Numerical simulation of a patent technology for sealing of deep-sea oil wells using nonlinear finite element method

For over 50 years bridge plugs and cement have been used for well abandonment and work over and are still the material of choice. However the failures of cement abandonments using bridge plugs has been reported on many occasions, some of which have resulted in fatal consequences. A new patented product is designed to address the shortcomings associated with using bridge plugs and cement. The new developed tools use an alloy based on bismuth that is melted in situ using Thermite reaction. The tool uses the expansion properties of bismuth to seal the well. Testing the new technology in real field under more than 2 km deep sea water can be expensive. Virtual simulation of the new device under simulated thermal and mechanical environment can be achieved using nonlinear finite element method to validate the product and reduce cost. Experimental testing in the lab is performed to measure heat generated due to thermite reaction. Then, a sequential thermal mechanical explicit/implicit finite element solver is used to simulate the device under both testing lab and deep water conditions.

Formulação de grautes leves para a cimentação de poços de petróleo onshore

Grautes are dry mixes with hydraulic characteristics widely used in construction. This material comprises cement, mineral additives and dosed in accordance with the desired properties. The use of grautes in cementing oil wells potentially increases the precision in the composition of the mixture, since it is requires only the addition of the mixing water before its pumping. Such benefit may be availed in cementing wells since the formulations grautes meet the temperature and pressure characteristics typical of wells. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of adding different percentages of industrial minerals properties of light grautes for onshore oil wells. For the formulation of the employees were grautes light industrial minerals and waste minerals abundant in the Northeast, in addiction to Portland cement and chemical additives Special class. Grautes were formulated with densities between 1.55 g/cm3 (13.0 lb/gal) and 1.68 g/cm3 (14 lb/gal). Tests results showed that grautes with higher density in the range studied meet the specifications for cementation of shallow wells onshore. The compositions lighter can also be adjusted for applying the material in the cementation of oil wells

Characterization of operational safety in offshore oil wells

The main concern of activities developed in oil and gas well construction is safety. But safety during the well construction process is not a trivial subject. Today risk evaluation approaches are based in static analyses of existent systems. In other words, those approaches do not allow a dynamic analysis that evaluates the risk for each alteration of the context. This paper proposes the use of Quantitative and Dynamic Risk Assessment (QDRA) to assess the degree of safety of each planned job. The QDRA can be understood as a safe job analysis approach, developed with the purpose of quantifying the safety degree in entire well construction and maintenance activities. The QDRA is intended to be used in the planning stages of well construction and maintenance, where the effects of hazard on job sequence are important unknowns. This paper also presents definitions of barrier, and barriers integrated set (BIS), and a modeling technique showing their relationships. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a novel autonomous robot for navigation and inspect in oil wells

This paper proposes a novel robotic system that is able to move along the outside of the oil pipelines used in Electric Submersible Pumps (ESP) and Progressive Cavity Pumps (PCP) applications. This novel design, called RETOV, proposes a light weight structure robot that can be equipped with sensors to measure environmental variables avoiding damage in pumps and wells. In this paper, the main considerations and methodology of design and implementation are discussed. Finally, the first experimental results that show RETOV moving in vertical pipelines are analyzed.

Formulação de grautes leves para a cimentação de poços de petróleo onshore

Grautes are dry mixes with hydraulic characteristics widely used in construction. This material comprises cement, mineral additives and dosed in accordance with the desired properties. The use of grautes in cementing oil wells potentially increases the precision in the composition of the mixture, since it is requires only the addition of the mixing water before its pumping. Such benefit may be availed in cementing wells since the formulations grautes meet the temperature and pressure characteristics typical of wells. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of adding different percentages of industrial minerals properties of light grautes for onshore oil wells. For the formulation of the employees were grautes light industrial minerals and waste minerals abundant in the Northeast, in addiction to Portland cement and chemical additives Special class. Grautes were formulated with densities between 1.55 g/cm3 (13.0 lb/gal) and 1.68 g/cm3 (14 lb/gal). Tests results showed that grautes with higher density in the range studied meet the specifications for cementation of shallow wells onshore. The compositions lighter can also be adjusted for applying the material in the cementation of oil wells

