TY - THES

T1 - Optimizing Well Integrity Management based on Field Data and International Standards

AU - Benedikt, Elias Johannes

N1 - embargoed until 07-09-2025

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Well Integrity is defined in two different ways. According to the standard NORSOK D-010, which defines the most widely accepted definition, well integrity means “Application of technical, operational and organizational solutions to reduce risk of uncontrolled release of formation fluids throughout the life cycle of a well”. Another definition gives the ISO TS 16530-1: “Containment and the prevention of the escape of fluids (i.e. liquids or gases) to subterranean formation surfaces.” To prevent the escape of fluids it is crucial to maintain the integrity of the well throughout the whole life cycle of the well. By establishing and implementing a Well Integrity Management System (WIMS) the well operator has an efficient management tool to cover and ensure the different aspects of well integrity. To fulfil the objective a set of operational Key Performance Indicator (KPIs) help to measure the effectiveness and the development of the WIMS. Well Integrity Management requires a multidisciplinary approach thinking which leads to the integration of aspects such as risk management, monitoring, organizational structures etc. In this thesis, the local WIMS at Gas Nord of Wintershall Dea will be reviewed and an overview of the current aspects that are in place will be given. According to the 117 Norwegian guidelines O&G, the current risk categorization system at Gas North has associations with risk, however it is not an absolute measure of the total risk exposure of the well. This categorization system does not replace risk assessment. Therefore, a measurement tool for the risk exposure has to be developed. By having a closer look at the well construction, intervention and production history of the well through a performance assessment with a scorecard, the well operator is able to identify future problematic wells in terms of risk exposure. Well integrity events are not only linked to constraints in the well operation phase but also to shortcomings in the well construction and intervention phase . By means of scorecards, 11 wells will be evaluated not only based on the operation phase but also on basis of the well construction phase. The scoring results will help to predict probable weak points in the well that can cause future well integrity issues. Further possible correlations of current well integrity incidents with the scorecard evaluation results can be identified and analysed based on probable origins. This thesis will show a pathway on how to use the holistic approach for a risk assessment. The identification of the critical wells and well sections in a risk assessment will help to better predict and solve the well integrity issues before they are become a major risk.

AB - Well Integrity is defined in two different ways. According to the standard NORSOK D-010, which defines the most widely accepted definition, well integrity means “Application of technical, operational and organizational solutions to reduce risk of uncontrolled release of formation fluids throughout the life cycle of a well”. Another definition gives the ISO TS 16530-1: “Containment and the prevention of the escape of fluids (i.e. liquids or gases) to subterranean formation surfaces.” To prevent the escape of fluids it is crucial to maintain the integrity of the well throughout the whole life cycle of the well. By establishing and implementing a Well Integrity Management System (WIMS) the well operator has an efficient management tool to cover and ensure the different aspects of well integrity. To fulfil the objective a set of operational Key Performance Indicator (KPIs) help to measure the effectiveness and the development of the WIMS. Well Integrity Management requires a multidisciplinary approach thinking which leads to the integration of aspects such as risk management, monitoring, organizational structures etc. In this thesis, the local WIMS at Gas Nord of Wintershall Dea will be reviewed and an overview of the current aspects that are in place will be given. According to the 117 Norwegian guidelines O&G, the current risk categorization system at Gas North has associations with risk, however it is not an absolute measure of the total risk exposure of the well. This categorization system does not replace risk assessment. Therefore, a measurement tool for the risk exposure has to be developed. By having a closer look at the well construction, intervention and production history of the well through a performance assessment with a scorecard, the well operator is able to identify future problematic wells in terms of risk exposure. Well integrity events are not only linked to constraints in the well operation phase but also to shortcomings in the well construction and intervention phase . By means of scorecards, 11 wells will be evaluated not only based on the operation phase but also on basis of the well construction phase. The scoring results will help to predict probable weak points in the well that can cause future well integrity issues. Further possible correlations of current well integrity incidents with the scorecard evaluation results can be identified and analysed based on probable origins. This thesis will show a pathway on how to use the holistic approach for a risk assessment. The identification of the critical wells and well sections in a risk assessment will help to better predict and solve the well integrity issues before they are become a major risk.

KW - Bohrungsintegritätsmanagement

KW - Scorecard

KW - WIMS

KW - Well Integrity

KW - Well Scorecard

KW - WIMS

M3 - Master's Thesis

ER -