DEVELOPMENT OF A WELLBORE INTEGRITY DATABASE TO AID CO2 STORAGE SITE SCREENING

The Michigan Basin has potential for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) with its deep reservoirs, efficient confining systems, and numerous CO₂ emitters. With over 90,000 wellbores, there is potential for leakage from historical and active wellbores. Previous work in wellbore integrity (WBI) has investigated approximately 10% of the wellbores in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Categories for WBI were defined and show that well records can be used to evaluate WBI. We evaluateded all wellbores in Lower Peninsula of Michigan, prioritizing those in potential storage regions. We assigned WBI scores ranging 1 (worst) to 20 (best) for individual wells as it relates to potential CO₂ storage sites due to wells providing a potential immediate pathway of migration of CO₂. This WBI assessment will be used in a public screening tool to help public and private organizations to determine the best sites for CCUS.

Oil and gas records from the Michigan’s Environment Great Lakes and Energy GeoWebFace database were used to record well data concerning construction, status, plugging, and abandonment. Quantitative analyses screened potential storage areas using well and plugging record data. Well records were analyzed to define integrity factors, such as well depth, age, status, construction parameters, formations penetrated, well workovers, spatial density, and other risk factors. Plugging records were used to define a qualitative indicator of good to poor for the plug based on plug type, thickness, and location (depth and geologic formation). The WBI database was used to generate a risk assessment ranking system or score.

Results will be shown for specific regions in Michigan and will indicate whether a well’s integrity is good, poor, or incomplete which will be used to determine if the well will require further remediation, monitoring or evaluation to determine the viability of the site. Results will also be used to evaluate trends, identify higher risk formations, and other concerns. The wellbore integrity and screening tool will help to better identify the best sites for CCUS, reduce risks associated with CCUS, and aid Michigan in reaching our carbon goals.

This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under DE-FE0032368