Systematic Assessment of Wellbore Integrity for CO 2 Geosequestration in the Midwestern U.S.

Transcription

1 Systematic Assessment of Wellbore Integrity for CO 2 Geosequestration in the Midwestern U.S. Joel Sminchak, Neeraj Gupta, and Mark Moody Battelle, Columbus, OH, USA Groundwater Protection Council 2013 Underground Injection Control Conference Sarasota, FL January 24,

2 Presentation Outline 1. Project Overview 2. Statement of the Problem 3. Objectives 4. Methods Well Record Collection Well Record Analysis Sustained Casing Pressure Monitoring Well Integrity Evaluation CO2 Storage Assessment 5. Results/Conclusions (preliminary) 2

3 Project Overview The project is funded by the U.S. DOE / National Energy Technology Laboratory under their program on technologies to ensure permanent geologic carbon storage (Contract DE-FE ). Co-funding provided by Ohio Development Services Agency Agreement CDO-D Project is a three year effort from October 2012-September Project team includes Battelle, BP Alternative Energy, and NiSource. U.S. DOE/NETL 3

4 Statement of the Problem Areas in the Midwest have perceived risk for carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) due to long drilling history. However, many of the old wells may not present realistic risk for CCUS b/c they are shallow, depressurized, or properly plugged and abandoned. Titusville, PA, 1865 Morrow Co., OH, 1964 Source: Drake Well Museum. Source: Morrow County Oil Boom Ohio Geological Society. 4

5 Statement of the Problem Wellbore integrity identified as a main risk for carbon storage applications in much of the Midwest due to historical oil & gas drilling. 5

6 Statement of the Problem The project is designed to research questions related to the presence of old boreholes in relation to CCUS applications in the Midwest: Are shallow, old wells an actual risk to CCUS projects in deeper formations? Or, are these old wells more of a perception issue? Is it technically and economically feasible to mitigate wellbores? Are there areas where CCUS would have less risk from old wellbores? What are the critical aspects in relation to categories of wells, materials, and procedures? What can we learn from historical annulus/casing pressure data from gas storage and/or injection wells in relation to well integrity? What are the viable steps to addressing wellbores in the Midwest? 6

7 Project Objectives The project is designed to survey all relevant wells in study areas and apply this information to classes of well based on age, depth. Project includes field work measuring borehole pressure in relation to cement/casing integrity at NiSource gas storage fields or other wells. Project includes task to remedial guidance for wellbores and CO 2 storage siting. 7

8 Technical Approach/Organization The project will consist of five technical tasks over a 3-year period: Task 2 Well Record Collection Task 3 Well Record Analysis Task 4 Sustained Casing Pressure Analysis Task 5 Well Integrity Analysis Task 6 CO2 Storage Assessment Period of performance: October, 2012 through September, Field Data Regional Datasets 8

9 Well Record Collection (in progress) Survey regulatory and industry well construction, production, plugging & abandonment records: Construction details Drilling Completion Production/Injection volumes Pressures Plugging and abandonment Cement Bond Logs Determine location, depth, age, construction and status of existing and abandoned wellbores 9

10 Well Record Collection Example well records: Plugs: Deep- 419 ft Int ft Shal ft Surface- 25 ft 10

11 Well Record Collection Example well records: Plugs: Deep- 293 ft (class A) Int ft (clay on plug) Shal ft (clay on plug) Surface- 25 ft (cement) 11

12 Oil and Gas Wells in Michigan 53,800 oil and gas related wells listed for Michigan. 34,587 (65%) listed as plugged. Albion-Scipio Trend 12

13 Oil and Gas Wells in Michigan Well distribution concentrated at ~1,500 and ~4,000 ft. 90% of wells less than 5,000 feet deep. 13

