Mechanical Expansion of Steel Tubing as a Solution to Leaky Wellbores

Summary

This article reports on a laboratory scale investigation of an existing field procedure and its adaptation for sealing of leaky wellbores. It consists of mechanical expansion of metal pipe, which results in an improved metal/cement bond, ultimate sealing of hydraulic pathways and prevention of gas leaks caused by the presence of a microannular channel.

Abstract

Wellbore cement, a procedural component of wellbore completion operations, primarily provides zonal isolation and mechanical support of the metal pipe (casing), and protects metal components from corrosive fluids. These are essential for uncompromised wellbore integrity. Cements can undergo multiple forms of failure, such as debonding at the cement/rock and cement/metal interfaces, fracturing, and defects within the cement matrix. Failures and defects within the cement will ultimately lead to fluid migration, resulting in inter-zonal fluid migration and premature well abandonment. Currently, there are over 1.8 million operating wells worldwide and over one third of these wells have leak related problems defined as Sustained Casing Pressure (SCP)¹.

The focus of this research was to develop an experimental setup at bench-scale to explore the effect of mechanical manipulation of wellbore casing-cement composite samples as a potential technology for the remediation of gas leaks.

The experimental methodology utilized in this study enabled formation of an impermeable seal at the pipe/cement interface in a simulated wellbore system. Successful nitrogen gas flow-through measurements demonstrated that an existing microannulus was sealed at laboratory experimental conditions and fluid flow prevented by mechanical manipulation of the metal/cement composite sample. Furthermore, this methodology can be applied not only for the remediation of leaky wellbores, but also in plugging and abandonment procedures as well as wellbore completions technology, and potentially preventing negative impacts of wellbores on subsurface and surface environments.

Introduction

The reported experimental procedure has two main components that are critical: composite cylinders that simulate wellbores and the expansion fixture that is used to carry out mechanical manipulation of the cement.

Wellbores are the main gateway for production of subsurface fluids (water, oil, gas, or steam) as well as injection of various fluids. Regardless of its function, the wellbore is required to provide a controlled flow of produced/injected fluids. Wellbore construction has two distinct operations: drilling and completion. Wellbore cement, part of the completions procedure, primarily provides zonal isolation, mechanical support of th....

Protocol

1. Composite Sample (Figure 1)

NOTE: Most cement jobs in the Gulf of Mexico (USA) are done using Class H cement¹⁸, therefore, the same type of cement was used to perform the lab experiments to simulate field-like conditions, the potential applicability of this technology for SCP remediation in the Gulf of Mexico.

1. Sample preparation
   NOTE: The 61-cm long sample consists of two grade B electrically resisted welded (ERW) carbon steel pipes (Figure 1). The inner pipe is 61 cm long and has a 6 cm outside diameter (OD) with 2.8 mm wall thickness. The outer pipe is 59.7 cm long, has 10 cm OD and a wall t....

Results

Pre-expansion gas flow-through tests on the composite sample showed pressure recording on the outlet pressure transducer, confirming gas flow through the pre-manufactured microannulus (Figures 7 and 8). Initial conditions were kept the same where initial inlet pressure was 103 kPa and the gas flow rate was kept at 85 ml/min for that period. The time lag in pressure recording between the inlet and outlet pressure transducers was 7.5 seconds, while the highest pressures recorded after incr.......

Discussion

The reported experimental procedure has two main components that are critical: composite cylinders that simulate wellbores and the expansion fixture that is used to carry out mechanical manipulation of cement. When designing wellbore models (cement/pipe composite cylinders), it is critical to choose adequate cement density, store samples under total humidity conditions (100% RH) and establish pipe-cement debonding before cement slurry completely sets. Failing to achieve this would make the entire gas flow experiment impo.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
ASTM A53 Grade B ERW Schedule 40 Steel pipe - OD=10.16 cm, ID=10.04 cm, L=59.7 cm	Baker Sales	BPE-4.00BB40
ASTM A53 Grade B ERW Schedule 10 Steel pipe - OD=6 cm, ID=5.94 cm, L=61 cm	Service Steel	n/a
Expansion Cones - AISI D2 grade alloy steel (60 RC hardness)	Shell	Custom-made
Pipe coupling - OD=6.35 cm, ID=6 cm, L=4.4 cm	LSU	Custom-made
Steel plate ring - OD=10.16 cm, ID=5.76 cm, thickness=6.35 mm	Louisiana Cutting	Custom-made
Class H Cement	LaFarge	04-16-12 / 14-18
Defoaming agent - D-Air 3000L	Halliburton	n/a
Bentonite clay	LSU	n/a
Calcium hydroxide	LSU	n/a
Expansion Fixture	Shell	Custom-made
Pressure transducers	Omega	PX480A-200GV
Teflon tubing	Swagelok	PB0754100
Union tee	Swagelok	SS-400-3
Elbow union	Swagelok	SS-400-9
Female elbow	Swagelok	SS-400-8-8
Port connector	Swagelok	SS-401-PC
Forged body valve	Swagelok	SS-1RS4
Tube adapter	Swagelok	SS-4-TA-1-2
Pipe lubricant	E.F. Houghoton & Co.	71323998
Instant Galvanize Zinc Coating	CRC	78254184128