WELLBORE SEALING USING M3 BISMUTH ALLOYS

The Future of Well Barriers

Decommissioning in the Nordics:
R&D to Implementation of New technology with Case Stories

OWI, Aberdeen, 26th April 2023

Six steps for technology maturation and implementation
in TotalEnergies 3. Translate to
potential savings
value for a
portfolio to 4. Identify piloting
2. Assess impact
understand opportunities &
value vs.
potential group develop
maturation
impact technology
difficulty to set maturation
key priorities strategy/plan
(Boston Square) 6. Drive and support (Roadmap) and
affiliate implementation R&D

5. Support
1. Work with affiliates with
affiliates to Road
Map execution
Support
understand needs preparation

• Operational & day-to-day support

• After-action review & reporting
2 Decommissioning in the Nordics
 R&D Implantation Abandonment Strategy - SCP

• There are several wells within

multiple TotalEnergies affiliates
that have SCP.

• Prior to placing cement it would

be advantageous to cure the
flowing gas before placing the
regulator compliant material.

• Future enabler would for this to be

completed offline without a
drilling unit

3 Decommissioning in the Nordics

SCP Remediation – Conventional Solution
Deploy – Gas Flow
Well-
sense FLI

Gas

Well configuration Set inflate at

(off of the critical Section Mill Place cement
Window base of within window
path) window
4 Decommissioning in the Nordics
Isolate Gas
SCP Remediation – Alloy Barrier Rigless Solution
FLI Gas Flow

13.5ppg 13.5ppg 13.5ppg

13.5ppg Mud 13.5ppg
Mud Mud
Mud Mud

Gas

13.5ppg 13.5ppg 13.5ppg 13.5ppg

13.5ppg Mud
Mud Mud Mud
Mud

9-5/8" Casing 9-5/8" Casing 9-5/8" Casing 9-5/8" Casing

9-5/8" Casing

Well
configuration Locate base at Initiate heater Pull heater free Set cement
Slot or Perforate Run T-1000 tool
(off of the critical bottom of and melt alloy from alloy. plug as
Casing c/w base
path) window. Monitor Isolate Gas Monitor for SCP compliant
for SCP & temp whilst monitoring & temp barrier
(DAS/DTS) (DAS/DTS) (DAS/DTS)
5 Decommissioning in the Nordics
SCP Remediation – Alloy Barrier Rigless Solution
Future use case (‘Rigless PWC’ replacement)
FLI Gas Flow

13.5ppg 13.5ppg 13.5ppg

13.5ppg 13.5ppg
Mud Mud Mud
Mud Mud

Gas

13.5ppg 13.5ppg 13.5ppg 13.5ppg

13.5ppg Mud
Mud Mud Mud
Mud

9-5/8" Casing 9-5/8" Casing 9-5/8" Casing 9-5/8" Casing

9-5/8" Casing

Well Monitor & Log and

Locate base at Initiate heater
configuration Slot or Perforate Run T-1000 tool
bottom of and melt confirm SCP verify alloy
(off of the critical Casing c/w base
window. Monitor bismuth remediated placement in
path) (DAS/DTS). Pull annulus
for SCP & temp Isolate Gas
(DAS/DTS) whilst monitoring heater free from
6 Decommissioning in the Nordics (DAS/DTS) alloy.
TotalEnergies working with X-treme SJI
• X-treme SJI Comprises of 3 Main components:

Slotting Tool - Pierces the casing over 4000

times per 200ft section whilst
jetting the slots and rattling the
Casing/cement (no damage to
formation)

Jetting 360 Degrees

Jetting Sub - Closed system that jets, flushes Jetting Nozzle
Internal ball seat
and cleans behind the casing Slotting Blade

circumferentially

Isolation Sub - Allows isolation material to be

forced into the slots and behind Diversion Cups (active sealing)
the casing providing a Jetting 360 Degrees

permanent barrier Inverted float (shear) Sub

7 Decommissioning in the Nordics

X-treme Slot Jet Isolate (mechanical PWC)

