Fractured Injection Design and Monitoring - gwpc.org REVISED_0.pdf · Fractured Injection Design...
Transcript of Fractured Injection Design and Monitoring - gwpc.org REVISED_0.pdf · Fractured Injection Design...
Fractured Injection Design and Monitoring
Omar Abou-Sayed
CEO, Advantek Waste Management Services
832.265.0511 | [email protected]
www.advantekwms.com
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 2
Fractured Injection: A Primer
Fractured injection is standard practice• Fractured injection is a standard practice for
managing solid wastes in environmentally
sensitive regions including offshore, tundra,
marsh, and remote areas
• Injected waste would otherwise be discharged
to ocean, left in reserve pits, or land-farmed
• Injection of slurry relies on hydraulic fracturing
science to create subsurface voids in which
solids are stored
Best practices are critical to success• Proper feasibility studies, well construction, and
zonal selection are all critical to achievement of
waste disposal objectives
Safe operations require real-time monitoring• Best practice uses well surveillance and control
to continually monitor both surface pressure
and subsurface fracture behavior to assure
containment at all times
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 3
Injection can solve many current acute waste issues
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 4
Historical and Current Applications
Nuclear Waste (1960’s-1987)
• Frist applied at Oak Ridge National Laboratory from the 1960’s – 1987, low level
radioactive water was used to make a cement which would set in the subsurface,
binding the radioactive isotopes in place
Oil and Gas Wastes (1987-Present)
• First large scale project was in Alaska North Slope. Widespread adoption in
offshore followed along with some major onshore facilites
BioSolids (~2009-Present)
• Recent Class V project in Los Angeles (biosolids)
• Obviates land-farming + long distance hauls and sequesters CO2 and CH4
Other Applicable Wastes
• Technique can solve many other urgent waste issues (NORM, organics, mining
and power, superfund, gypsum stacks, petrochem, barge / bilge / dredge…)
From a 1998 EPA report: “The deep injection of waste [enabled by slurry injection] is the
only disposal option that effectively removes waste from the biosphere.”
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 5
Biosoilds Injection Demonstration Deep Well Injection Facility – T.I.R.E.
The Terminal Island Renewable Energy
(“TIRE”) project is the USA’s first full
scale facility to dispose biosolids, brine
effluent and tertiary effluent by deep
well injection and geothermal
biodegradation
• Initiated operations in July 2008 as an
EPA demonstration project
• New EPA permit approved December
2013 (allowing construction of 4th well,
deepening of wells to 7,500 feet,
alternating injection into two wells, and
construction of replacement wells as
needed)
• Site now manages 100% of the biosolids
from the City of Los Angeles Terminal
Island Plant and about 20% of the
residuals output from the Hyperion
Treatment Plant
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 6
We are sequestering large amounts of greenhouse gas and reducing risk
Deep well sequestration eliminates environmental impacts from landfarming,
reduces operational risks, and provides significant GHG emission reductions
11
22
33 44
66 55
77
Advantek’s TIRE facility in LA1. Biosoilds blending pit
2. Screen system
3. Mixing Tank
4. Electric Pumps
5. Injection Well
6. Monitoring Well
7. Office
12 mos at current rates (projection)
% of City Biosolids Diverted 20-25%
Biosolids Injected (gals) 80 million
GHGs avoided
or sequestered
8,072 tons CO2 + 5,090 tons CH4 + 0.05 tons Nox
=~115000 MT CO2e per year
Road miles eliminated 395,200 miles
Injuries and Fatalities avoided 1 every 7.6 years
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 7
Technology Overview: Slurry vs Water Injection
Salt Water Disposal Wells:
• Typically inject water directly into the
disposal zone’s rock matrix
• Total capacity is determined by the
volume of the disposal reservoir
• Disposal zones are selected based on
isolation from freshwater sources
Fractured Injection Wells:
• Inject solids by grinding them with
water to create slurry and injecting
the slurry into naturally occurring
hydraulic fractures or those created
during the injection process
• Capacity determined by the volume of
the fractures accessed during injection
• Disposal zones are selected based on
isolation from freshwater sources and
stress barriers which prevent fracture
propagation beyond the permit zone
Fresh water aquifer
Permitted disposal zone (e.g., Brine Aquifer)
Fracture
SWD Well
Solids
Injection Well
Impermeable rock layer arrests migration of injected salt water
High stress layer restricts fracture propagation in solids injection
Water is injected into porous reservoirs while
solids are injected into created hydraulic fractures
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 8
Achieving best practice requires attention to three key activities
Feasibility, site selection,
and permitting
Establishing that a target
zone provides a safe
operating window
considering geological,
geomechanical, and
seismicity data requires
sophisticated analysis.
