Understanding drivers of oil and gas well integrity issues in the greater wattenberg area of Colorado

Lackey, Greg; Dyer, Alec; Pfander, Isabelle; Shih, Chung Y.; Dilmore, Robert M.

doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2024.104296

Title: Understanding drivers of oil and gas well integrity issues in the greater wattenberg area of Colorado

Journal Article · 27 December 2024 · International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2024.104296 · OSTI ID:2510883

^[1];

^[2]; Pfander, Isabelle ^[2]; Shih, Chung Y. ^[1]; Dilmore, Robert M. ^[1]

National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Albany, OR (United States); NETL Support Contractor, Albany, OR (United States)

Well integrity is critically important to maintain to minimize the environmental impacts of oil and gas development and other subsurface energy operations. The Wattenberg Field of Colorado—a top producing field with >40,000 wells—has one of the most robust publicly reported well integrity programs in the country. Here, in this study, we analyzed annular pressure and annular-fluid geochemical test results collected from Wattenberg wells through the end of 2019 to characterize the frequency and spatial variability of integrity issues in the field and understand their drivers. Estimated frequencies of integrity issues among tested wells were 8.2-17.1% between 1955 and 2019 and 6.1-11.4% in 2019 alone. The frequency of integrity issues was nearly four times greater in wells located above the Longmont Wrench Fault Zone. Potential drivers of integrity issues were identified using ensemble decision tree models trained with a broad set of relevant information. Models show that well integrity issues are spatially clustered on regional and sub-regional scales and suggest the relatively high frequency of integrity issues observed is likely attributed to geologic factors. These findings are valuable for regulatory agencies and operators seeking to inform well integrity monitoring, plugging, and emissions reduction efforts and design future subsurface energy projects.

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Research Organization:: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)

OSTI ID:: 2510883

Journal Information:: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Journal Name: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Vol. 141; ISSN 1750-5836

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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