Primary Research Organization: University of Calgary
Start Date: December 2015
Anticipated End Date: August 2024
Project Summary and Scope of Work
Challenges: Leaky wells are a liability that is very challenging for the industry to manage, particularly for wells that are ‘low-leakers’, which are difficult to repair. This research seeks to i) increase knowledge about how gas moves in the subsurface, and ii) to develop best practices to monitor and guide remediation attempts around leaky wells. The following phases are COMPLETE: Phase 1: Comparison of gas migration testing approaches across several O&G wells. Provided insights into the most effective approaches to detect the presence of fugitive migration around leaky wells. Phase 2.1: Detailed characterization of fugitive emissions around a leaky O&G well. Provided a better understanding of the key factors that should be considered when measuring emissions. Phase 2.2: Monitoring of the occurrence of FPG in gas-charged groundwater wells. Provided insights into alternative approaches to detect the presence of FPG in shallow groundwater. Phase 3: Groundwater sampling campaigns combined with electrical conductivity and CH4 profiling. Provided additional information regarding the transport of fugitive gases in the shallow (< 5 m bgs) groundwater zone around leaky wells. The phase that was active in the last reporting period was: Phase 4: Drilling, coring, and installation of groundwater monitoring network followed by long-term monitoring. This phase will provide insights into the transport mechanism and fate of fugitive gases in shallow aquifers around leaky O&G wells.