Methane, a potent greenhouse gas is routinely or accidentally emitted during various phases of the oil and gas production lifecycle. As it is a powerful greenhouse gas as well as the major component of natural gas it has widespread effect on global climate change and energy security.
While methane emission rules are being revised globally, the industry already has commercially available mitigating solutions that we will cover in this paper - a technology that is capable of permanently and eternally shutting off gas migration in single or multi casing annuli by forming a V0 gas tight seal.
The source of emissions can be various, some from well operating and maintenance activities, others from well mechanic and integrity conditions that cannot always be resolved by traditional technologies or methodologies such as cement, resin, or elastomers.
Bismuth alloy based sealing technologies have a wide range of applications during the well lifecycle – from well construction to well interventions and repair, production enhancement and well abandoning. These technologies not only support in extending the economic life of a well but also to permanently solve downhole flow or leak issues. This unique and field proven performance barrier technology alloys operators to solve unwanted downhole flow issues once and for all. Among various applications this paper will cover the most relevant cases related to mitigating methane emissions.
Case 1: An operator having a well with a leaking production packer.
Case 2: Abandoned and plugged wells losing integrity with time.
