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Australian Energy Producers Journal Australian Energy Producers Journal Society
Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

Managing well integrity in Queensland

Michael P. Scott
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Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Level 19, 275 George Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia. Email: michael.scott@dnrme.qld.gov.au

The APPEA Journal 59(2) 810-813 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ18080
Accepted: 8 March 2019   Published: 17 June 2019

Abstract

A significant increase in activity in the Queensland petroleum industry began around 2005 with the rapid growth of coal seam gas developments. The integrity of these drilled wells is paramount to the continued safe operation of the Queensland petroleum industry, ensuring no detrimental effect to safety, health and environment. The Queensland Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate (PGI) is responsible for monitoring industry compliance with well integrity management requirements under the regulatory framework. This is achieved through three proactive actions (engagement, inspections, audits) and three reactive actions (response to enquiries, complaints, incidents). This paper focuses on the well inspections and audits conducted by the PGI. The PGI conducts an annual program of well inspections as part of its risk-based compliance program. These inspections are in addition to the inspections performed by industry. Although recent inspections have found well integrity-related deficiencies requiring rectification, no major or systemic problems have been identified. In fact, industry generally appears to be proactively addressing any deficiencies they find through their own well integrity management processes. The PGI is in the process of ensuring a renewed focus on well integrity during its own well inspections through structured and standardised inspections that have clear aims. This is part of a continuous improvement process and is a risk-based decision informed by the data that have been gathered. This will help ensure the program is not simply focused on quantity of inspections, but also on outcomes and quality. To complement the well inspection program, several audits have been conducted over the past 4–5 years. As part of this, in the first quarter of 2019, the PGI began conducting audits of the well integrity management systems (WIMS) of the four major coal seam gas producers. The results of this audit show improvement in both WIMS documentation and the implementation of those systems. Future PGI work in this area includes continuing with the recent audit programs, reviewing inspection processes and a plan to increase focus on plug and abandoned wells over the next 18 months.

Keywords: coal seam gas (CSG), code of practice, Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate (PGI), Petroleum and Gas Act, petroleum and gas regulation, well abandonment, well construction, well operation.

Michael Scott has been Principal Inspector (Wells) at the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate at the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy since November 2018. Michael studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Queensland and then went on to complete his PhD in Aerospace Engineering in 2005. In the same year Michael joined QGC as a petroleum engineer and then, in 2012, joined Senex Energy, where his most recent role was as the Production Engineering Manager. Michael is a member of Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), has coauthored several SPE papers and has a Certificate III in Dog Behaviour and Training.


References

Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) (2017). ‘Resources Safety and Health Compliance Policy.’ (DNRM: Brisbane.)

GasFields Commission Queensland (2015). Onshore gas well integrity in Queensland, Australia. Available at http://www.gasfieldscommissionqld.org.au/resources/documents/onshore-gas-well-integrity-in-qld.pdf [verified 28 March 2019].

Lee, P., Porter, M., and Maggiori, D. (2016). Code of practice for the construction and abandonment of petroleum wells in queensland – as mandatory safety requirements. Proceedings of the SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Perth, October 2016’. (Society of Petroleum Engineers) 10.2118/182246-MS10.2118/182246-MS

Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate (PGI) (2011). ‘Coal Seam Gas Well Head Safety Program.’ (PGI: Brisbane.)

Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate (2018). Code of Practice for the construction and abandonment of coal seam gas and petroleum wells, and associated bores in Queensland. Version 1. Available at https://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/119666/code-of-practice-csg-wells-and-bores.pdf [verified 28 March 2019]

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