Fugitive emissions of methane from abandoned, decommissioned oil and gas wells

The Science of the Total Environment
I M BoothroydR J Davies

Abstract

This study considered the fugitive emissions of methane (CH4) from former oil and gas exploration and production wells drilled to exploit conventional hydrocarbon reservoirs onshore in the UK. This study selected from the 66% of all onshore wells in the UK which appeared to be properly decommissioned (abandoned) that came from 4 different basins and were between 8 and 79 years old. The soil gas above each well was analysed and assessed relative to a nearby control site of similar land use and soil type. The results showed that of the 102 wells considered 30% had soil gas CH4 at the soil surface that was significantly greater than their respective control. Conversely, 39% of well sites had significant lower surface soil gas CH4 concentrations than their respective control. We interpret elevated soil gas CH4 concentrations to be the result of well integrity failure, but do not know the source of the gas nor the route to the surface. Where elevated CH4 was detected it appears to have occurred within a decade of it being drilled. The flux of CH4 from wells was 364 ± 677 kg CO2eq/well/year with a 27% chance that the well would have a negative flux to the atmosphere independent of well age. This flux is low relative to the activity c...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 28, 2016·The Science of the Total Environment·B AnifowoseL Chapman
Sep 6, 2019·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Vanessa Alboiu, Tony R Walker
Jul 4, 2019·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·James P WilliamsGrant Wach
Sep 19, 2019·Ground Water·Andrea D'AnielloDomenico Pianese
Nov 17, 2016·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Mary KangRobert B Jackson
Dec 24, 2018·Chemical Engineering Communications·Yuan ZhuRobert Barat
Oct 3, 2019·Scientific Reports·Olenka N FordeK Ulrich Mayer
Apr 14, 2018·The Science of the Total Environment·Peter B McMahonAndrew G Hunt
Oct 27, 2018·The Science of the Total Environment·O N FordeD Hunkeler
Jul 1, 2021·Environmental Science. Processes & Impacts·Fred WorrallAlwyn Hart
Sep 8, 2017·Environmental Science & Technology·Seth N LymanJordan Evans
Mar 14, 2018·Environmental Science & Technology·Jacqueline S HoAlan J Krupnick
Dec 17, 2020·Environmental Science & Technology·James P WilliamsMary Kang
Oct 31, 2020·Environmental Science & Technology·Eric D LebelRobert B Jackson

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