Publications

Advanced Detection of Wellbore Failure for Safe and Secure Utilization of Subsurface Infrastructure

Matteo, Edward N.; Conley, Donald M.; Verzi, Stephen J.; Roberts, Barry L.; Doyle, Casey L.; Sobolik, Steven R.; Gilletly, Samuel G.; Bauer, Stephen J.; Pyrak-Nolte, L.P.; Reda Taha, M.M.; Stormont, J.C.; Crandall, D.C.; Moriarty, Dylan; John, Esther W.; Wilson, Jennifer E.; Bettin, Giorgia B.; Hogancamp, Joshua H.; Fernandez, S.G.; Anwar, I.A.; Abdellatef, M.A.; Murcia, D.H.; Bland, J.B.

The main goal of this project was to create a state-of-the-art predictive capability that screens and identifies wellbores that are at the highest risk of catastrophic failure. This capability is critical to a host of subsurface applications, including gas storage, hydrocarbon extraction and storage, geothermal energy development, and waste disposal, which depend on seal integrity to meet U.S. energy demands in a safe and secure manner. In addition to the screening tool, this project also developed several other supporting capabilities to help understand fundamental processes involved in wellbore failure. This included novel experimental methods to characterize permeability and porosity evolution during compressive failure of cement, as well as methods and capabilities for understanding two-phase flow in damaged wellbore systems, and novel fracture-resistant cements made from recycled fibers.