Ongoing, real-time
operational monitoring
Monitoring is crucial for the
long term assurance of
waste containment and well
integrity, as well as the safe
maximization of disposed
volumes.
Well logging, testing and
process design review
Initial analysis using offset
well data must be reviewed
once the well has been
drilled to target and the true
formation properties tested.
Successful operations must focus on all three areas
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 9
Massive parametric study
informs well design and
operational protocols
Establishing feasibility & designing a well requires sophisticated analysis
Feasibility and safe well capacity are determined using a workflow based on well
logs, offset well performance, geomechanics and fracture simulation & optimization
Well data storage /
access
Log based geomechanics
Fracture simulation
and optimization
Half Fracture Length (ft)
Fra
ctu
reH
eig
ht
(ft)
0 500 1000
-400
-300
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
1.106
1.0330.959
0.8860.813
0.740
0.6670.594
0.5200.447
0.3740.301
0.2280.155
0.081
Fracture Shape and Width (inches)(V = 14000 bbls at 4 bpm w/o Solids)
Half Fracture Length (ft)
Fra
ctu
reH
eig
ht
(ft)
0 500 1000
-400
-300
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
1.106
1.0330.959
0.8860.813
0.740
0.6670.594
0.5200.447
0.3740.301
0.2280.155
0.081
Fracture Shape and Width (inches)(V = 14000 bbls at 4 bpm w/o Solids)
Half Fracture Length (ft)
Fra
ctu
reH
eig
ht
(ft)
0 500 1000
-400
-300
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
1.106
1.0330.959
0.8860.813
0.740
0.6670.594
0.5200.447
0.3740.301
0.2280.155
0.081
Fracture Shape and Width (inches)(V = 14000 bbls at 4 bpm w/o Solids)
Half Fracture Length (ft)
Fra
ctu
reH
eig
ht
(ft)
0 500 1000
-400
-300
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
1.106
1.0330.959
0.8860.813
0.740
0.6670.594
0.5200.447
0.3740.301
0.2280.155
0.081
Fracture Shape and Width (inches)(V = 14000 bbls at 4 bpm w/o Solids)
Half Fracture Length (ft)
Fra
ctu
reH
eig
ht
(ft)
0 500 1000
-400
-300
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
1.106
1.0330.959
0.8860.813
0.740
0.6670.594
0.5200.447
0.3740.301
0.2280.155
0.081
Fracture Shape and Width (inches)(V = 14000 bbls at 4 bpm w/o Solids)
Half Fracture Length (ft)
Fra
ctu
reH
eig
ht
(ft)
0 500 1000
-400
-300
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
1.106
1.0330.959
0.8860.813
0.740
0.6670.594
0.5200.447
0.3740.301
0.2280.155
0.081
Fracture Shape and Width (inches)(V = 14000 bbls at 4 bpm w/o Solids)
Half Fracture Length (ft)
Fra
ctu
reH
eig
ht
(ft)
0 500 1000
-400
-300
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
1.106
1.0330.959
0.8860.813
0.740
0.6670.594
0.5200.447
0.3740.301
0.2280.155
0.081
Fracture Shape and Width (inches)(V = 14000 bbls at 4 bpm w/o Solids)
Half Fracture Length (ft)
Fra
ctu
reH
eig
ht
(ft)
0 500 1000
-400
-300
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
1.106
1.0330.959
0.8860.813
0.740
0.6670.594
0.5200.447
0.3740.301
0.2280.155
0.081
Fracture Shape and Width (inches)(V = 14000 bbls at 4 bpm w/o Solids)
Fea
sibility, S
ite S
ele
ction
, an
d P
erm
itting
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 10
Simulations using real field data allow strong assurance of containment
Fracture behaviors are predicted by geomechanical
modeling and verified using periodic well tests
Safe margins are built into operating procedures
• Log analyses + breakdown and fall-off tests determine
properties of both the injection zone and overlying
formations (cap rocks and intermediate zones)
