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    Cathodic Protection of Coated Well Casing

    Uploaded by

    Bindu joglekar

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    PAPER NUMBER March 9-13, 1987 orrosion¢ 66 a cane IG CATHODIC PROTECTION OF COATED WELL CASING MICHAEL D. ORTON - ARABIAN AMERICAN OIL COMPANY Dhahran, Saudi Arabia ALLAN HAMBERG - CHEVRON OILFIELD RESEARCH COMPANY La Habra, California STEPHEN N. SMITH - EXXON PRODUCTION RESEARCH COMPANY, Houston, Texas ABSTRACT Onshore and offshore wells have been arvtiea uty lizing coated casing. Closely spaced onshore wells located ina highly industrialized area were coated ta significant ly reduce cathodic protection current require- mnents to ensure adequate protection to the bottom of the casing and to elininate or mini- inize stray current interference otherwise possible from the magnitude of current required to protect bare casing. Offshore wells have been coated on non-electrified six well platforms to increase ‘the depth of galvanic anode pratect ion from abgut 2509 Feet on bare casing to at Teast below krown corrosive aquifers. § detatted analysis of surface potential Imasurements, casing potential profiles, and Current distribution 1s presented. INTRODUCTION In 1988, the Arabian American 011 Company (ARANCO) planned to drill onshore wells on “drilling” iSlands* where weliheads would be spaced only 16m (50 ft) apart. Ultimately, there could be'as many as 16 wells per “drilting island", The drilling sites are located in a highly industrialized area, where underground metallic structures are both mune rous and congested, It was recognized that with an anticipated 40,20 50 ampere (70 amps per € Lg 1) require- nent per bare well casing, cathodic protect ion could not be achieved without creating serious Stray current interference on numerous, adja- cent underground structures. Coated casing was Used to significant ly reduce the magnitude of. Cathodic protection current required, to ensure adequate protection to total casing depth and to eliminate or at least minimize interference. This paper discusses Aranco's tests and the known experience of others who have utilized coated casing, TESTS CONDUCTED Reference is made below to Casing Potential Profiles (CPP) and Casing Voltage Attenuation (IR) Togs conducted on well casings, These logs are conducted with the sane to01 which consists of a tubular device with insulated ‘etal electrodes 7.6.m (25 ft) apart. The tool is lowered into the casing by wire line, There, either stationary or expandable metal electrodes are in contact with the inside sur- Face of the casine, CPP Log When the tool is lowered into the casing, the voltage drop on the casing is measured bet- ween the contact electrodes 2s the tool 1s positioned at various depths. These data, with the known linear resistance of the casingy will provide both direction and magnitude of either corrosion or cathodic protection current. Relative current gensity may also be calculat~ ed. Data on single string casing is relatively ‘accurate as conpared to multiple casing where Parallel resistances occur. Sone tools require Publication Right the inner casing to be brush cleaned and/or acidized while others do not. Similarly, sone tools require that internal casing fluid be displaced with a non-conductive fluid such as diesel while others can operate in brine. TR Log This log measures the voltage difference between the wellhead and the too? contact electrodes positioned at various depths in the casing. These data provide a means of accu- Fately estimating downhole, external casing potentials to soil. Casing Potentials A11 casing potential data reported are neasureé with reference to a copper-copper Sulphate electrode positioned remote fron the well. WELL COMPLETION Dritling island wells are drilled vertical- ly to a depth of aboUt 300 m (1000 ft} where. they are deviated in different directions, The 47 cm (18 5/8 in), 34 cm (13 3/8 in) and 28 cm (9 5/8 in) casings are coated with fuston bonded epoxy where they are in contact with the downhole enviroment; they are coated to a Gepth of about 1450 m (4800 ft), Additional ly, an’ 18 cm (7 in.) single casing fas been ins- tailed to a total aapth of 1920 m (6300 ft); Uns casing was installed bare to ensure that an adequate Cenent bond was achieved. WEST VIRGINIA GAS COMPANY EXPERIENCE In, 1960, the ypited Fuel Gas (UFG) Company of west Virginial') reported the results of Rests conducted to determine the relative cura- bility of coatings proposed for use on, wel? casing. UFG drified 10 wells to a depth of 773m (2536 ft). The bottom 276 m (905 ft) was coated with different quality coatings. The Casings were installed, renained in place for 38 months and then renoved. Table I tebulates the results of the test, showing that sone coatings were totally destroyed during install- ation and renoval while others were still 95% intact. ‘CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY EXPERIENCE In 1970, Pacific Gas ang Electric Conpanyl@) aritied 60 closely spaced wells in a ges storage, field, The wel ls vere completed with a-combination of 34 cm (13 3/8 in) and 24 Gm (9.5/8 In) casing to, a depth of about, 1646 (5400 t.). With the exception of one well, the wells were coated to depth with 0 Coal’tar epoxy, “The one vertical well was. coated except for the botton 305m. (1000 ft). Cathodic protection current requirenents average less than 0.5 amperes per well indi- Gating the coating was 954 to 98% intact. Design current requirenents were determined by € log T and the adequacy of grotect fon was verified by surface potential measurenents. ‘The wells were cathodically protected in the Vate'1970'S with no leaks reported to date. Previous Teak history of bare wells casings in this sane area was significant. ARAMCO EXPERIENCE Wells 259 and 260 Wels 259 and 260 were drilled in 198). The casings were coated dawn through the 34 cm (3 578 In.) and the 24 cm (9 5/8 in) casing t a depth of 1298 m. (4260 ft). In addition, bare’ 18 em (7.in) casing was’ installed to a total depth of 2072 m (6800 ft). Casing Potential Profile (CPP) Tog data measured an the bottom single 18 cm (7 in.) ‘casing (Figure 1) show that with §.5 anperes drained from the wellhead, adequate current Dickup has heen achieved to the botton of the fell.” Similar bare wells in this area require 30 amperes for cathodic protect ion. CPP togs For Hel} 260 (Figure 2) shows the distribution of corrosion current before cato- Get protectTon was’ sopliee and the relative distribution of current. immediately after pro- fection wes applied (4.76 amperes, non

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