Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Petroleum Engineering

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Subsurface leaks and spills are a matter of significant concern to the oil and gas industry because of their impact on health, safety and environment. It is thus important to study and assess the integrity of our energy systems and the physico-chemical processes that affect them.

To avoid leakage of fluids from wellbores, barrier materials are used for sealing formation fluids and creating a single flow path through the well. These barrier materials are constantly subjected to subsurface fluid fluxes and temperature, pressure and chemical conditions over the extended periods the wells remain underground. This makes it imperative to assess the integrity of these materials under these harsh conditions. Additionally, if leaks or spills occur, the residence times of the organic components need to be quantified for environmental and mitigation efforts beyond the production or discharge time period.

These two important research gaps are addressed in this PhD by employing coupled fluid (H) and heat flow (T) and reactive solute (C) transport, THC modeling. Using coupled THC methods, the longevity of barrier materials is assessed in offshore subsurface conditions, and the residence times of spilled compounds in subsea marine sediments is investigated. Parameters and processes which influence the longevity of barrier materials and the scales under which these processes operate is quantitatively identified.

Date

5-25-2022

Committee Chair

Gupta, Ipsita

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.5877

Available for download on Thursday, May 22, 2025

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