches and solutions to reduce the P&A cost. This paper reviews some possible new ways and also alternative technologies as the solutions to cut down the P&A expenses. Some of these technologies are now being used offshore Norway. In the first section of this paper, challenges of performing P&A operations offshore Norway together with the main cost drivers are discussed. It is then briefly argued how to consider issues such as barriers setting depth, cementing depth and logging in the design and well construction phases to ease or avoid future P&A challenges. For hydrocarbon exploitation in the Barents Sea and Arctic regions it is important to take into account the P&A phase in the early stage of planning and development. Light well intervention vessels as alternatives to semisubmersible rigs are recognized of being the largest contributor to cost saving. It will then be discussed to what extent vessel technologies can cut down the expenses for subsea abandonment. New ways of performing P&A can be another contributor to cost saving. It is shown how research and testing can assure the operators of new ways for performing P&A. Retrieval of production tubing is a challenging suboperation such that it imposes significant cost to subsea well abandonment. There have been performed studies on how P&A could be performed with tubing left in hole and it is of interest to pursue this further. We will investigate how the abandonment operations can be simplified and be more cost efficient if the production tubing can be left inside the well where the basic assumptions for being able to do it is accounted for. In addition, some complexities in abandonment operations can cause additional cost. An example of such complexities can be the need to establish two permanent barriers for potential permeable zones in overburden. It will be demonstrated how much can be saved with respect to cost if the regulations allow to ease some parts of abandonment operations. In this study, a probabilistic approach as a systematic tool to produce unbiased results is applied to quantify cost savings of new alternatives compared to the traditional ones.

Reservoir Engineering and Geomechanical Aspects of Well Plugging and Abandonment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianru Qi ◽  
Khoja Ghaliah ◽  
Iraj Ershaghi
Keyword(s):  
Reservoir Modeling ◽  
Hydrocarbon Gases ◽  
Sovereign State ◽  
The Public ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Us ◽  
Potential Formation ◽  
To Come ◽  
Well Abandonment ◽  
The Cost

Abstract With the maturation of many oilfields, further well abandonments will occur in the years to come. There are issues about improper well abandonment that can have far-reaching effects for responsible companies or entities. At this time in the US, where most of the operation is operated by non-government entities, sometimes the sovereign state may end up covering the cost of well abandonment when the operator is not financially capable in managing such costs. That will be a burden to the public taxpayers. In this paper, we review an important aspect of the well abandonment practices and at present, based on a reservoir modeling approach, more clearance on the potential formation of free gas that can be a cause of concern. We also discuss the integrity issues of the sealing process. We point out how the development of cracks caused by many factors, including geomechanical effects or slow deterioration of the cement seal, in the long run, may result in generating escape paths for the evolved hydrocarbon gases.

Effect of Tool Shape on Galling Behavior in Plate Shearing

2013 ◽  
Vol 853 ◽  
pp. 460-465
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Yamada ◽  
Zhi Gang Wang ◽  
Takuya Fukao
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Steel Plate ◽  
Lower Surface ◽  
Expansion Ratio ◽  
High Ratio ◽  
High Tensile Strength ◽  
Edge Angle ◽  
Tool Shape ◽  
Surface Expansion ◽  
Clean Metal

Finish blanking is one of the precision shearing processes and it has some features such as the formability of a high ratio of the burnished surface, lower surface expansion ratio of the burnished surface. The purpose of the present work is to clarify the effect of the tool shape in finish blanking on galling behavior. A high-tensile-strength-steel plate with a thickness of 6mm is used in the present paper. The edge shape of punch is changed while the clearance is kept to 12%t. Galling is observed except for the PW punch with the edge angle of 30 degrees at the first shearing operation. In the case of the PW punch with the edge angle of 30 degrees, galling cant be found clearly even when the shearing number increases until 20. The burnished surface has a glossy part with the clean metal for the punches except for the PW punch with the edge angle of 30 degree. It is found that the glossy part is generated after fracture occurs at the punch edge and then causes galling.

Investor-State Dispute Settlement under NAFTA Chapter 11: The Shape of Things to Come?

1998 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 263-290
Author(s):  
J. Anthony VanDuzer
Keyword(s):  
Free Trade Agreement ◽  
Dispute Settlement ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Minimum Standards ◽  
The North ◽  
State Behaviour ◽  
Nafta Chapter 11 ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Right

SummaryRecently, there has been a proliferation of international agreements imposing minimum standards on states in respect of their treatment of foreign investors and allowing investors to initiate dispute settlement proceedings where a state violates these standards. Of greatest significance to Canada is Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which provides both standards for state behaviour and the right to initiate binding arbitration. Since 1996, four cases have been brought under Chapter 11. This note describes the Chapter 11 process and suggests some of the issues that may arise as it is increasingly resorted to by investors.

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