Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MAINTENANCE AND
ABANDONMENT
GUIDELINE
September | 2015
Version 1.18
Well Completion, Maintenance and Abandonment Guideline, Version 1.18
CONTENTS
MANUAL REVISIONS .............................................................................................. 1
SUMMARY OF REVISIONS...............................................................................................1
1 PREFACE .............................................................................................................. 2
1.1 PURPOSE ..........................................................................................................2
1.2 SCOPE ..............................................................................................................2
1.3 HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL.................................................................................3
1.4 ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ......................................................................................3
1.4.1 Feedback ..............................................................................................4
1.4.2 Frequently Asked Questions .................................................................4
2 WELL EQUIPMENT ............................................................................................... 5
2.1 WELLHEADS ......................................................................................................5
2.2 TUBING ............................................................................................................5
2.3 PACKERS ...........................................................................................................5
2.4 SUBSURFACE SAFETY VALVES ................................................................................6
2.5 OIL WELLS ........................................................................................................6
2.6 FENCING ...........................................................................................................8
2.7 LEAK DETECTION ................................................................................................8
3 WELL SERVICING OPERATIONS .......................................................................... 10
3.1 WELL SERVICING OPERATIONS ............................................................................10
3.2 COMPLETIONS / WORKOVERS / MAINTENANCE .....................................................10
3.2.1 Shallow Fracturing .............................................................................10
3.2.2 Commingling ......................................................................................11
3.3 WELL SUSPENSION ...........................................................................................12
3.3.1 Definitions ..........................................................................................12
3.3.2 Observation Wells ..............................................................................12
3.3.3 Suspension Requirements ..................................................................13
3.3.4 Packer Testing ....................................................................................18
3.3.5 Long Term Inactive Wells ...................................................................18
3.3.6 Reactivating Suspended Wells ...........................................................18
3.3.7 Information / Reporting Requirements ..............................................18
3.4 CLASSIFICATION OF LOW AND MEDIUM RISK GAS WELLS .........................................20
3.5 WELL ABANDONMENT ......................................................................................21
4 WELL SERVICING EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES ............................................. 22
4.1 BLOWOUT PREVENTION.....................................................................................22
4.1.1 Well Servicing Blowout Prevention ....................................................22
4.1.2 BOP Equipment Classes ......................................................................22
4.1.3 General ..............................................................................................23
4.1.4 Accumulator systems .........................................................................23
4.1.5 Requirements Specific to Class A Systems..........................................24
4.1.5 Requirements Specific to Class B and C Systems ................................24
4.1.6 Line Requirements .............................................................................24
4.1.7 Stabbing Valve ...................................................................................25
4.1.8 Blowout Prevention Manifold ............................................................25
4.1.9 Testing of Blowout Prevention Equipment.........................................25
4.1.10 Special Sour Wells .........................................................................26
4.1.11 Slickline, Snubbing and Coil Tubing Operations ............................26
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Well Completion, Maintenance and Abandonment Guideline, Version 1.18
Manual Revisions
Summary of Revisions
The Well Completion, Maintenance and Abandonment Manual
has been revised based upon feedback to provide clarity in
terms of requirements and process. Structural changes by
section are highlighted below.
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1 Preface
1.1 Purpose
This manual has been created to guide users through the BC
Oil and Gas Commission (the Commission) processes and
procedures. It also serves to highlight changes in process,
procedure, requirements and terminology resulting from the Oil
and Gas Activities Act (OGAA).
1.2 Scope
This manual focuses exclusively on requirements and
processes associated with the Commission’s legislative
authorities and does not provide information on legal
responsibilities that the Commission does not regulate. It is the
responsibility of the applicant or permit holder to know and
uphold its other legal responsibilities. Examples of legal
responsibilities outside of this manual include obligations under
the Federal Fisheries Act, the Transportation Act, the Highway
Act, the Workers Compensation Act, and the Wildlife Act.
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Tables: Tables organize information into columns and rows for quick
comparison.
1.4.1 Feedback
The Commission is committed to continuous improvement by
collecting information on the effectiveness of guidelines and
manuals. Clients and stakeholders wishing to comment on
Commission guidelines and manuals may send constructive
comments to OGC.Systems@bcogc.ca.
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2 Well Equipment
The well equipment section outlines the regulatory requirements
for well equipment in the Drilling and Production Regulation.
2.1 Wellheads
[Section 17, Drilling and Production Regulation]
Wellheads are required to operate safely under the conditions
anticipated during the life of the well and the wellhead is not to
be subjected to excessive force.
Refer to Enform Publications’ Industry Recommended Practice
(IRP) Volume #5, (IRP 5 – Minimum Wellhead Requirements)
for more information.
