Materials for optimized P&A performance: Potential utilization of geopolymers

Abstract

When a well reaches the end of its life-cycle, it must be permanently plugged and abandoned. Plug and abandonment (P&A) can easily contribute with 25% of the total drilling costs of exploration wells offshore Norway. The costs of running a P&A operation on some offshore production wells may have a cost impact similar to the cost of the original drilling operation. Generally, the purpose of P&A is to restore the cap-rock functionality to preserve well-integrity permanently. In order to succeed, appropriate permanent barriers shall be placed across suitable formations by utilizing relevant equipment. Therefore, the downhole P&A activities could be categorized into two general categories: surface and subsurface activities. Subsurface activities can be divided into two sectors: tools and techniques and plugging materials. Since the scope of this work considers usability of particular plugging materials (geopolymers) the P&A scope will be reviewed in the following section briefly.