Potential Sealing Effects of Permanent Casing Deformation

Author(s):  
Sohrab Gheibi ◽  
Sigbjørn Sangesland ◽  
Lucas C. Sevillano ◽  
Martin Horák

Abstract Permanent plugging and abandonment (P&A) of oil- and gas wells requires proper sealing between the formation and the casing as well as proper sealing inside the casing. The cement sheath in the annulus is intended to function as an “impermeable” barrier. Typically, shrinkage of cement sheath takes place when the cement sets and a microannulus (MA) may be formed. In addition, cyclic pressure and temperature variations may result in cracks and debonding of the cement sheath. This paper investigates the possibility of improved cement sealing imposed by permanent deformation of the casing, thus providing a mechanical compression force to the cement and thus closing the MA when performing P&A. Two experimental setups were designed in this context. The first setup termed casing/cement plug test, where the casing is contracted by an external pressure and simultaneous measurement of the flow rate through the setup. The second setup is termed casing/cement annular test where the casing is internally pressurized while the gas flow rate is measured. Nonlinear finite element analyses were carried out to simulate the two test setups. The numerical results showed an acceptable agreement with the observations in the lab. The second setup was not tested in the lab, but simulated using the FEM code. The numerical analyses indicated that the same concept of casing permanent deformation is also relevant for the annular test. It is shown that the micro-annulus formed due to cycles of pressurization/depressurization as a result of inelastic deformations in the cement can be repaired by inducing permanent deformation in the casing to some extent. Finally, we concluded that permanent casing deformation could play a positive role in favour of closing the micro-annuli in P&A operations.

Author(s):  
Abolore Abdulahi ◽  
Lokman A. Abdulkareem ◽  
Safa Sharaf ◽  
Mukhtar Abdulkadir ◽  
Valente Hernandez Perez ◽  
...  

Pipes that make up oil and gas wells are not vertical but could be inclined at any angle between the vertical and the horizontal which is a significant technology of modern drilling. Hence, this study has been undertaken to look at the effect of inclination on flow characteristics especially at 10 degrees from both horizontal and vertical. Air/silicone oil flows in a 67 mm slightly deviated pipe have been investigated using advanced instrumentation: Wire Mesh Sensor Tomography (WMS) and Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT). They provide time and cross-sectionally resolved data on void fraction. Both the ECT probes and WMS were mounted on the inclined pipes upstream just at the point where flows were fully developed. By keeping the liquid flow rate constant at 10 litres/min (or liquid superficial velocity of 0.052m/s), gas flow rate was varied from 10 litres/min to 1000 litres/min (or gas superficial velocity from 0.05m/s to 4.7m/s). Then other values of liquid superficial velocity were considered. Visual observations were considered. Time series and void fraction were then measured for WMS while time series and liquid holdup were measured for ECT. The raw data were processed and then interpreted for proper analysis. From an analysis of the output from the tomography equipment, flow patterns were identified using both the reconstructed images as well as the characteristic signatures of Probability Density Function (PDF) plots of the time series of cross-sectionally averaged void fraction as suggested by some authors. Bubbly, slug and churn flows were observed for 10° from vertical pipe while bubbly, plug as well as slug flow when the pipe was inclined at 10° from horizontal. Examples of the PDFs are well illustrated which compares the use of ECT with WMS. In addition, statistical data such as Power Spectral Density (PSD), dominant frequency, mean void fraction as well as the structure velocities from cross correlation of the two planes of ECT have been identified.


Author(s):  
B.S. Soroka ◽  
V.V. Horupa

Natural gas NG consumption in industry and energy of Ukraine, in recent years falls down as a result of the crisis in the country’s economy, to a certain extent due to the introduction of renewable energy sources along with alternative technologies, while in the utility sector the consumption of fuel gas flow rate enhancing because of an increase the number of consumers. The natural gas is mostly using by domestic purpose for heating of premises and for cooking. These items of the gas utilization in Ukraine are already exceeding the NG consumption in industry. Cooking is proceeding directly in the living quarters, those usually do not meet the requirements of the Ukrainian norms DBN for the ventilation procedures. NG use in household gas stoves is of great importance from the standpoint of controlling the emissions of harmful components of combustion products along with maintenance the satisfactory energy efficiency characteristics of NG using. The main environment pollutants when burning the natural gas in gas stoves are including the nitrogen oxides NOx (to a greater extent — highly toxic NO2 component), carbon oxide CO, formaldehyde CH2O as well as hydrocarbons (unburned UHC and polyaromatic PAH). An overview of environmental documents to control CO and NOx emissions in comparison with the proper norms by USA, EU, Russian Federation, Australia and China, has been completed. The modern designs of the burners for gas stoves are considered along with defining the main characteristics: heat power, the natural gas flow rate, diameter of gas orifice, diameter and spacing the firing openings and other parameters. The modern physical and chemical principles of gas combustion by means of atmospheric ejection burners of gas cookers have been analyzed from the standpoints of combustion process stabilization and of ensuring the stability of flares. Among the factors of the firing process destabilization within the framework of analysis above mentioned, the following forms of unstable combustion/flame unstabilities have been considered: flashback, blow out or flame lifting, and the appearance of flame yellow tips. Bibl. 37, Fig. 11, Tab. 7.


1998 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 881-898
Author(s):  
Otakar Trnka ◽  
Miloslav Hartman

Three simple computational techniques are proposed and employed to demonstrate the effect of fluctuating flow rate of feed on the behaviour and performance of an isothermal, continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). A fluidized bed reactor (FBR), in which a non-catalytic gas-solid reaction occurs, is also considered. The influence of amplitude and frequency of gas flow rate fluctuations on reactant concentrations at the exit of the CSTR is shown in four different situations.


Author(s):  
Pengju Huo ◽  
Xiaohong Li ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Haiying Qi

AbstractThe influences of loose gas on gas-solid flows in a large-scale circulating fluidized bed (CFB) gasification reactor were investigated using full-loop numerical simulation. The two-fluid model was coupled with the QC-energy minimization in multi-scale theory (EMMS) gas-solid drag model to simulate the fluidization in the CFB reactor. Effects of the loose gas flow rate, Q, on the solid mass circulation rate and the cyclone separation efficiency were analyzed. The study found different effects depending on Q: First, the particles in the loop seal and the standpipe tended to become more densely packed with decreasing loose gas flow rate, leading to the reduction in the overall circulation rate. The minimum Q that can affect the solid mass circulation rate is about 2.5% of the fluidized gas flow rate. Second, the sealing gas capability of the particles is enhanced as the loose gas flow rate decreases, which reduces the gas leakage into the cyclones and improves their separation efficiency. The best loose gas flow rates are equal to 2.5% of the fluidized gas flow rate at the various supply positions. In addition, the cyclone separation efficiency is correlated with the gas leakage to predict the separation efficiency during industrial operation.


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