Performance-Based vs Prescriptive-Based Abandonment Approach; A Review

Abstract

Abstract 70% of Indonesia's old oil and gas wells will have no economic value and have to be abandoned as ruled by the government as it comes to the end of the well life cycle. It's part of decommissioning an entire field with environmental preservation called Abandonment and Site Restoration (ASR). There are two kinds of approaches to abandonment, prescriptive-based and performance-based. Each country has its regulations but refers to one of those two approaches. Indonesia's permanent abandonment standard is prescriptive-based, this was compared and evaluated to international permanent abandonment standards for abandonment design, and the philosophy behind it. Literature studies are performed to understand the abandonment philosophy for Performance-Based versus Prescriptive-Based to give proper suggestions or improvements. Based on the literature study, contrast gap analysis and suggestions provided to ensure a proper permanent abandonment approach to avoid any future leaks or re-abandonment operation as part of well integrity assurance after abandonment This paper will define and evaluate the gap analysis between typical prescriptive-based abandonment standards, like Standar Nasional Indonesia 6910-2022, Section 19.2, Abandonment of Wells; ISO-16530-1, Chapter 10, Well Abandonment Phase; OGUK, 2015a, and NORSOK D-010, Rev. 4, Chapter 9 with a performance-based approach. The gap analysis has shown significant abandonment improvement opportunities, especially in terms of materials that can be used for plugging/isolations, reservoir isolations barriers, annular barriers, also abandonment philosophy and practice.