Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology

Subsurface hydraulic barrier materials: Engineering vs. nature

2^nd World Congress on Petrochemistry and Chemical Engineering

October 27-29, 2014 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, USA

Mileva Radonjic

Keynote: J Pet Environ Biotechnol

Abstract:

Petroleum Engineering is primarily focused on increasing production and flow of hydrocarbons from the subsurface. In order to achieve this goal safely and without polluting subsurface fresh water aquifers, as well as the atmosphere, wellbores should produce fluids strictly through production tubing. In reality this is not achieved, and 30% of 1.8 million wellbores active globally today have some kind of LEAKAGE. Hydraulic Barrier Materials are essential in providing suitable environment for subsurface accumulation and production of geofluids. Natural hydraulic barriers, also known as caprocks in O&G industry, can have different composition and internal structures, with one common parameter: LOW PERMEABILITY and prevention of fluid flow over geologic times. In case of engineered hydraulic barriers used in construction of wellbores, most common are wellbore cements. Comparison of wellbore cements and shale caprocks (clay-rich rocks) provides valuable insights for long term sealing capacity of natural materials, which can inspire design of novel engineered barrier materials. Adaptation of existing field technologies, readily available in O&G industry, shows promising preliminary results in remediation of micro-annular gas flow in wellbores. This can potentially be employed in preventing gas leakage through abandoned wellbores, identified as one of top risks in Carbon Sequestration Technology and Hydraulic Fracturing Technology, both of which have been linked to potential pollution and contamination of subsurface fresh water and green house gas emissions.

Biography :

Mileva Radonjic completed her PhD at Bristol University, and postdoc at Princeton. She is currently being evaluated for associate professor in Petroleum Engineering Department at LSU. Dr. Radonjic established Sustainable Energy and Environmental Research (SEER) laboratory, focused on development of materials and technologies for prevention of leaky wellbores, in conventional O&G production, carbon sequestration and hydraulic fracturing. She is currently working as one of the editors on a book titled as the keynote presented here, and published papers with her graduate students in several journals as well as presented at more than 60 conferences in the last 5years.