BOEMRE
UNITED
UNITED STATES
STATES DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENT OF
OF THE
THE INTERIOR
INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Regulation and Enforcement
Well Containment
Screening Tool
By:
Lance C. Labiche
District Operations Support
Section Chief
Bureau
Bureau of
of Ocean
Ocean Energy
Energy Management,
Management,
Regulation and Enforcement
Regulation and Enforcement
Well Containment Screening Tool
A joint industry task force was established to develop an
evaluation tool to demonstrate if a well design and
equipment is adequate for Well Containment.
The WCST analyzes the wells mechanical and geologic
integrity to determine which of the 3 following categories
the well falls into:
Full mechanical and geologic integrity
Mechanical or geologic integrity not intact, but consequence of
failure is acceptable
Wellbore integrity does not exist and well cannot be shut-in
without hydrocarbons escaping/broaching to sea
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Level 1 Screening Tool
Level 1 is designed to expedite approval for wells that
can be fully shut-in without causing underground flow
using very conservative assumptions and simple
calculations
The WCST analyzes 2 load cases:
Collapse during uncontrolled flow to seafloor.
Burst after shut-in with a full hydrocarbon gradient.
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Bureau
Bureau of
of Ocean
Ocean Energy
Energy Management,
Management,
Regulation and Enforcement
Regulation and Enforcement
General Well Information
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Casing Design Information
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Productive Formation Information
Level 1 assumptions are as follows:
- Gas fluid gradient = .1 - .15 psi/ft
- Fluid gradient of any mixture of oil, water or gas = .23 psi/ft
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Formation Integrity Analysis
This section analyzes the deepest exposed shoe as well
as any other potential loss zones in open hole to
determine if there will be underground flow when the well
is shut-in
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Level 1 Burst Loads
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Level 1 Burst Analysis
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Trapped Annulus Screening
The 3 criteria are used to determine if an annulus
is trapped
Distance between TOC and previous shoe is > 500, or
cement column < 50% open hole length in measured
depth
Hole angle is less than 30 degrees at previous shoe and
above
Casing has not been idle for more than 1 year
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Level 1 Collapse Loads
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Level 1 Collapse Analysis
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Level 1 Acceptance Criteria
If a well does not pass all 4 of the above level 1
criteria than a level 2 is required for that hole interval
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Level 2 Screening Tool
Level 2 WCST:
Uses field/offset data and more advanced calculations to
mitigate the probability of the failures identified in level 1.
If the failure cannot be mitigated/eliminated then a consequence
analysis is performed to see if failure is acceptable
Level 2 is based on the Level 1 WCST, with the
following modified/additional calculations:
Annulus pressure buildup for trapped annuli
Secondary string collapse and burst verification
Formation strength verification for failed strings
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Primary and Secondary Casings
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Level 2 Productive Formations
Since the fluid gradients are different for Shut-in and Flowing
conditions, separate gradients are entered, for each.
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Level 2 Burst Loads
The same table and formulas are used as in the Level 1 WCST.
The operator may chose to use burst ratings that differ from the
standard burst values in eWell, e.g., ratings based on triaxial
methods.
A justification must be provided if burst ratings higher than the standard
eWell ratings are used.
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Level 2 Collapse
Level 2 collapse table has a separate column for APB. If
an annulus is trapped then an APB model must be run
and the results entered into APB column. If an annulus
is untrapped then use the level 2 APB calculator for
untrapped annulus.
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APB Calculator for Untrapped
Annulus
This simple model assumes that APB is limited to the FG
at the previous shoe, at which point any additional APB
generated would just bleed off to the formation.
APB = (FGshoe MW) x TVDshoe x 0.052
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Secondary String Collapse
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Secondary String Collapse
All secondary strings that are exposed to collapse forces
have to be analyzed in this table
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Secondary String Burst
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Secondary String Burst
The fluid drop table is used to calculate the average fluid
density in the secondary annulus so the secondary string
can be analyzed appropriately for burst
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Level 2 Formation Integrity
Analysis
This section must be completed if a primary string fails
and there is formation exposed behind the primary
string.
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Broaching Analysis
A broaching analysis is performed if an
underground flow occurs as a result of a weak
formation fracturing when a well is shut-in
All faults are identified in area for potential conduit for
hydrocarbons to broach to sea floor
Salt canopy will help prevent underground flow from broaching
All sands mapped in field that could act as a tank
Known seafloor anomalies are mapped identifying ongoing
venting
A determination is then made on the probability of
broaching
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Level 2 Results
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Thank you
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Bureau
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