Estudo da formulação de pré-misturas secas para a cimentação de poços em terra

An economical solution for cementing oil wells is the use of pre-prepared dry mixtures containing cement and additives. The mixtures may be formulated, prepared and transported to the well where is added water to be pumped.Using this method, becomes dispensable to prepare the cement mixes containing additives in the cementing operation, reducing the possibility of error. In this way, the aim of this work is to study formulations of cement slurries containing solid additives for primary cementing of oil wells onshore for typical depths of 400, 800 and 1,200 meters. The formulations are comprised of Special Class Portland cement, mineral additions and solids chemical additives.The formulated mixtures have density of 1.67 g / cm ³ (14.0 lb / gal). Their optimization were made through the analysis of the rheological parameters, fluid loss results, free water, thickening time, stability test and mechanical properties.The results showed that mixtures are in conformity the specifications for cementing oil wells onshore studied depths

Estudo da formulação de pré-misturas secas para a cimentação de poços em terra

An economical solution for cementing oil wells is the use of pre-prepared dry mixtures containing cement and additives. The mixtures may be formulated, prepared and transported to the well where is added water to be pumped.Using this method, becomes dispensable to prepare the cement mixes containing additives in the cementing operation, reducing the possibility of error. In this way, the aim of this work is to study formulations of cement slurries containing solid additives for primary cementing of oil wells onshore for typical depths of 400, 800 and 1,200 meters. The formulations are comprised of Special Class Portland cement, mineral additions and solids chemical additives.The formulated mixtures have density of 1.67 g / cm ³ (14.0 lb / gal). Their optimization were made through the analysis of the rheological parameters, fluid loss results, free water, thickening time, stability test and mechanical properties.The results showed that mixtures are in conformity the specifications for cementing oil wells onshore studied depths

A baseline report of water quality and invertebrate assessment in River Hohwa, Lake Albert: final report

Tullow Oil plc is to launch an onshore Early Production System (EPS) of oil drilling rated at 4,000 barrels of oil per day by 2009. The location of the EPS is in the Kaiso-Tonya area of Block 2 Oil Exploration Zone along Lake Albert within the Albertine graben. Tullow Oil plc contracted Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd in conjunction with Environmental Assessment Consult Limited (EACL) to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for pre-construction and operation of the proposed EPS. ERM in association with EACL requested National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) to conduct a baseline survey of water quality and invertebrates in River Hohwa. This study was requested as part of an earlier baseline survey conducted at the Kaiso-Ngassa spit oil exploration area in Block 2. It was conducted at five selected sites (Fig. 1 & Table 1) within the Hohwa River basin in the Kaiso-Tonya Exploration Area 2. The study was pertinent because the targeted oil wells for EPS are upstream this river which drains the Kaiso-Ngassa valley into Ngassa lagoon.

Desenvolvimento de tubulação em compósito polimérico revestida externamente com poliuretano de alta densidade

Pipelines for the transport of crude oil from the production wells to the collecting stations are named production lines . These pipes are subjected to chemical and electrochemical corrosion according to the environment and the type of petroleum transported. Some of these lines, depending upon the composition of the fluid produced, may leak within less than one year of operation due to internal corrosion. This work aims at the development of composite pipes with an external protecting layer of high density polyurethane for use in production lines of onshore oil wells, meeting operational requirements. The pipes were manufactured using glass fibers, epoxy resin, polyester resin, quartz sand and high density polyurethane. The pipes were produced by filament winding with the deposition of high density polyurethane on the external surface and threaded ends (API 15 HR/PM-VII). Three types of pipes were manufactured: glass/epoxy, glass/epoxy with an external polyurethane layer and glass/epoxy with an intermediate layer of glass fiber, polyester, sand and with an external polyurethane layer. The three samples were characterized by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) and for the determination of constituent content. In addition, the following tests were conducted: hydrostatic test, instant rupture, shorttime failure pressure, Gardner impact, transverse stiffness and axial tension. Field tests were conducted in Mossoró RN (BRAZIL), where 1,677 meters of piping were used. The tests results of the three types of pipes were compared in two events: after two months from manufacturing of the samples and after nine months of field application. The results indicate that the glass/epoxy pipes with an intermediate layer of fiber glass composite, polyester e sand and with an external layer of high density polyurethane showed superior properties as compared to the other two and met the requirements of pressure class, axial tensile strength, transverse stiffness, impact and environmental conditions, for onshore applications as production lines

