WellIntegrity
WAA - Well Abandonment AlertA monitoring system for temporarily abandoned wells, compliant with ANP's SGIP regulation
OngoingR&D
In 2016, the Brazilian agency responsible for regulating the oil and gas industry published ANP Resolution No. 46 and the Technical Regulation for Well Integrity Management System (WIMS). This regulation applies to all wells, from the design phase to plugging and abandonment.
WIMS, a critical regulatory framework, sets out the requirements and minimum standards of operational safety and environmental preservation to be adhered to by contract operators in Brazil. The regulation requires at least two independent Well Barriers to be monitored during Temporary abandonment; otherwise, the well must be permanently abandoned within three years. Currently, no solution is available in the market that fully meets those WIMS requirements.
A system that allows monitoring through a control module placed on the sea floor or connected to the subsea tree. The module can measure pressure variations inside the tree cavities, determining whether leakage is through one of the two well barriers and ensuring safe operation.
The system measures pressure variation over time in the Subsea Tree cavities, thus determining whether there is a leakage in the Well Barriers. All information can be sent via satellite to an offshore base or an ROV.
- ANP 2016/46 full compliance: Indefinite postponement of permanent abandonment (better logistics)
- Low-cost solution: Rigless operation
- Applicable with or without XTree
- A Subsea Tree with faulty valves and sensors can be safely monitored
- Low Technological Risk: Use of field-proven technologies
- High Reliability: Additional WSB
- Several communication alternatives
A solution for monitoring of subsea wells temporarily abandoned
Abstract
This paper presents a solution for continuous monitoring of subsea wells during temporary abandonment, aligning with the Well Integrity Management System established by the Brazilian regulatory agency, Agencia Nacional de Petróleo (SGIP-ANP).
With over 600 subsea wells in Brazil scheduled for abandonment, immediate decommissioning would strain resources and impact costs for Operators. ANP Resolution No. 46 obligate operators to maintain two independent Well Barriers throughout the well’s life cycle. The ‘Well Abandon Alert’ project offers a unique solution, testing Well Barriers during temporary abandonment. It employs a Subsea Control Module (SCM) on the seabed and acoustic communication to facilitate periodic testing. This innovative approach aims to reduce costs and improve well integrity, supporting operators in adhering to regulatory norms. The project includes a conceptual design phase completed in September 2023, with Phase 2 expected to start in January 2024. In conclusion, the paper emphasizes the need to minimize capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenditures (OPEX) to ensure economic feasibility. It also discusses the potential for reusing the ‘Well Abandon Alert’ in other wells, enhancing economic feasibility and operational safety. The paper addresses the requirements for various types of subsea trees offshore Brazil, currently subject to temporary abandonment, and describes existing monitoring methods and their pros and cons.