Prevention and Remediation of Sustained Casing Pressure and other Isolation Breaches

The objectives of this project are to develop techniques to mitigate risk to groundwater resources associated with shale gas development, to remediate failed annular seal to stop communication in an existing well, to improve techniques that enhance lifelong wellbore annular isolation during the wellbore construction process, and to prevent potential annual seal failure which can cause sustained casing pressure (SCP) later in the well life. The application of this project will illustrate positive value and acceptable risk of the gas shut-off and prevention concepts. The success of the field trials will drive the technology transfer of this developed concept to shale gas driller cross the U.S. as well as other unconventional plays employing factory drilling methods for wells with high potential of SCP. In general, the issue of sustained SCP as it relates to horizontal shale wells will be researched.