14 Oil and Gas Wells in Ohio 229,992 oil and gas related wells listed for Ohio. 102,246 (44%) listed as plugged. 14

15 Oil and Gas Wells in Ohio Well plugs are mostly set in Clinton, Big Lime, Berea, and unidentified. 15

16 Well Record Analysis Analyze collected well data using statistical analyses Analyze trends in wellbore integrity risks by age, depth, construction, materials, region, regulations, well type and operational data Evaluate risk factors for CO 2 leakage and migration for CCS and EOR projects Identify remedial processes to reduce or eliminate risks Estimate cost of risk remediation process Provide guidance for siting of CO 2 storage projects 16

17 Sustained Casing Pressure Analysis Sustained Casing Pressure (SCP) is a major concern of wellbore integrity If the casing sting is cemented properly, gauges on the casing annulus should read 0 psi. A small amount of pressure can be created by thermal expansion of fluids but once that pressure has been bled off, the pressure on the casing annulus should remain at 0 psi. If the pressure returns after the well has been bled down, then the well is said to exhibit SCP 17

18 Sustained Casing Pressure Analysis Sustained casing pressure buildup over time may be analyzed to determine cement permeability, location of leak, nature of leakage process. Source: Huerta et al.,

19 Sustained Casing Pressure Analysis Gas storage companies historical data on SCP will be reviewed. We are also working to monitor some wells in gas storage fields for SCP. 19

20 Well Integrity Analysis Well Integrity Item Cement degradation Evaluation Factors Cement type, cement age, additives, hydrogeologic conditions Cracks and Microannuli Cement age, plug intervals, cement type Acid-Gas Zones Geologic logs, drilling logs, hydrogeologic zones Channeling Cementing procedures, cement age, cement mix Casing Corrosion Casing inspection logs, case studies Wellhead Leaks Sustained Casing Pressure Fugitive emission data, gas storage field data, regulatory data Historical Class II injection and natural gas storage data, field monitoring data 20

21 Well Integrity Analysis Evaluate risk factors for CO 2 migration for CCS and EOR projects Connect SCP findings with larger data set. 21

22 Well Integrity Analysis More detailed well survey data such as cement bond logs will be examined for well integrity factors. Example: CBL quality at different well pressures. 22

23 CO 2 Storage Analysis Evaluate risk factors for CO 2 leakage and migration for CCS and EOR projects Identify remedial processes to reduce or eliminate risks Estimate cost of risk remediation process Provide guidance for siting of CO 2 storage projects 23

24 CO 2 Storage Analysis CO 2 storage analysis will include EOR fields and deep saline formations. Many fields have EOR potential in midwest of course abandoned boreholes are present in the fields. 24

25 Results/Conclusions This project is in its preliminary stage. Well status and construction information was surveyed for Ohio and Michigan. Records indicate 53,800 oil and gas related wells in Michigan. 65% are listed as plugged. Records indicate 229,992 oil and gas related wells in Ohio. 44% are listed as plugged. Few sustained casing pressure measurements are available from the region. Future work will include field measurements of SCP and connecting this data to the larger regional dataset to evaluate geologic CO 2 storage zones. 25

26 Other Research on UIC Issues Development of Subsurface Brine Disposal Framework in the Northern Appalachian Basin. Project selected under RPSEA Unconventional Onshore RFP. This research project is in its preliminary stage (i.e. not started). Project team includes Battelle, Kentucky Geological Survey, Ohio Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Geological Survey, and West Virginia Geological Survey. Kentucky Geological Survey University of Kentucky 26

27 Other Research on UIC Issues Development of Subsurface Brine Disposal Framework in the Northern Appalachian Basin Develop a systematic assessment of brine disposal wells in the region based on information from state agencies and disposal and production companies Develop a geologic framework with regard to injection zones, regional and local extent, reservoir performance parameters, and operational issues using new and existing well logs, seismic data, and operational data. Local reservoir simulations for injectivity, pressure buildup, geomechanical constraints. Evaluate economics of disposal based on possible demand, storage capacity, and disposal well costs 27

28 Thank You! 28