EPA REGION 4 ABANDONED OIL WELL PLUGGING PROGRAM

Abandoned well,Hancock Co., Kentucky.

Crude oil migrating from abandoned oil well via subsurfaceroute to discharge to a nearby surface stream (Glasgow, KY).

Fifty (50) feet downstreamfrom oil discharge shown inprevious slide.

Calculated volume of crude oil contained inabandoned well casings:Assuming average well depth of 700 feetDiameter (inch) Gallons Barrels4.5 578 13.85.5 863 20.66.25 1,115 26.6

Brine:Salt water coming out of abandon well casing is often4X’s salinity of sea water.It also contains BTEX compoundsMethaneGreenhouse Gas.

Fiscal Year Number of wells2008 542009 1002010 1002011 642012 892013 32 wells to dateNote: Maintenance of program contingentupon availability of OPA funds

ABANDONED OIL\INJECTION WELLS LOCATED IN HANCOCK COUNTY KENTUCKY

Remediation of Abandon Oil and Injection Wells State Oil & Gas Inspector locates and documentswells Deed and Title Search for each well is conducted;FIELD ACTIVITES• Relocate and flag/label well heads• Heavy Equipment used to clear and grade accessroads and well locations

Plugging an oil well located within the channel of the Mississippi RiverNear Natchez, Mississippi

Plug and Abandonment ProcessFIELD ACTIVITES• All pumping equipment including productiontubing, pump rods, pumps are removed from well;

Old equipment being removed from the Well Casing prior towashing down the well.

Old Well Casing which was shot off and removed from an Oil Well

Plug and Abandonment ProcessFIELD ACTIVITES• Well is flushed with water to remove all oil, brine,scale and other debris from casing;

Plugging activities went on throughout the year

Washing out the Well Tubing and Casing prior to Logging the Well

Plug and Abandonment ProcessFIELD ACTIVITES• Geophysical Subcontractor (evaluate the wellconstruction and geology)• GAMMA Bond VDL (collar locator), Cement BondLog on the well casing .

Geophysical Logging Subcontractor sets up on a well

Plug and Abandonment ProcessFIELD ACTIVITES• A cast iron electric bridge plug (6,000 psi at 200 o F) isset near the bottom of the well casing• Well casing is perforated at several depths with RDX(molten copper shape charges) (allows cement to becirculated on the backside of the well casing, RDXexplodes at a rate of 27,000 feet per second;

Releasing black powder charge gas after setting a Cast Iron Bridge Plug

A Strip RDX Shape Charge ready to be inserted into a well to perforate the casing

Plug and Abandonment ProcessWell casing is perforated atseveral depths with RDX chargeto allow cement to be circulatedon the backside of the wellcasing.

Plug and Abandonment ProcessFIELD ACTIVITES• Cement is squeezed behind casing and within casingfrom bridge plug to land surface.

Mixing cement to be pumped into well creating.

Assume Well Depth 700 feetDiameter Feet per Sack Number of Sacks4 ½” 13 545 ½” 8 886-1/4” 5 1408” 3 23310-3/4” 2 350

Well Casings after cement has been pumped into well creating a plug

Well Casings after cement has been pumped into well creating a plug

Crew watching cement set up.

Plug and Abandonment ProcessFIELD ACTIVITES• Casing is cut off below land surface.• Disturbed area is graded and seeded.• State Oil and Gas Inspector completes a closurereport and develops a Plugging Affidavit.

Restoration Begins

Previous Well LocationRestoration Complete

Average Daily Consumption Rate: $11,500.00 Average Cost Per Well: $34,500.00• Drilling• Logging• Shooting• CementingApproximately 60% of all money spent remains inthe local economy.

Questions