• Fracture and flow simulations are used to predict and
confirm containment within the injection zone
Identifying barrier zone and mechanism is critical
• Stress: Fracture energy insufficent to crack zone
• Stiffness: Fracs become very narrow causing high
friction losses and plugging which arrest propagation
• Permeability: High perm syphons off fluid energy
Fea
sibility, S
ite S
ele
ction
, an
d P
erm
itting
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 11
Best Practices in Well Construction for Cyclic + Abrasive Injection
Element Practice
Well head Typically inspected bi annually for erosion and corrosion, and is replaced as needed
Tubing
Coated tubing aids in minimizing erosion and corrosion issues due to the abrasive
nature of the slurry. The annulus pressure will be monitored to detect any pressure
communication between the annulus and the tubing which would signify a possible
need to change tubing
Packer
Packer settings (tension, compression, neutral) are chosen carefully such that the
net force is always from one side whether during injection, fall off, or resting. This
aids in minimizing the risk of a packer being unseated due to cyclic forces
Cement
Cement is set through the containment layer (Queenston, Reedsville, Utica, and
Pleasant shales) to prevent fluid migration out of zone behind the casing. A cement
bond long is studied to assure the quality of the cement before injection
Particle SizeThe maximum particle size of the solids in the injected slurry is controlled (usually
below 300 microns) to minimize the tubing erosions and solid settlings issues
Flushing
After each batch injection, the wellbore and surface piping are flushed with clear
fluid to prevent settling of solids in the wellbore which could cover the
perforations. Larger flushing events are done periodically to help sweep solids
away from the near wellbore to help minimize injection pressure rise
Geometry Eliminate / reduce use of 90 degree turns to reduce the erosion wear issues
Fea
sibility, S
ite S
ele
ction
, an
d P
erm
itting
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 12
Once the well is drilled, initial design parameters must be remodeled
1. Feasibility
assessment and
option
identification
2. Preliminary
design
3. HazId/HazOp
and permit
support
4. Injection test
and process re-
design
We
ll Log
gin
g, Te
sting
, an
d P
roce
ss De
sign
Re
vie
w
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 13
Ongoing, real-time operational monitoring requires close collaboration
Field operators and subsurface engineers must work together to
monitor and control the well
• Well performance
• Well-head pressure
• Injection rate
• Operational procedures
• Correct batch times and rates
• Correct flushing volume
• Slurry rheology
• Correct slurry viscosity & density
• Correct particle sizes
Safe operations must be the highest priority• Both surface and subsurface risks must be constantly evaluated using real-
time surveillance to ensure that surface pressures and subsurface behaviors
are within bounds
On
go
ing
, Re
al-tim
e O
pe
ratio
na
l Mo
nito
ring
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 14
Fracture closure and propagation
pressures are interpreted through the
step rate test to confirm fracture
geometry and injection zone
MARATHON KU12-17 FOT
10-4 10-3 10-2 10-1 100 101 102 103 104 105
10
-710
-610
-510
-410
-310
-210
-1
Delta-T (hr)
DP
& D
ER
IVA
TIV
E (
PS
I/S
TB
/D)
2011/11/29-2047 : OIL
MARATHON KU12-17 FOT
0. 10. 20. 30. 40. 50.
-7000.
-4000.
-1000.
Time (hours)
ST
B/D
MARATHON KU12-17 FOT
0. 10. 20. 30. 40. 50.
1000.
1500.
2000.
2500.
