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Abandonment Standards: Special Cases
Abandonment Standards: Special Cases
Abandonment Standards: Special Cases
This document describes the minimum standards and general practices for abandoning wells.
1. Abandonment or Temporary Suspension shall ensure that: Abandonment of the wells shall be designed
and conducted in such a way that the environment is preserved and protected permanently.
2. Flow from the formation fluid to surface is prevented.
3. Permeable zones are isolated from one to the other by an approved tested barrier.
4. Reservoir management shall not be compromised. I.e independent reservoir layers must be isolated
from one to the other to prevent cross-flow.
5. Compliance with barrier requirements which is a minimum of 2x independent tested barriers. In the
case of abandonment or suspension, this shall exclude any hydrostatic column.
6. Compliance with local Government regulation. It is noted that regulations on abandonment vary in
clarity and definition between regulatory authorities. Considerable attention should be paid to both
regulations and definition to ensure all criteria are met.
7. Isolation of fresh water bearing formations.
8. Only wells that are planned to be re-entered within two years shall be defined as “suspended”.
Special Cases
9. A cement plug of a minimum 100m length shall be placed across potential weak points such as DV
collars during abandonment.
10. In case of poorly cemented casing where a leak path or hydrocarbon migration is deemed possible, a
window of 30m will be cut in the casing. The open hole exposed will be opened to the drilling diameter of
the section plus minimum half an inch, or more in case of caving, and a 100m cement plug set across the
window.
11. The formation fracture pressure at the window depth shall be greater than the contained pressure
below the barrier.
1. PREPARATION ABANDONMENT
1. Prior to preparation of the abandonment or suspension programme the following shall be established
between the appropriate departments:
a. Identify and agree permeable zones and identify those that contain hydrocarbons.
b. Ascertain the potential maximum formation pressure.
c. Identify zones that are capable of cross flowing.
d. Identify zones of good and poor cement quality in the casing annuli and any potential for leakage.
e. Identify and quantify any annular pressures.
f. Agree whether the well is to be abandoned or suspended.
g. If suspended establish any limitations on the nature of the suspension (Time frame).
2. An abandonment/suspension programme shall be prepared and approved by the Well Operations
Manager and, as required, by the appropriate representatives from both production and Reservoir
departments.
3. The abandonment programme shall include:
a. A statement of the objectives.
b. A schematic of the well showing the different casing setting depths, characteristics, pressure tests, LOT
values, top of cement (theoretical and CBL).
c. Details of the formations, permeability’s, reservoir fluids and pressures.
d. An abandonment or suspension diagram.
e. A procedure for the operations.
f. Details of the abandonment suspension fluid.
g. Details of cement to be used.
4. Where primary cement in the casing annuli is inadequate, absent, or when annulus pressures are
present, the abandonment cannot be completed until this is rectified. The abandonment programme shall
specify a remedial programme that may involve:
a. Cutting and retrieval of casing and setting cement plugs.
b. Cutting a window in the casing.
c. Perforation of casing and remedial squeeze operations.
d. Surface squeeze remedial work.
5. Generally a notice shall be sent to the supervising authority advising the intention to abandon or
suspend giving an outline of the proposed methodology. This shall include:
a. Reason for abandonment/suspension.
b. Supportive logs and test data.
c. A description and schematic of the proposed abandonment/suspension.
FIGURE 2
7 ABANDONMENT FLUID
Abandonment fluid shall not be considered as a barrier.
9 FILING
1. Records of temporarily abandoned wells shall be carefully kept in the affiliate Well Operations Office
and also in the E&P Docs archives.
2. Records should contain at least the following detailed information:
a. Definitive well co-ordinates.
b. Definitive well trajectory and surveys record.
c. Status diagrams including the relevant depths of casing shoes, pressure tests values, LOT values,
casings characteristics, formation tops and completion details.
d. Top of cement in each annulus and the means by which it was verified, i.e. CBL, calculation, pressure.
e. Position of each barrier and the means by which the barrier was tested i.e. pressure/inflow test, tagging,
etc.
f. Formation and residual pressures of all permeable and especially overpressure or hydrocarbon bearing
zones.
g. Details of the wellhead arrangement and any corrosion caps fitted.
h. Information related to the removal of wellhead and casing strings at/below the seabed/surface,
highlighting the possibility of pressure migration and trap below the caps and the way to check that.
i. Seabed clearance survey/certificate.
j. Final schemes of any permanent abandonment of a well will be part of the final drilling report of the
well.
REFERENCES
API RP 57
Oil & Gas UK Guidelines for the Suspension and Abandonment of Wells
NORSOK (Well Integrity in Well Operations)