Modelling validation of tubing compaction for rigless well plug and abandonment

Tunget, B., Lu, P., Cammarano, A. , Karimi, N. and Paul, M. (2021) Modelling validation of tubing compaction for rigless well plug and abandonment. SPE Drilling and Completion, 36(1), pp. 101-117. (doi: 10.2118/201214-PA)

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Abstract

Conventional well plug and abandonment (P and A) can sever and remove the tubing to access casing or leave it in situ when it does not interfere with providing a seal over an indefinite time frame. This paper assesses the viability of pushing rather than pulling severed production tubing to gain casing access. The P and A decision to push, pull, or leave the tubing in situ depends on confirming existing seals and then placing suitable sealants, such as cement, to keep the risks of future well leakages as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). Pushing or compacting tubing into the liquid space of a well could be used with smaller rigless units, which cannot hoist the production tubing, but can use production intervention or decommissioning logistics with coiled tubing or wireline cutting and severance. Associated pumps could then drive an inflatable piston to compact split and severed tubing into a lower liquid space to access casing for logging and P and A plugging. Rigless tools and methods have provided dramatic cost savings where casing access was not needed, and thus the present study investigates the viability of accessing casing by means of pushing or compacting tubing to extend rigless P and A use and savings. The viability of pushing and compacting North Sea sizes and grades were confirmed in real-scale physical-compaction simulations of production-tubing joints pulled from offshore wells. Independent small-scale physical simulations and numerical modeling then confirmed that the real-scale results were predictable and repeatable to demonstrate an ability to design and provide a window or gap in a production-tubing string for use by other P and A methods.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Paul, Professor Manosh and Lu, Mr Pengyuan and Cammarano, Dr Andrea and Karimi, Dr Nader
Authors: Tunget, B., Lu, P., Cammarano, A., Karimi, N., and Paul, M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:SPE Drilling and Completion
Publisher:Society of Petroleum Engineers
ISSN:1064-6671
ISSN (Online):1930-0204
Published Online:11 June 2020

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
301537Mathematical Modelling of Downhole Tubing Disposal for Rig-less Well Plug and AbandonmentNader KarimiScottish Funding Council (SFC)16OP-39 / 17PR-43ENG - Systems Power & Energy