DESIGN AND MECHANICAL INTEGRITY OF CO2 INJECTION WELLS

Geologic Sequestration (GS) is part of a process known as “carbon capture and storage (CCS)” and represents the process of injecting CO2, into deep subsurface rock formations for long-term storage. For injecting of CO2 existing wells are used as well as new drilled wells. A well represents the most likely route for leakage of CO2 from geologic carbon sequestration. Maintaining mechanical integrity helps prevent the well and wellbore from becoming conduits for CO2 migration out of the injection zone. The typical components of a CO2 injection well are casing, tubing, cement, and packer. These components are relevant for maintaining mechanical integrity and ensuring CO2 does not migrate upwards from the injection zone into underground source of drinking water (USDW); therefore helping to ensure zonal isolation of the injected carbon dioxide. In order to have the safe underground storage of CO2 well integrity considerations should be present during all phases of well life including design phase, drilling, completion, injection, workover (service) and abandonment. The paper describes well design, well integrity and mechanical integrity tests (MITs) as a means of measuring the adequacy of the construction of the injection well and as a way to detect problems within the well system.