An overview of wells and well integrity

摘要

This paper provides an introduction to the way an offshore well is drilled from conception to a completed well flowing for commercial purposes. It covers a brief description of the main operations, explaining the major steps from well planning through to well completion. This is the view point from a marine engineer interested in the drilling industry. The paper then goes on to investigate the processes involved in the maintenance of the integrity of the well. In the British Sector of the North Sea the regulatory regime now requires that well engineering integrity be fully demonstrated. This usually involves developing a scheme that covers each element of the life cycle of a well, along with the standards that are used. The scheme concept can be applied to the drilling industry throughout the world to ensure that each well is designed, constructed, modified, commissioned, operated, maintained, suspended and abandoned in accordance with accepted international standards.