Mandate
The committee will support industry’s desire for shared research to develop credible and relevant information to address knowledge gaps related to suspended, abandoned, remediated, and reclaimed wells. A collaborative approach engages subject matter experts, from industry, government, and academia, to identify and prioritize knowledge gaps resulting in research projects addressing high priority environmental and social matters. These research projects will help in development of smart regulations, and best practices, and identification of potential technologies to find cost effective approach in managing and mitigating environmental footprint.
Focus
This committee works on high priority environmental and social matters related to suspended, abandoned, remediated, and reclaimed wells.
2020 Well Abandonment Public Policy Issues and Knowledge Gaps
Public Policy Issue | Associated Knowledge Gap(s) |
Characterize the Source of SCVF/GM to Identify Leakage Pathways, Establish an Appropriate Threshold Concentration for Well Repair, and Identify Long-term Monitoring Solutions. |
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Research Well Integrity to Establish a Permanent Barrier Criteria. |
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Determine a Criteria for Cement and Cement Alternatives for SCVF/GM Repair. |
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D20 requires fresh water for abandonments, and uninhibited fresh above BGWP. This does not sit well with many operators, because of the belief that fresh water will accelerate corrosion (especially at the air-water interface at surface, which will be necessary for freeze protection). Other regulatory environments require a range of fluids, from “nonporous material” (Pennsylvania – widely interpreted to be any liquid you want as long as it’s not air) to “salt gel fluid” (Texas), “fluid dense enough to overpressure open formation below” (US offshore) |
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