A network to identify the integrity of wellbores, in particular their long-term ability to retain CO₂, as a significant potential risk for the long-term security of geological storage facilities.

Introduction

The aim of the network is to further the understanding of the issue of wellbore integrity in general and begin to attempt to develop answers to the main issues and problems identified.

The network set itself the goal of addressing the following key three issues:

• Understanding the problem – there are a number of laboratory based activities that are currently underway but results are yet far from complete. It is essential to develop knowledge of the key problems that lead to well failure.
• Monitoring wells – procedures for testing cements and a protocol for wellbore integrity monitory needs to be established.
• Remediating leaks if they arise – this is essential to demonstrate that if well failures do occur they can be remediated quickly and with little impact on operator safety and the local environment.

Background

During the development of the Risk Assessment Network, discussions highlighted that the integrity of wellbores could be a significant potential risk for the long-term security of geological storage facilities.

An inaugural workshop was held in 2005 to bring together over 50 experts from both industrial operators and from research organisations to determine the current state of knowledge of wellbore integrity.

Ensuring well integrity over long timescales (100s to 1000s years) has not been attempted before and therefore represents a new challenge to the oil and gas industry. One conclusion from the inaugural workshop of the Wellbore Integrity Network was that it will probably not be possible to promise a leak-free well since it is well known that conventional Portland cements are degraded by CO₂. Rather, the emphasis should be on designing wells employing state-of-the-art technology which should reduce the risk of CO₂ release.

Meeting and Summary Reports

Summary reports from previous Network workshops are available, together with information on the next workshop.

Click here to view

Upcoming Events

The 2nd IEAGHG Joint Network Meeting will be held on the week of the 18th June 2012 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, hosted by Los Alamos National Laboratory. This meeting will include all four of the geological storage networks (Risk Assessment, Modelling, Monitoring and Wellbore Integrity)

Further details will be available shortly.  Registration for this meeting will open in February 2012.

Previous Meetings

For information on all monitoring network meetings, please login to the members area.

Membership

Membership of this network is open to individuals with a professional interest in Wellbore Integrity for CO₂ Geological Storage.

If you are NOT already registered on this site, click here to register for membership of this network.

If you are already registered on this site, but not for this network, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click here to access the Members Area

Network contacts

For information on Network activities contact: Laura Davis  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For network membership enquiries contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it