Estudo da incorporação de cascalho proveniente da perfuração de poços de petróleo em formulações para tijolos de solo-cimento

The present work is to study the characteristics and technological properties of soil-cement bricks made from binary and ternary mixtures of Portland cement, sand, water, with or without addition of gravel from the drilling of oil wells, which could be used by industry, aiming to improve its performance and reduce cost by using the residue and, consequently, increasing its useful life. The soil-cement bricks are one of the alternatives to masonry construction. These elements, after a short curing period, provide compressive strength similar to that of solid bricks and ceramic blocks, and the higher the resistance the higher the amount of cement used. We used the soil from the city of São José do Mipibu / RN, the banks of the River Baldun, cement CPIIZ-32 and residue of drill cuttings from oil wells drilling onshore wells in the town of Mossley, RN, provided Petrobras. To determine the optimum mix, we studied the inclusion of different residues (100%, 80%, 70%, 60% and 50%) where 15 bodies were made of the test piece. The assessment was made of bricks made from simple compression tests, mass loss by immersion and water absorption. The experimental results proved the efficiency and high utilization of the waste from the drilling of oil wells, making the brick-cement-soil residue with a higher strength and lower water absorption. The best result in terms of mechanical strength and water absorption for the ternary mixture was 10% soil, 14% cement and 80% residue. In terms of binary mixtures, we obtained the best result for the mix-cement residue, which was 14% cement incorporated in the residue

Novo método para estimativa do gradiente de fratura para poços de petróleo

The development of oil wells drilling requires additional cares mainly if the drilling is in offshore ultra deep water with low overburden pressure gradients which cause low fracture gradients and, consequently, difficult the well drilling by the reduction of the operational window. To minimize, in the well planning phases, the difficulties faced by the drilling in those sceneries, indirect models are used to estimate fracture gradient that foresees approximate values for leakoff tests. These models generate curves of geopressures that allow detailed analysis of the pressure behavior for the whole well. Most of these models are based on the Terzaghi equation, just differentiating in the determination of the values of rock tension coefficient. This work proposes an alternative method for prediction of fracture pressure gradient based on a geometric correlation that relates the pressure gradients proportionally for a given depth and extrapolates it for the whole well depth, meaning that theses parameters vary in a fixed proportion. The model is based on the application of analytical proportion segments corresponding to the differential pressure related to the rock tension. The study shows that the proposed analytical proportion segments reaches values of fracture gradient with good agreement with those available for leakoff tests in the field area. The obtained results were compared with twelve different indirect models for fracture pressure gradient prediction based on the compacting effect. For this, a software was developed using Matlab language. The comparison was also made varying the water depth from zero (onshore wellbores) to 1500 meters. The leakoff tests are also used to compare the different methods including the one proposed in this work. The presented work gives good results for error analysis compared to other methods and, due to its simplicity, justify its possible application

Controle aplicado a poços com método de elevação e bombeio centrífugo submerso

The Electrical Submersible Pumping is an artificial lift method for oil wells employed in onshore and offshore areas. The economic revenue of the petroleum production in a well depends on the oil flow and the availability of lifting equipment. The fewer the failures, the lower the revenue shortfall and costs to repair it. The frequency with which failures occur depends on the operating conditions to which the pumps are submitted. In high-productivity offshore wells monitoring is done by operators with engineering support 24h/day, which is not economically viable for the land areas. In this context, the automation of onshore wells has clear economic advantages. This work proposes a system capable of automatically control the operation of electrical submersible pumps, installed in oil wells, by an adjustment at the electric motor rotation based on signals provided by sensors installed on the surface and subsurface, keeping the pump operating within the recommended range, closest to the well s potential. Techniques are developed to estimate unmeasured variables, enabling the automation of wells that do not have all the required sensors. The automatic adjustment, according to an algorithm that runs on a programmable logic controller maintains the flow and submergence within acceptable parameters avoiding undesirable operating conditions, as the gas interference and high engine temperature, without need to resort to stopping the engine, which would reduce the its useful life. The control strategy described, based on modeling of physical phenomena and operational experience reported in literature, is materialized in terms of a fuzzy controller based on rules, and all generated information can be accompanied by a supervisory system