Continuous Plugging and Abandonment of Drilled Open Holes Using Multi-Stage Balanced Cement Plugs on a Research Test Rig

ABSTRACT: The unique practice for the drilling test facility is to place a group of multi-stage balanced cement plugs in one run by pulling the cement string to the top of the previous plug and pumping the next plug until all the planned plugs are finished. More than 65 plug jobs have been completed over the past 10 years of drilling operations, mostly in deviated or horizontal wellbores through two major parent wells. No well control events have ever been encountered during the past drilling and testing operations. No losses or flowing occurred during any plug jobs. The goal of this paper is to share multiple cement plug operational practices and successes which aim to ensure successful kick-off of open holes below the casing shoe, retain earth integrity to not interfere with any future downhole drilling testing, and maintain a healthy test well that can be reused for many years to come.