ESG Poster ESG2: Quantifying the reduction of rehabilitation needs and safety risks in the use of innovative well and flowline decommissioning tools

Abstract

Poster ESG2 This paper identifies, measures and demonstrates both the reduction in safety risk and in Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) factors, associated with the traditional cut and cap methods for gas/oil wells and flowlines compared to new innovative internal cutting methods. In 2017 Summit Canada recognised the need to improve the safety of personnel in the oil and gas fields of Canada, during decommisioning of both wellheads and flowlines. The traditionally established method was to excavate a bellhole around the infrastructure and to subsequently cut the wellhead or flowline at 1.5 m below ground level using an oxy-torch. This usually involved an individual standing on a step ladder under a suspended load in an excavation which was often a confined space, not adequately benched or sloped. Comparative data from 5 years of North American and 2 years of Australian experience in decommissioning old wells using internal cuts as opposed to the excavation method are used in the study. The safety risk associated with each method can generally be quantified and given a Hazard Ranking established from crew sizes, kilometres driven and work methods undertaken. Similarly, the ESG factors associated with each method can be quantified in terms of area of disturbance, as well as landholder inconvenience and emissions resulting from number of trucks and personnel movements. A significant reduction in safety risk was the key finding, with the silver lining of also reducing the ESG impacts of gas well and flowline decommissioning activities. To access the poster click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here