PS
I
* : OIL
SELECTION OF PRESSURES DATA (PSI)
Gauge-Data ID: GAU001
Analysis-Data ID: GAU001
Total Raw points = 185464
Set 2 rates (max=100000)
Loaded 3 points (max=100000)
Pressure Select Mode: AUTOMATIC
Rates Cum. Prod.= -1306.0906 BBLS
Static-Data and Constants
Injection fall off data can be analyzed for
information on fracture containment in-
zone, near-well damage, and reservoir
properties
Correctly gathered data provide deep insights into subsurface dynamics
Step Rate TestFall-Off Test
Too often, operators of injection (including water) facilities gather data only to the
extent minimum required by regulation, rendering proper analysis and diagnostics
impossible. Real-time monitoring and data archiving should be mandatory.
On
go
ing
, Re
al-tim
e O
pe
ratio
na
l Mo
nito
ring
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 15
Fall-off data can be used to provide deep understanding of the fracture behavior
Standard fall off test analyses:
• Formation properties such
as: permeability, reservoir
model, near wellbore skin
• Fracture properties such as:
Geometry (L, W, H),
conductivity, skin, closure
pressure
• Trends in closure pressure
can forecast zonal capacity
On
go
ing
, Re
al-tim
e O
pe
ratio
na
l Mo
nito
ring
Advanced fall off test analyses:
• Fracture properties: out of zone propagation, cross
flow, interference with another well / fault, fracture
shrinkage during closure, extent of inner / outer
domain (plume), storage volume, stress contrast with
confining layer
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 16
Temperature logs can also identify fracture height / containment
Temperature gradient logs can correlate
fluid plume / fracture height to rock
temperature changes induced by the
injected fluid
Can also illuminate flow behind casing or
tubing, such as channeling
Can identify casing, tubing, or packer
leaksTop of the injection
horizon. No water
migration above this
depth.
Injection horizon has lower
temperature than the
overlying formation since
injecting fluids tends to cool
down the formation
On
go
ing
, Re
al-tim
e O
pe
ratio
na
l Mo
nito
ring
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 17
USGS data enables ongoing seismic monitoring to underpin “traffic light” systems
Seismicity monitoring can be enabled
using USGS systems, private monitors,
or both
In-well seismic monitors can
complement the data, but are
mechanically unreliable
Careful thought must go into the
method of monitoring to minimize well
interventions while providing data
needed to enable “traffic light”
programs which curtail injection wells
near established epicenters
On
go
ing
, Re
al-tim
e O
pe
ratio
na
l Mo
nito
ring
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 18
Best practice in regulation raises the bar for all and reduces risks
Tighten injection regulations generally
Strong models of regulation exist
currently within the UIC. These should be
applied broadly, including to Class II
injectors:
• Class I/II Fractured Injection in
Alaska’s “Grind-and-Inject” facilities
• Class V Fractured Injection of biosolids
at Los Angeles Terminal Island Waste
Water Treatment Plant
These models generally require
technically rigorous demonstration of
safe operations using a combination of
scientific and physical observation
techniques along with muscular
reporting requirements
Broaden application of fractured injection
Encourage state level regulators to
establish guidelines for Class II fractured
injection potentially alongside no pit
rules (i.e., as in New Mexico, Alaska)
Expand use of fractured injection for
other sludge / semi-solid waste streams
which present challenges to traditional
infrastructure:
• Non-Hazardous (i.e., food)
• Haz (i.e., biosolids, mining, refinery,
pipeline, chemical plant wastes)
These wastes continue to present
significant challenges to their safe
disposal which can be addressed under
the UIC with appropriate consideration
to safe injection best practices
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 19
Final thoughts
Fractured injection provides high value use of UIC wells
1. Addresses serious disposal needs in specialized environments
2. Some state UIC permit rules provide insufficient operating windows for
fractured injection techniques
3. Users hesitant to advance “experimental” projects mistakenly believing
that they provide insufficient certainty for long term operations
4. Balanced monitoring and reporting requirements are in place for some
injected solids projects and can serve as a model for future installations
• Class I/II solids injection in Alaska's "grind-and-inject" facilities
• Class V biosolids injection in Los Angeles
Clarification within UIC local rules could assist in unlocking the potential of solids
injection to address several challenging waste types, including biosolids
Copyright 2018 Advantek Waste Management Services LLC. This material is private and confidential 20
Thank You
Advantek International11000 Richmond Avenue suite 190
Houston, Texas, 77042
713.532.7627
www.advantekwms.com