Well integrity assessment for re-use of wells for hydrogen storage
conference paper
Hydrogen storage wells experience cyclical pressure and temperature variation during their operational life. The mechanical and thermal impacts of the injection/production cycles can potentially damage the casing and cement, leading to well leakage and costly workovers. Due to the lack of operational experience for hydrogen storage wells, the consequence of hydrogen storage cycles on well integrity is not well-understood. In this work, we develop a case study for the re-use of a well in a gas field in the North Sea for hydrogen storage, in terms of leakage and cement integrity. The model estimates the leakage rate across the caprock in case of debonding (i.e., formation of a microannulus). This calculation provides a useful estimate to comprehend the possible order of magnitude of the leakage for various injection pressures. The results indicate that the injection pressure controls the rate of leakage out of the storage complex. Limiting the maximum pressure can reduce the leakage rate at the cost of the storage capacity. The proposed workflow provides a quantitative framework to optimize the storage strategy.
Topics
TNO Identifier
1023114
Source title
5th EAGE Global Energy Transition Conference & Exhibition
Pages
1-5
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