Course description
This 4-half day workshop focuses on assessing and managing risk of legacy wells in CCUS (carbon capture, utilization and storage) projects. Legacy wells are those that have already been abandoned, often in compliance with outdated regulations and standards, and find themselves in the path of the CO2 plume – or are exposed to higher pressure. These wells are considered by many the riskiest element of a storage project and an explicit decision has to be taken with each of them: we can re-enter and repair them (at least on land); we can monitor them and manage small leaks, if any; or we must renounce to an often promising storage site. The fourth choice, taking the risk of an uncontrolled, large leak that can become a showstopper, can spell disaster for the specific project and the whole carbon storage industry.
Selecting the best option needs a clear, consistent, and transparent methodology to assess whether legacy wells present an unacceptable risk, and to prepare a sound plan to repair or manage their leakage risk.
We will discuss in detail why and how much abandoned wells leak, and how we can prevent and mitigate the risk of integrity failure. It is now clear how rocks, together with cement, provide the ultimate containment guarantee: how do we characterize this mixed barrier at the basin level, and when are well data really too little to decide?
The workshop is specially designed for professionals facing the challenge of abandoned wells in CCUS projects, who are encouraged to bring some of their challenges along so we can apply together the techniques and methods discussed in class.
All practitioners facing wells that have already been abandoned, and those looking at futureproofing currently active wells are also welcome to attend, as well as anybody from government and non-governmental organization wishing to understand the risk of legacy wells.
The seminar is interactive, participative and hands-on, supported by real life examples and case studies; its open and relaxed atmosphere provides significant opportunities to network and exchange experience with peers and to start finding answers to actual challenges in a collaborative setting.
