Challenging Plug & Abandon Cementing Operation under Influx and Losses Scenario

Abstract

The cement plugs are usually required when the well requires a sidetrack due to various circumstances such as a change in its trajectory, abandonment, or to cure loss circulation. These can occur in the initial drilling phase, just after drilling, or during the production phase. Requirements to perform these operations vary and may include different scenarios such as an increase of contact area with producing formation, producing formation depletion, production of unwanted fluids, non-economical hydrocarbons production, temporary isolation, regulatory, or operational issues including fish in the hole, casing repairs, formation squeeze, or to cure loss circulation. Cementing plug operations are one of the most critical operations to be designed and executed, due to the required slurry and set cement properties, a relatively small volume of cement slurry that can be subject to contamination, critical design considerations, and meticulously required field execution. This manuscript presents the challenges and the engineered solution while designing, executing, and evaluating the success of a critical plug and abandon (P&A) cementing operation under an influx and losses scenario. This study will cover a challenging well that was not possible to be hydrostatic balanced without inducing fluid losses to the formation and the decision that was made to plug and abandon the well by pumping cement plugs.