2.2 Tubing
[Section 16, Drilling and Production Regulation]
Tubing is required for the production of gas containing ≥ 5%
hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and for all injection and disposal
except for the injection of fresh water.
2.3 Packers
[Sections 16 and 39, Drilling and Production Regulation]
A production packer must be used for:
All injection and disposal except for the injection of fresh
water and
Wells containing gas with > 5% H2S, or if a numbered
highway or populated area is located within the emergency
planning zone for the well.
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unreasonable1 delay.
Refer to the Commission’s Water Service Well Summary
Information document Appendix D for recommended packer
testing procedures.
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In general, all repairs should be completed within 90 days. Reasonable
delays are acceptable in cases where access is seasonal and the delay does
not result in a risk to safety or the environment. Delays that extend past the
next seasonal access window are not reasonable (greater than one year).
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2.6 Fencing
[Section 39, Drilling and Production Regulation]
Permit holders of completed wells that:
Are located within 800 m of a populated area or
Have a populated area within the emergency planning zone
for the well
Fencing or other measures to prevent unauthorized access to
the well must be installed in these circumstances.
Fencing or other forms of access control must be proportional to
the potential for unauthorized access to the wellsite. Access
control may include fencing of the wellsite, or gating the access
road. If the well is located in an access-controlled area, no
additional measures may be required. For wells that are located
on private land, the method of access control should be
developed in consultation with the landowner.
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3.2.2 Commingling
[Section 23, Drilling and Production Regulation]
All zones in a well must remain segregated unless permission
has been granted for commingled production. Permission may
be granted in an individual well permit or by a special project for
commingling under section 75 of OGAA. The Commission has
designated certain areas where commingling is authorized,
subject to certain conditions, including:
Deep basin
Plains and Northern Foothills
Outer Foothills
For more information, refer to the Commingling section within
the Commission’s Reservoir Engineering Forms and Guidelines
page.
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3.3.1 Definitions
“Activity” means
(a) production, injection, or disposal of fluids,
(b) drilling, completion or workover operations and
(c) reservoir pressure observation.
“Inactive Well” means a well that has not been abandoned but
(a) has not been active for 12 consecutive months or
(b) if the well is classified as a special sour well or an acid
gas disposal well and has not been active for 6
consecutive months.
For active production, injection and disposal wells, the date of
last activity is defined as the first day of the month following the
last month for which production, injection and disposal volumes
were reported.
Observation wells are deemed to be active (see Observation
Wells section).
For drilling activity, including new wells and re-entries, the date
of last activity is defined as the rig release date.
For completion and workover activity, the date of last activity is
defined as the completion date.
A permit holder may apply to the Commission to declassify a
special sour well.
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A visual inspection of the lease and wellhead must be conducted at least yearly to
Visual observe for wellhead integrity, noxious weeds and other hazards.
Inspection
For wells with helicopter access, the visual inspection frequency is the pressure
testing / monitoring frequency.
Submit a BC-11 to the Ministry of Finance as outlined in Section 8.2.
A Suspension Report must be submitted to the Commission within 30 days of
Reporting the completion of suspension operations.
Records of inspections must be maintained on file and if requested, be made
available to the Commission for review.
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2
If applicable, install a bridge plug or packer and tubing plug within 100
metres of the liner top on uncompleted special sour wells.
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Downhole /
Wellhead Packer and tubing plug. Bridge plug. Dual master valves.
Requirements
Pressure Testing /
At the time of At the time of
Monitoring / At the time of suspension
suspension and then suspension and then
Servicing and then annually.
every 3 years. every 5 years.
Frequency
3
Flowing oil wells are oil wells with sufficient reservoir pressure to sustain
flow against atmospheric pressure without artificial lift. The flowing product is
a fluid.
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4
Non-flowing oil wells are oil wells without sufficient reservoir pressure to
sustain flow against atmospheric pressure without artificial lift. The flowing
product is a fluid. Removal of polish rods is not required to suspend low-risk
oil wells as long as the polish rod remains connected to the pump jack.
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Reactivations
Submission of a reactivation report is not required.
Reactivations are identified by alternate means (i.e. spud date,
production reporting).
Inspections
Records of inspections must be provided to the Commission on
request.
Inspection results may be recorded by filling out the applicable
sections of the Well Suspension/Inspection Form or through the
permit holder’s internal database. If an internal inspections
database is used, it is the permit holder’s responsibility to
ensure that the required information is recorded.
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3.4.2 Medium Risk gas wells are gas wells where the
maximum stabilized wellhead AOF exceeds the Maximum
Allowable Flowrate5 or 28 x 103 m3/day6 and are not classified
as high risk gas wells.
