ORCID
- Robotham, Antony: 0000-0002-0470-1539
Abstract
For over 50 years bridge plugs and cement have been used for well abandonment, work over, and are still the material of choice. However, the failures of cement abandonments using bridge plugs has been reported on many occasions, some of which have resulted in fatal consequences. A new patented product is designed to address the shortcomings associated with using bridge plugs and cement. The new developed tools use an alloy based on bismuth that is melted in situ using Thermite reaction. The tool uses the expansion properties of bismuth to sea the well. Testing the new technology in real field under more than 2km deep sea water can be expensive. Virtual simulation of the new device under simulated thermal and mechanical environment can be achieved using nonlinear finite element method to validate the product and reduce cost. Experimental testing in the lab is performed to measure heat generated due to thermite reaction. Then, a sequential thermal mechanical explicit/implicit finite element solver is used to simulate the device under both testing lab and deep water conditions.
DOI
10.1016/j.petrol.2015.05.010
Publication Date
2015-06-11
Publication Title
Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
Volume
133
ISSN
0920-4105
Organisational Unit
School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
Keywords
Finite Element, Thermal, Oil well, Melting, Seal, Thermite
First Page
192
Last Page
200
Recommended Citation
Abdelal, G. F., Robotham, A., & Carragher, P. (2015) 'Numerical simulation of a patent technology for sealing of deep-sea oil wells using nonlinear finite element method', Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 133, pp. 192-200. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2015.05.010
