RIASSUNTO
Summary
Globally, there is an increasing focus on hydrocarbon recovery in regions that are new to environmental legislation and regulation; very often, these are offshore environments where well integrity has broad effects. Providing environmentally compliant fluids is becoming a standard, and thus expertise in regulations and “green” chemistry is rapidly being pulled from established regions such as the North Sea. The expectation that both regulations and necessary chemistry can be slotted into the new region’s operations is difficult to achieve because there is no single set or universal set of regulations; therefore, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution.
This paper addresses numerous distinct challenges for cementing-related fluids and how the changing regulatory stage across different regions can be optimally managed. Indeed, because these regions can be “frontier” or remote in nature, emphasis on cost control from operators is high to minimize the well-construction cost. This may not align with environmental compliance expectations. Particular examples from West Africa will be presented to highlight challenges toward conformity with the aim of discussing the pitfalls and potential solutions available.
Environmental regulations and practices are continually evolving, and they come under increasing scrutiny at the well-planning stage, with heavy emphasis on well integrity and cementing quality. The most-legislated region of offshore exploration and production is the North Sea, and, naturally, governing bodies and operators are adopting North Sea regulatory models elsewhere. Through case histories covering North Sea, French Guiana, and West Africa, a systematic review of the numerous approaches governing the application of cementing fluids for well integrity will be deliberated. An innovative “green” chemistry solution for high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) operations, developed to tackle compliance with Norwegian North Sea regulations, will act as key example of steps taken to safeguard global environmentally sensitive regions and ensure long-term well integrity.