1281ft slotted
with TEPNL –
pulling casing

Objective
• Mature mechanical, explosive-free and lower-cost alternative to PWC

Achievement
• Tool developed, full-scale tested @ NORCE Stavanger (Jan 2022) and deployed offshore (for CNOOC for annular OBM flushing) in only 18 months
• Industrial Pilot: SJI for 7” casing deployed on TEP-NL L7-H2 in February 2023 to wash barite from annulus and recover tieback.
• Titan Torque Signed an exsulsive contract with Baker Hughes.
• Currently have 7”, 9-5/8”, 10-3/4” and 13-3/8” is being manufactured.

Way Forward
• Potential full-scope washing & cementing industrial pilot in TEP-UK summer 2023.
• Currently investigating slimming down the SJI technology to be run on Coiled Tubing – 5-1/2” tool.
• AkerBP use case: breakup thermoset barrier, clean barite sag and access gas pockets to allow circulation of gas to surface & assist in freeing the 5-1/2” liner to
enable recovery

TRL 6 (for barite washing) – no full-scope SJI performed yet (several opportunities in & outside TTE in 2023)
TRL 6 (SIT) by end 2023 for Vaca Muerta CT version
18:03:17
TotalEnergies working with WellStrøm

3 method of Annular Creep Barrier Evaluation and Qualification - IADC/SPE-208782-MS

• Thermal Stimulation
• Elevated temperature accelerates creep rate
• Elevated temperature generated using a
downhole heater / heating mechanism
• Does not require annular access
• Pressure Shock
• Pressure drops weakens rock, accelerates creep
• Typically accomplished using packers and low
hydrostatic head
• Requires annular access to expose rock to low
pressure
• Chemical Fluid Change
• Accelerates creep through physico-chemical changes (ion-exchange, permeability changes)
• Requires annular access to expose rock to changes annular fluid chemistry

9 Decommissioning in the Nordics

Thermal effects on barrier envelope
The in-situ temperature of the Lark-Horda shale (Miocene/Oligocene
caprock also found in Norwegian sector) is 55 degrees C. When testing
increased the temperature to 85 degrees C (only ~30 degree increase) it saw
disking cracking and delamination. See figure A & B.

When designing long-term «permanent» barriers, undertanding the effects

on the wider barrier envelope (casing/cement/formation) is critical.

Excessive or poorly controlled heat can undermine barrier integrity

by causing:
Blue embrittlement of steel
Damage to cement sheath
Damage / cracking of the cap rock Figure A

Following results of Shale As A Barrier testing at elevated temperatures,

TotalEnergies intiated thermal effect studies together with Equinor in summer
2022. Findings:

Further testing reveals that:

damage to the cap rock can be sustained at temperatures of ca.
250 – 300 deg C and above.
there is a ‘sweet spot’ temperature for a given cap rock shale where
the cap rock integrity can actually be improved by ‘thermal
hardening’
Figure B
 Norwegian news bulletin on successful rig test broadcast by NRK
24th January 2023:
https://tv.nrk.no/serie/dagsrevyen/202301/NNFA19012423/avspiller
11 P&A Technology Workshop 2023 18:03:17
Pilot of T-1000 Tool at Ullrigg
Requirement:
Create an alloy P&A plug and annular seal in a fully-cemented annulus that has been
perforated and ‘rubbelised’

Plug to cover the full cross-section of the well and fulfil the same barrier requirements
as a Perf & Wash P&A plug.

