10 April 2019
Astrimar to present at OTC 2019
Astrimar will be presenting details of their STEM-flow predictive modelling tool in Session 46 on Thursday 9th May. The tool supports risk based well P&A strategies and technology qualification of new well sealing materials
Astrimar are delighted to again be attending the Offshore Technology Conference to be held in Houston, Texas between 6 - 9 May. R&D Engineer Brian Willis will present a paper on “Long Term Well Plug Integrity Assurance - A Probabilistic Approach” as part of Session 46 “Offshore CO2 storage: technical challenges for new business opportunities” on the morning of 9th May. The paper (paper no. 29259) outlines the methodology and application of the Astrimar STEM-flow predictive modelling tool for qualification of new sealing technology for the oil and gas industry.
Industry regulators along with operators are currently pursuing opportunities to reduce the overall costs of decommissioning activities, with well P&A being a significant factor. A risk based approach to P&A combined with application of new technologies has been identified as having the potential to significantly reduce both these costs and the associated risk to people, the environment and the operator. However, the assessment of this risk is challenging, particularly in light of latest industry guidance which requires new plugging materials to retain their integrity for 3000 years.
To support the industry in overcoming this challenge, Astrimar have developed the STEM-flow tool to provide quantitative support for the qualification of sealing and plugging technology for oil and gas wells and to support a risk based well plugging and abandonment (P&A) design strategy. The STEM-flow tool allows for the prediction of plug life and overall well abandonment life and provides quantitative support towards abandonment assurance.
The paper presents the system modelling approach for well P&A design, which includes bespoke plug and seal models including a range of material degradation models. The paper also includes the analysis of structural bismuth alloys for P&A (as an alternative to traditional cement plugs) and the application of these alloys to carbon capture and storage (CCS).
A copy of the paper can be obtained from OnePetro