Discrete element modelling of wellbore integrity in high temperature geothermal reservoirs

Geothermal drilling environments are often hostile to well materials, especially in magmatic settings where properties of well casing and cements may rapidly change as a result of high temperatures and chemically active formation fluids. Prolonging the lifetime of such geothermal wells is one of the key challenges to achieve a commercially...

Intentional salt clogging: A novel concept for long-term CO2 sealing

Well abandonment in the context of CO2 storage operations demands a mitigation strategy for CO2 leakage along the wellbore. To prevent possible CO2 transport toward the surface and to protect the wellbore material from contact with acid brine, we propose forming a salt seal around the wellbore at reservoir level, after CO2 injection into a...

Model calibration on cement experiments at realistic CO2 storage conditions

Large scale implementation of CO2 storage can significantly reduce emission of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. However, safe and long-term containment of CO2 in storage reservoirs must be ensured. Wellbores in the subsurface present possible leakage pathways for CO2 to the surface and hence wellbore cement reactivity is of major concern....

Simulating liquid loading in gas wells

This paper describes work performed by the authors over the last several years to better understand the factors affecting the onset of liquid loading. To further improve the prediction of onset of liquid loading, efforts were undertaken to better model the process. Dedicated codes as well as a commercial multiphase flow simulator were used to...