Risk and remediation of irreducible casing pressure at petroleum wells
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-30-2013
Abstract
Oil well cement problems such as small cracks or channels may result in gas migration and lead to irreducible pressure at the casing head. Irreducible casing pressure also termed, Sustained Casing Pressure (SCP) is hazardous for a safe operation and the affected wells cannot be terminated without remedial operations. It is believed that even very small leaks might lead to continuous emissions of gas to the atmosphere. In the chapter, the author describes physical mechanisms of irreducible casing pressure and qualifies the associated risk by showing statistical data from the Gulf of Mexico and discussing the regulatory approach. This chapter also introduces a new approach to evaluate risk of casing pressure by computing a probable rate of atmospheric emissions from wells with failed casing heads resulting from excessive pressure. Also presented is a new method for assessing potential for self-plugging of such wells flowing wet gas as the gas migration channels could be plugged off by the condensate.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Risk Analysis for Prevention of Hazardous Situations in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
First Page
155
Last Page
180
Recommended Citation
Wojtanowicz, A. (2013). Risk and remediation of irreducible casing pressure at petroleum wells. Risk Analysis for Prevention of Hazardous Situations in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, 155-180. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-4777-0.ch008