By Manish Srivastava | WITS Education & Training Chair | Specialist, Well Integrity, ADNOC Offshore
Well integrity is all about ensuring containment and prevention of the escape of fluids to subterranean formations or surface and to ensure the structural integrity of the well.
ISO 16530-1:2017 defines Well Integrity Management Systems (WIMS) as the application of technical, operational and organizational methods to prevent the uncontrolled flow of fluids at the surface or across subsurface formations throughout the life cycle of the well.
Technical Solutions: Involves identifying hazards, designing suitable barriers and setting performance standards. These barriers are built and checked during well construction. During operations phase barriers are checked using monitoring tools and tested to meet the defined performance standards. During abandonment stage also the barriers are designed, constructed and verified based on the hazards.
Operational Solutions: These involve creating proper procedures and practices that are put in place to manage and maintain well integrity during the operational phase, including defined periodic inspections. Maintenance and interventions are planned in case a compromised barrier is reported during inspection.
Organizational Solutions: This aspect focuses on the policies, standards, and training programs that support well integrity, including the commitment of management and the competency of personnel involved in well operations. Also provides a clear roles and responsibility matrix to implement a proper management system. Well integrity roles are planned outside of operations to ensure unbiased implementation.
WIMS is a multidisciplinary approach that requires constant interaction with various disciplines to assess the status of well barriers and ensure they are always effective. It’s a comprehensive system that ensures the well functions properly, remains in healthy condition, and operates consistently to meet production and injection demands throughout its lifespan.
Well Integrity Management Systems (WIMS) are of paramount importance in the oil and gas industry for several reasons, these includes:
- Safety and Environmental protection:
- Preventing Incidents: WIMS are crucial for preventing incidents such as blowouts, leaks, and spills, which can have catastrophic consequences for personnel safety and the environment.
- Regulatory Compliance: Adherence to WIMS helps companies comply with increasingly stringent regulations aimed at protecting the environment and ensuring safe operations.
- Asset Integrity and reliability
- Maintaining Asset Health: WIMS ensure the structural and functional integrity of wells, which is essential for the long-term reliability and performance of oil and gas assets.
- Late Life Symptoms: As fields mature, they exhibit symptoms like high water cut and flow assurance issues, which can lead to well integrity problems. WIMS help manage these challenges effectively.
- Operational Efficiency and Cost control
- Reducing Production Loss: Effective WIMS can significantly reduce production loss due to well integrity issues, thereby improving operational efficiency.
- Cost-Effectiveness: By managing well integrity issues, companies can avoid costly repairs and downtime, leading to more cost-effective operations.
- Technological Advancement
- Digital WIM Systems: The adoption of digital WIM systems allows for exception-based integrity management, better risk assessment, standardized processes, and automated workflows. This helps in managing the risk and control costs.
- Analytics and AI: The application of analytics and artificial intelligence in WIMS enhances the ability to monitor, predict, and mitigate integrity risks.
- Business Continuity and Reputation
- Production Gains: Addressing wells shut in or impaired due to well integrity issues can lead to production gains and restore opportunities at risk. It may be cheaper to repair and put back on production rather than drill a new well.
- Public Image: A robust WIMS reflects a company’s commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and operational excellence, positively impacting its public image.
To conclude, WIMS is essential for the safe, effective, and sustainable running of oil and gas wells. They are integral to managing the complex challenges associated with well operations and are an important element in the industry’s continuous attempts to improve safety, lower environmental impact, and increase operational performance.