Information about this Forum
Technical Disciplines: Reservoir Description & Dynamics; Production & Operations; Drilling & Completions; Management & Information
Operators have a fiduciary and legal responsibility for well integrity, and there are many complex issues associated with this. The long-term risks associated with well integrity management are immense, and are being referred to in some circles as the “asbestos of the oilfield.”
With the current expectations from our well stock, there are several aspects that may be far from perfect. For instance:
- As our fields mature we are demanding that our wells have longer life.
- With re-development schemes, we expect our wells to be multi-purpose, e.g.: converting producers to water then to CO2 injection, which places increasing stress on aging infrastructure and the associated wells.
- Reservoir fluids are continuously changing throughout the field life cycle. Injected water or other materials change the produced fluid composition and may sour the fluids.
What are we actively doing to meet these challenges with regard to material selection, well design, drilling, and completion? We need not only new technologies, but also to understand the impact of these issues on the life-cycle expectancy and long-term well integrity.
This Forum will directly confront these issues, and consider the technologies and challenges required to manage responsibly our well portfolios through 2020 and beyond. To address the future challenges the topics discussed will include, but not be limited to the following:
- Engaging business in understanding and addressing the issues, including genuine long-term planning for the well stock
- Operational demands beyond the original design well life
- Technical demands and the role of service suppliers in well integrity operations
- Understanding of, and compliance with industry regulations, standards, and best practices; defining the mechanical/pressure integrity standards
- Quantitative risk assessment - Barrier risk qualification
- Best practices for operational well handover from drilling to production
- Integration and implementation of well integrity management as part of existing quality systems
- Evaluation and management of workover candidates and dealing with problem well stock
- Abandonment issues and their management
Engaging the Business
How do we engage the entire business in addressing the short- and long-term issues, such as increasing awareness of the decisions we make and the impact of these decisions on long-term vitality of our well stock? What are the requirements for integration of development planning processes with well integrity issues? What do we do today? What changes are required to the way we work?
Operational demands
What are the demands and issues? How do we manage the well stock beyond its sell by date?
Role of Technology and Service Providers
What new materials are required? What is the role of the operator and service companies in developing and testing these materials? Are we taking into account development of new materials outside our own industry?
Standards and Regulations
What are the current industry standards and regulations, and what needs to change? How do we meet these changes?
Risk Assessment and Surveillance Requirements
Quantitative methodologies in assessing risk --- are current practices good enough? How do we use surveillance data as a preventative measure?
Best Practices and Quality Assurance Systems
What is considered best practice? Are we involving the correct disciplines in decision making processes from drilling to completion to production? What can we learn form other industries where integrity is essential – for instance the nuclear industry?
Abandonment and the Associated Implications
What are the key issues?
Who Should Attend
The Forum is a limited attendance meeting for up to 75 people, designed for professionals in the oil and gas industry who are active in the development, management, and maintenance of our reservoirs and wells.
The forum is aimed at people whose principal job falls into any of the following categories: reservoir engineers and managers, petroleum engineers and managers, well engineers and managers, drilling engineers and managers, and asset and business managers.