3.4.3 Low Risk gas wells are gas wells that are not classified
as Medium or High Risk.
100000
MEDIUM
RISK
10000
1000
H2S (ppm)
535 ppm
100
LOW
RISK
10
1
1 10 100
28,000 m3/day
Flowrate (x 1000 m3/day)
5
This calculation (adopted from the AER Directive 13) determines the
maximum flowrate for a given H2S concentration that will result in a
maximum concentration of H2S at the lease boundary of 10 ppm. The lease
boundary is assumed to be 50 metres from the wellhead.
6
Maximum flowrate is adopted from the AER Directive 13 and is considered
to be surface killable based on fluid momentum theory.
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Figure 3.1: Classification of Low and Medium Risk Gas Wells (Adopted
from AER Directive 13).
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4.1.3 General
At all times during well servicing, the well must be under control,
adequate blowout prevention equipment must be installed and
must be able to shut off flow from the well regardless of the type
or diameter of tools or equipment in the well.
The blowout prevention equipment must have a pressure rating
equal to or greater than the pressure rating of the production
casing flange or the formation pressure, whichever is the lesser.
Hydraulic ram type blowout preventers which are not equipped
with an automatic ram locking device must have hand wheels
available.
An accurate pressure gauge to determine the well annulus
pressure during a well shut-in must be either installed or readily
accessible for installation.
A service rig used at the well site must have an operable horn
on the drilling control panel for sounding alerts.
A sour service separator and flare system, including appropriate
manifolding, must be used to process sour well effluent.
The well control system must be adequately illuminated.
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4.2 Personnel
[Section 13, Drilling and Production Regulation]
The permit holder must ensure that there are a sufficient
number of trained and competent individuals to carry out all well
operations safely and without causing pollution.
The following people must possess a valid Well Service Blowout
Prevention Certificate, issued by Enform:
The driller on tour
The rig manager (tool push) and
The permit holder’s representative
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4.3.1 Engines
Permit holders must ensure that, if engines are located at a
wellsite, suitable safeguards are installed and tested to prevent
a fire or explosion in the event of a release of flammable liquids
or ignitable vapours.
For engines located within 25 metres of a well, petroleum
storage tank or other unprotected source of ignitable vapours,
the Commission recommends that:
The engine exhaust pipe is insulated or cooled to prevent
ignition in the event that flammable material contacts the
exhaust pipe
The exhaust pipe is directed away from the well or source
of ignitable vapours and
The exhaust manifold is sufficiently shielded to prevent
contact with flammable materials
4.3.2 Fuel
Gasoline or liquid fuel, except for fuel in tanks that are
connected to operating equipment, must not be stored within 25
metres of a well and drainage must be away from the wellhead.
4.3.3 Smoking
Smoking is prohibited within 25 metres of a well.
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EQUIPMENT, TEG*
SEPARATOR
WELLHEAD
VAPOURS
WELLHEAD 50 25 NS NS NS 25* 50
FLARE OR INCINERATOR 50 NS 25 25 25 25 50
BOILER, STEAM
GENERATING EQUIPMENT, 25 NS 25 25 25 25 25
TEG*
PRODUCED WATER TANK NS 25 25 NS NS 25* NS
OTHER SOURCES OF
NS 25 25 NS NS 25* NS
IGNITABLE VAPOURS
SEPARATOR NS 25 25 NS NS 25* NS**
FLAME TYPE EQUIPMENT 25* 25 25 25* 25* 25* T 25*
PRODUCED FLAMMABLE
LIQUIDS CRUDE OIL & 50 50 25 NS NS NS** 25*
CONDENSATE TANKS
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4.3.6 Explosives
Explosives must be stored in properly constructed magazines
and be located a minimum of 150 metres from any well
servicing operation.
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5 Environmental Considerations
The environmental considerations section outlines and explains
the regulatory requirements for testing, repairing and reporting
environmental impacts: surface case venting flows, gas
migration, casing leaks and failures, noise, flaring and venting,
fluid storage and spills.
5.1.1 Definitions
“Surface Casing Vent Flow” (SCVF) means the flow of gas
and/or liquid from the surface casing/casing annulus.
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5.2.1 Definitions
“Gas Migration” (GM) means a flow of gas that is detectable at
the surface outside of the outermost casing string (often referred
to as external migration or seepage).
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5.4 Noise
[Section 40, Drilling and Production Regulation]
A permit holder must ensure that well operations do not cause
excessive noise. Permit holders should work with area residents
to minimize noise impacts when undertaking completions
activities near populated areas.
The B.C. Noise Control Guideline (OGC IL 09-09) contains
information regarding acceptable noise levels and noise
assessment techniques.
