Tech Paper Legacy Wells Screening Method for Potential CO2 Storage Sites
Qualitative evaluation of legacy wells for potential CCS
Carbon storage well design and construction
Designing and constructing CCS-specific wells to withstand the test of time
Overview
All wells are not created equal
Developing a carbon storage site requires careful consideration of three types of wells: injection wells, monitoring wells, and legacy wells—or sometimes all three. Injection wells, in particular, must be specifically designed to withstand the unique supercritical state, temperature, pressure, and corrosiveness of CO2.
At SLB, we draw on decades of experience from more than 150 CCUS projects to design and construct carbon storage injection wells with precision and reliability. Our process includes analyzing site-specific surface and offset well data, crafting a well architecture aligned with the injection plan, verifying integrity under expected pressure, temperature, load, and stress conditions, selecting appropriate materials, and more. We manage every aspect of your CCS well design, giving you peace of mind and confidence in your project’s success.
Well-specific design
We handle every detail and estimate costs for you, including designing the optimal trajectory based on surface location, subsurface targets, anticollision constraints, and specific design limits. We define the cement system for each borehole section and its density, specify the casing and tubing requirements, and determine the type of upper and lower completion. We also help you select measuring, monitoring, and control devices to be installed and select materials with the guidance of a metallurgy expert. Our focus on the finer details enables you to concentrate on overall project development.
Well construction solutions
Drilling precision lies at the core of our expertise and legacy. Building reliable, high-integrity CCS wells demands the right technologies and approaches. We’ve developed solutions tailored specifically to the unique demands of carbon storage. These include innovations like the EverCRETE™ CO2-resistant cement system and Integrity™ CCS subsurface safety valves, which ensure durability and performance under the challenging conditions of CO2 sequestration.
In addition to these advancements, we’ve qualified nearly 50 technologies for use in CO2 storage-specific activities, expanding the possibilities for safe and efficient operations. Our integrated solutions are designed to guide every step of your carbon injection well journey—from planning through execution. We are committed to building wells that excel even in the most demanding environments, and our efforts to qualify additional technologies mean that we’re always staying ahead of the curve for your carbon storage needs.
Remediation
Existing or legacy wells within your storage complex that may be affected by the CO2 plume or pressure front can pose potential leakage risks. To address this, our experts conduct comprehensive well integrity assessments to evaluate and prioritize these wells for abandonment, reabandonment, or remediation. This proactive approach helps prevent the unintended migration of fluids caused by CO2 injection, ensuring the integrity and safety of your storage project.
Class VI or CCS well permitting
Regardless of the jurisdiction where you are filing a permit for your CCS well, our carbon storage well construction experts can help ensure that your CCS well is compliant with local regulations. Based on our global best practices and experience, we assist you in covering all the requirements for your submission, even where the regulations don’t yet exist.
Ensure the success of your carbon storage project with SLB
Navigating the complexities of carbon storage, including site evaluation, regulatory compliance, injection operations, and monitoring for long-term site stability, requires expertise. We’ll help you derisk and maximize carbon storage performance with our trusted experience, and the Sequestri™ carbon storage solutions portfolio that enables compliance and delivers optimized project economics.
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Featured solutions and products
Be storage confident
Accelerate your time to first injection with flexible, reliable, collaborative and cost-effective solutions for the carbon storage lifecycle.
Valves for CCUS
Proven valve solutions for CO2 capture, utilization, and sequestration.
EverCRETE System Is ideal In Any CO2 Environment
EverCRETE CO2-resistant system serves as barrier for CO2 storage wells or high-CO2-producing formations
Carbon Storage Evaluation Measurements
Measurements for capacity, injectivity, and containment
EcoShield
Geopolymer cement-free system
CCS Webinar Series
Learn about solutions that derisk your CCS projects to ensure reliable, long-term carbon storage.
Explore all webinarsTechnical Risk Assessment for CO2 Storage Sites
Join Arathi Mahesh, principal petrophysicist, in this webinar where she discusses SLB’s multiple services and product offerings to address such various requirements on risk assessment.
Now available on-demand
Harnessing Multiphysics MMV Technology for Reliable and Secure CO2 Storage
Join Kamal Jansen, CCS technical director, as he dives into cutting-edge measurement technologies, explores the physics behind them, and discusses their crucial role in monitoring, measurement, and verification (MMV) plans for carbon storage sites.
Now available on-demand
Well Integrity Assessment to Manage Containment Risk
Long-term CO2 containment is crucial to prevent leakage in carbon storage projects. Thorough site evaluation and early well integrity assessment are necessary due to risks from CO2's corrosive nature and increased subsurface pressure. Join Hugo Costeno, senior well engineer, as he discusses a systematic approach to assess well conditions, barrier degradation, and leakage probability, enabling effective mitigation strategies.
Now available on-demand
Derisking CCS Projects Through Proper MMV Planning
Join Claudia Sorgi, geomechanics expert and monitoring solutions champion, as she explores innovative model-driven strategies designed to mitigate risks in selecting measurement, monitoring, and verification (MMV) technologies. Learn how these approaches enable cost-effective, reliable MMV plans for successful carbon storage.
Now available on-demand
Derisking Carbon Storage Sites Through Reservoir Characterization and Coupled Modeling
Join SLB expert Vincenzo De Gennaro as he discusses three keys to determining the viability of carbon storage sites and how customers have used reservoir characterization to evaluate these attributes and the techno-economic feasibility of potential sites.
Now available on-demand
Efficient Screening and Ranking of Carbon Storage Sites
Listen as Domain Head Vincenzo De Gennaro discusses how a unique solution can identify and prioritize the most suitable carbon storage sites for long-term reliability.
Now available on-demand
Next-Generation CO2 Storage Modeling and Simulation
From modeling the complex physics and different trapping mechanisms to ensuring long-term storage integrity, learn from SLB expert David Rowan how you can leverage a high-performance simulation solution and model CO2 storage at the scale you need.
Now available on-demand
CO2 Transport and Flow Assurance into a New Energy Future
How can we achieve optimal design and operation of CCUS systems? Find out from SLB experts how understanding the risks associated with the transport and injection of CO2-rich fluids, flow assurance, and accurate simulations are crucial.
Now available on-demand
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