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5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLUGGING A WELL

Plugging a well can be a bit of a wild card. Sometimes things are as smooth as warm butter, and a well gets plugged in a couple of days. Other times (too often) things get difficult. Casing doesn’t come out of the like its supposed to, cement plugs don’t set up properly, but the real killer is trying to stop stray gas. There are a lot of things that can derail a P&A budget, and that is precisely why it is important to think ahead and have a good plan in place.

With that in mind, here are 5 things you should consider if you are planning a P&A project:

1. Don’t go cheap on cement

   Nothing blows up a P&A budget like stray gas issues. If your cement doesn’t set up properly, you are often left with a gas channel. At this point you’ll be forced to drill out your cement and try again. It’s not uncommon for operators to have to re-enter a well several years later, because of gas migration issues. Cement is expensive, but going cheap will often cost you more money.

   Be sure to use good quality cement, and use additives like latex that help prevent gas migration.

2. Triple-check your cement calculations

   Staying on the theme of cement, it’s important to make sure that your calculations are correct. There are certain things in life that you just have to get right the first time. Cement is one of those things. Bad cement calculations can lead to an array of issues, including cement not setting properly, or getting pipe stuck in the hole. Be absolutely sure of your volumes (slurry and displacement) before you start pumping.

   A common practice is to have multiple people calculate cement volumes and then compare numbers. For example, an engineer, the onsite consultant, and the cement supervisor all calculate their volumes, and then compare their numbers to ensure that they are correct.

3. Gather as much well information as possible

   Often a well is being plugged because it is old. Sometimes it is VERY old. The well records may be inconsistent and unclear. These situations often lead to assumptions and we all know what happens when we assume 😉. It is important to try to gather as much information as possible so you know exactly what you have downhole. This may require you to gather records from different sources and piece the information together. Sometimes there is nothing you can do about, but when you can, do your best to verify your assumptions before you start the project.

4. Understand the lead times for equipment and materials

   Have you tried to order a workover rig lately? It can be months until you can get a rig out to your location. The same can be true for cement providers. The longest lead time item will determine the pace of your project. Plan accordingly.

5. Inspect what you expect

   As the saying goes, trust but verify. Double check the work of your workforce to ensure quality control. Remember that the entire world is short on good, well-trained employees. Oilfield service companies are no exception. It is not good enough to simply hand over a procedure to a rig operator and expect that everything is followed. You must continuously inspect the project and verify that everything is going according to plan. This may sound harsh, but it is a reality that exists in oilfield operations. This is all the more reason to have a competent supervisor or “company man” onsite.

   Some examples of things to inspect:

   • Gel quality to ensure that it is mixed properly

   • Cement slurry during a cement job

     • Slurry density

     • Cement sample to ensure proper setting

   • Onsite water

     • Fresh water with no contaminants

     • Don’t assume that everyone knows not to use brine to mix cement!

   • Proper PPE is being used

   • Tubing tally

   The big takeaway here is that you should not assume that quality control exists. Inspect the work to ensure that the expectations are met.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and nothing can guarantee a smooth P&A project. However, if you follow these guidelines, you will reduce the odds of unnecessary mistakes and increase your chances of a successful, budget-friendly P&A project.

Do you need help with a P&A project? FyreRok has engineers and field consultants ready to assist you. Click here to reach out.

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