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6 Data Submission
General
All data must be submitted to the Commission.
For compete submission requirements, please refer to the Well
Data Submission Requirements Manual.
This section provides instructions on Completion, Workover and
Abandonment Reports.
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7 Compliance
OGAA
A person found by the Courts, to have contravened the Oil
and Gas Activities Act may be subject to a fine not
exceeding the amount specified in Section 86 of the act. A
person found by the Commission, to have contravened
OGAA may be liable to an administrative penalty not
exceeding the amount specified in the Administrative
Penalties Regulation.
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Completion Operations
All cased or open hole operations – using both service and drilling rigs
Perforating
Notching of tubing
Fracturing
Stimulation
Acidization (squeeze, fracturing operations)
Re-perforating an existing zone, tubing scale cleanout, hydrate removal
Milling, abrasion jetting (casing, tubing)
Bare foot completions
Testing, Monitoring and Logging
DFIT (diagnostic fracture injection test), or Mini-Frac test
o Injectivity tests
Logging for re-entry which includes removal of cement plugs
Remedial
Surface casing vent flow / gas migration - repair
Cement squeeze, cement plugs
o Casing
o patch or repair
o installation of liner
o removal or replacement
Suspension
Plugging or suspension of a zone
Installation of:
o bridge plugs (any type)
o cement retainers, cement plugs
o tubing plugs
o packers
o wireline retrievable plug
Wellhead
o installation of dual master valve and seals for purpose of suspension
Inhibiting wellbore for purpose of suspension
Abandonment
All downhole work performed during abandonment operations
Surface cut and cap of a well
Re-Entry
All completion re-entry work (Completion re-entry is the re-entry of any
abandoned well where no additional drilling is to occur).
For any workover performed in preparation for a drilling re-entry that is
finished prior to and is not to be reported as part of the drilling re-entry (ie:
drilling out of or setting of cement plugs, abandonment of hole, recovery or
setting of bridge plugs, logging, casing extensions, etc.)
Bottom Hole Equipment
Installation, removal or exchange for:
Artificial lifts (includes all forms of bottom hole pumping methods)
o downhole pumps
o plunger lift
o gas lift
o electrical submersible pumps (ESPs)
o bumper springs
Sub-surface safety valves - except for inspection and repair purposes
Change of:
Flapper valve for injection wells
Sliding sleeve - shifting for commingling of producing zones
Tubing
Depth change
Size change
Installation or removal - e.g.,velocity strings, endless tubing
For more information on operations not listed in this table, please contact:
General
Required for all suspensions and inspections.
Well Name: Enter the full well name (for example, OIL CORP TOMMY B-092-
I/092-G-09)
WA#: Enter the well authorization number (for example, 12345)
Permit Holder: Enter the name of the licensed operator (for example, Oil
Corporation Ltd.)
Date: Enter the date that suspension operations or the inspection were
completed
Site Access: Enter the method of site access (for example, All Weather Road,
Dry Summer Road, Frozen Winter Road, Air, ATV Access, Walk-In Access Only,
Etc.)
Well Classification
Required at time of suspension. Not required for suspended well inspections.
Risk: Select the well classification: High, Medium or Low risk, as applicable,
defined in Section 3.3.
Well Type: Select the well type: 1-6, as applicable, defined in Section 3.3.
Suspension Option: Select the suspension option: A, B or C used for
suspension, defined in Section 3.3.
Include the formation name, associated H2S (%) and CO2 (%) and formation
interval (top and bottom locations in mKB). For formations with multiple
perforations, enter the upper and lower interval of the combined perforations, not
each individual interval.
Example:
FORMATION H2S (%) CO2 (%) INTERVAL
(mKB)
Baldonnel 0.0 2.14 1238.7 -1249.7
Visual Inspection
Required for all suspensions and inspections.
Select yes or no, as applicable:
1. “No” indicates that there is no evidence of leaks from the wellhead,
including any attached fittings and valves and no evidence of significant
corrosion.
2. “Yes” indicates the wellhead meets the requirements for Wellheads and
Wellhead Maintenance in Table 3.1.
3. “Yes” indicates the surface casing vent is properly installed and the
surface casing vent is open and unobstructed. Indicate in the comments
section if the surface casing vent is obstructed for the purpose of
managing a vent flow (i.e., a burst plate is installed).
4. “No” indicates there is no evidence of a surface casing vent flow.
5. “Yes” indicates a barricade has been installed around the wellhead.
Requirements for a barricade are site-specific.
General
Required for all suspensions and inspections.
Comments: Provide any useful comments, for example, additional suspension
detail.
Name, Phone, Email, Cell: Provide the contact information of the person
responsible for the report.