Project Description
When a well reaches the end of its lifetime, it must be permanently plugged and abandoned (decommissioned). It is important to ensure that plugged wells do not leak after abandonment, as there could be several potential leak paths such as microannuli in plugged wells. To ensure well integrity after abandonment, permanent well barriers must extend across the full cross section of the well. That includes establishing barriers in all annuli, which could however be quite time-consuming and thus costly.
This project investigated well cementing, especially well plug and abandonment, material requirements for lasting sealing capacity, material quality verification methods, and potential additives and alternatives to the current cement system.