ABSTRACT

To realise ‘net-zero’ methane emission targets by 2050, the industry must adopt a program of baseline emissions quantification and proactive remediation. Establishing low-rate, low-pressured venting baselines to atmosphere requires precise ‘point-source’ measurements unattainable using gas monitors, optical imaging technologies, positive displacement, differential pressure, and ultrasonic and vortex flow meters. These are critical requirements, not only during the productive life of oil and gas wells, but in particular following plug and abandonment (P&A) activities. It is often the case that wells that have been abandoned come ‘back to life’ years later – so-called ‘Zombie wells’. Ventbuster^® is a patented, precision, flow quantification device, with a low limit of detection and a high dynamic range. It uses flow channel technology to accurately quantify gas emissions, even under low-pressure conditions. The device is portable and adaptable onto any wellhead or plant equipment to quantify and record emission events, with measurements transmitted in real-time to a secure Internet of Things platform. An increasingly common application is to monitor the execution of P&A activities, enabling real-time decision-making on changes to the program design that may be required to meet compliance criteria. The device then autonomously transmits data for a protracted period post-abandonment to provide the asset owner with auditable proof of a successful P&A. The outcome of a single case study is disclosed to showcase system operating principle, functionality, operation envelope, and perceived features and benefits.