Well Integrity - Next Developments

Abstract

Step changes in the area of Well Integrity is often based on HSE, production regularity and intervention cost. Well Integrity is a relatively new area of expertise, where small and larger quantitative and qualitative improvements can be expected. With change in technology comes procedural changes. With more significant improvements comes organizational changes. This paper shed some lights on some improvements in the pipeline for future Well Integrity Management. Some step changes are more evident as new equipment are qualified. Other improvements may be more intangible, like procedural or organizational changes. An overview has been made per phases a well is subjected to, in an approach to understand where it is likely to see progress in the area of Well Integrity. The overview follows a typical life cycle of a well to map out the processes and work where a well's barriers, integrity and containment are either planned, established or active. One important issue learned from making an overview of the Well Integrity activities through the life cycle of a well is how the work is divided between different groups in an organization with different responsibility and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Updating and reporting integrity status, providing performance and reliability data across lines is in itself a challenging task. The Integrity of a well is often tied to the capacity to contain fluids. The processes which happen on the outside of the barrier envelopes are also important. It can be gas migration leading to sustained casing pressure, exposure to mobile corrosive fluids, subsidence or formation collapse. Traditionally, monitoring pressure in the production annulus has been the main indicator of integrity and source of information. Many operators acknowledge that monitoring the other annular pressures are important and have long desired automatic surveillance of the next annulus.

Casing structural integrity and failure modes in a range of well types - A review

“…Using this model sustain casing pressure can be computed and used in design of production casing for shale gas horizontal well undergoing fracturing. In addition, Brechan et al (2018) build upon Klever and Tamano model to developed ultimate limit strength (ULS) for the prediction of tubular collapse failure following a joint API/1SO work group (WG2b) guidelines and recommendation. Results obtained from this model (ULS) is in good agreement with actual collapse test conducted on 113 samples by drilling engineering associations (DEA).…”

“…However, well integrity as whole is comparatively new in relation to drilling, completion, production and health safety and environment (HSE). It is anticipated that well integrity will therefore see both quantitative and qualitative step changes in technology and procedure in short and long term (Brechan et al, 2018). For example step changes in equipment recently lead to development of elastic carbon composite (ECC) in connection seals is replacing organic elastomers in HPHT wells and steam injection wells.…”

“…Recent advances in technology has led to the designs and development of subsea field support with autonomous under water vehicles (AUV) to reduce maintenance cost. In addition, Brechan et al (2018) pointed out that modern oilfield will most likely utilise wireless technology where signal will be transmitted to a central control room and action taken in real time.…”