Relief-Well P&A, Legacy Gas Field

California, USA · 2020 – ongoing

Multi-well relief-well P&A of 1950s-era wells at a major legacy gas-storage field

The challenge

→A 1950s-era injection well at a major gas-storage field suffered a casing failure and a large methane release; a state of emergency and community relocation followed.
→The aging field now requires precise relief-well intercepts to permanently plug wells.
→Targets carry poor or absent surveys, with sidetracks and downhole restrictions in the way.

Our solution

Sidetrack past existing sidetracks and restrictions, then directionally drill and range to each target with DeadSet™ AMR, EverReady™ PMR-While-Drilling and Gyro MWD, milling and re-entering casing from 8-5/8" production strings down to 5.5" liners, even with poor or absent target surveys.

8 precise intercepts across 4 wells · state regulator approved

The result

8 intercepts

across the 4-well campaign

·Re-entered 8-5/8" and 6-5/8" production casing and 5.5" liner targets
·Dual intercept: 5.5" liner at ~8,825 ft MD + 7" × 2-3/8" at ~8,690 ft MD
·Overcame an electrically continuous parasite sidetrack and missing surveys
·All steps witnessed and approved by the state regulator

Ranging

AMR + PMR

Deployment

Wireline + While Drilling

Re-entry

Yes

Location

California, USA

Year

2020 – ongoing

Regulatory approval Permanent abandonment witnessed and approved under California's energy regulator, the California Department of Conservation's Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM).

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