Casing 9 5/8” in x 13 3/8”. Perforated with 12 SPF 360° ca. 0.45" holes

Test objectives:

Install a high differential pressure seal across the full wellbore cross-section

Install and form a ‘composite’ barrier in rubbelised cement

Demonstrate ability to set alloy barrier in Water Based Mud (WBM)

Demonstrate ability to set alloy barrier against flowing gas (from below)

Demonstrate ability to manipulate the heater and adapt to the wellbore environment

Demonstrate controlled heating and ability to monitor downhole conditions during the entire
process.
Decommissioning in the Nordics
Pilot of T-1000 Tool at Ullrigg - Achievements
Completed a successful test in KCl drilling mud 1,28 SG and flowing gas
500 psi imparted during the melting process (alloy squeeze)
Demonstrated ability to closely control heating process
Conclusively stopped gas migration of approx. 1 l/min
Pressure tested successfully above plug in WBM to 3000 psi
Pressure tested successfully below to 3000 psi with N2 gas
Monitored temperature from, downhole, surface and back to unit
All test objectives achieved – TotalEnergies TRL 6 (demonstration pilot)
criteria fulfilled.

13
Log verification & DTS on SM fiber
Hollow mandrel subsequently logged with a 2-1/8” Cereus
Ultrasonics tool. Promising results:
Azimuthal map showing reflection coefficients clearly shows
allloy has flowed from ‘reservoir’ above ribbed mandrel to fully
immerse the ribs in alloy
Excess of alloy volume shown to remain above the tool
Both mandrel and 9-5/8” casing detected
Test demonstrates potential utility of the hollow mandrel in
enabling alloy placement verification via multi-annulus logging
tools.
Thermal Effects Downhole

Thermal effects should not be ignored. Close control of

the heat output is therefore key to achieving robust and
reliable well integrity across the full wellbore cross-section.
In our view, this can only currently be achieved via electrical
heating.

It is important to design the heating cycle (with the help of

CFD simulation etc.) to ensure that heating stays within the
thermal limits of the cap rock.

Heating cycle can be adjusted real-time during the alloy

melting process to ensure heating stays within the required limits
and optimal placement. Alloy can also be easily re-melted and
re-set if required.

15 Decommissioning in the Nordics

Wellstrøm Potential field pilot – Q3 2023

Way Forward
• Pursuing Industrial pilot TTE DK Q3 2023 (Halfdan HBA-15A)
• Develop through-tubing application in 2023/2024 – “T-3000”

16 Decommissioning in the Nordics

Qualification Status
[API 2009]

TRL 7*

TRL 6

TRL Barrier qualified to

PTIL satisfaction
4/5
2023: NORCE,
TRL Ullrigg Test Center
4 successful test in
2016 – 2018 water-based mud
TRL Independently
3 assessed FMECA
2015: Bureau driven test
Veritas ‘Statement programme
of Endorsement’
2013: JIP funded for a 7” Alloy 80
development & and Alloy 150
ISO14310 V0 casing plug
workshop testing 2023: System Installed
(TRL 6 Field Pilot,
Denmark)
23 Decommissioning in the Nordics
Through-Tubing Tool introduction
(Patent pending)

Aimed first at 4-1/2” and up to 5-1/2” tubing sizes.

High-performance electrical heater with temperature monitoring/logging capability

M3 sealing materials and creep-resistant mandrel design to deliver anticipated 3000-year sealing performance

Capable of setting plugs inside tubing/casing (via Perfs) annuli of production casings up to 10-3/4” casing

Heater has the able to generate sufficient radial heat as to allow alloy to remain molten long enough so that it can be displaced into annuli

Able to displace alloy into annulus and casing hydraulically or via kinetic means

Able to set plugs in up to 60 degrees inclination

Able to withstand up to 5000 psi differential

Well temperature range for this plug: Low -100°

24 Decommissioning in the Nordics

Through-Tubing Tool introduction
(Patent pending)

April
Commercialization
2023

Planning/Specification

Tool design & engineering

Prototype fabrication & assembly

Prototype testing

Onshore qualification test

Offshore pilot test

1st Feb. 1st April 1st July 1st Sep 1st Nov. 1st Jan. 1st Feb. 1st April
2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2024 2024

25 Decommissioning in the Nordics

 Contact information
CEO: Gert Rege, gert@wellstrom.com +47 471 55 000
Gary McWilliam, gary.mcwilliam@external.totalenergies.com
Alex Lucas, alex.lucas@totalenergies.com
20 P&A Technology Workshop 2023