Monroe Co. Ohio; Lee TWP Leak at Stalder well site.

Link to brief info:

http://www.wtov9.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wtov_...

Well owned by Triad Hunter of Magnum Hunter;  28 homes in a mile and a half radius of the well pad site evacuated.    Route 255 is closed.

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Permalink Reply by The Hiker on December 14, 2014 at 2:33pm

During a 2 second interview on news 7, a Magnum Hunter rep said "two bridge plugs failed to seal the bore.  Normally, one is all that is needed.   We'll start to fix it tomorrow and it may take a few days" (why not start tonight?).  Cold comfort for the 28 households forced to leave their houses.  Let's hope MH is paying for their hotel rooms and food.  

*  What caused the bridge plugs to fail?

*  How much gas is leaking?  What's the estimated rate?

*  How dangerous is the situation?

*  What measures will be taken to fix the leak?

*  When will the residents be allowed back into their houses?

*  Who should the residents call for information?  What's the telephone number?

Come on, News 7. Get your act together!

Permalink Reply by Brian Powers on December 18, 2014 at 6:28am

TH-

A single, functional bridge plug should be sufficient to isolate pressure from below. Many operators use dual barriers to provide some redundancy. I always preferred a cement cap on top of the bridge plug to act as a secondary seal and to keep the plug from moving. Bridge plugs are usually constructed of cast-iron or composite material that makes them easier to drill or mill out to regain access to the hole below. They also have a rubber or elastomeric sealing element that is compressed against the casing/liner inner wall during the plug setting process to help effect a seal. The plug bodies sometimes crack during the setting process; and if the casing/liner has excessive scale, rust, or wear, the sealing element may not hold. Either way provides a potential conduit for gas to escape upwards. Gas is tougher to deal with at surface than liquids, mostly for the explosion risk.

It is also an industry practice to pressure test the plug to ensure that it is sealing before relying on it as a pressure barrier.

The "Night Cap" Flange ( A new term for me, I'll admit) could and should have been ported to allow a small valve and pressure gauge to check for pressure below before unbolting.

MH better have deep pockets - the Wild Well Control hands do not work cheaply; all of their service provider master services agreements have "well control" pricing that is considerably more expensive than routine service costs.

A terrible way to spend the week before Christmas; I wish the crews and MH good luck in resolving this one...

Brian

 

Permalink Reply by Philip Brutz on December 18, 2014 at 7:07am

Brian, do you think that the blowout was caused lateral communication between the laterals that were being fracked and the lateral that was plugged? 

Permalink Reply by Brian Powers on December 18, 2014 at 7:26am

Phil -

Without having more data, such as a well schematic and a plat map, and without knowing more specifics about the geology and frac treatments already performed, it's hard for me to give an opinion other than one involving well integrity concerns.

Brian

Permalink Reply by The Hiker on December 18, 2014 at 11:51am

A local SE Ohio radio station today said Magnum Hunter was in the process of "drilling out the plugs in preparation for putting the well on-line, when they encountered higher than expected pressures".  They said the plugs were placed over a year ago.   During the initial interview on news 7, the Triad boss made no reference to this little piece of information, so it seems MH is trying their best to keep the facts under wraps.  The latest estimate on control is sometime next week and the company is paying hotel costs.   Hmmmm.......I wonder if the landowners in the unit will be paid for lost gas?

Permalink Reply by searcherone on December 14, 2014 at 5:15pm

Thanks to Brian for linking this in the Monroe County section.

Here is link to article in Houston Business Journal with some facts regarding the Stalder well problem.

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2014/12/magnum-hunt...

And IMHO of a property owning tax paying citizen of Monroe County why does Houston, Texas get to have  facts regarding the Stalder well before the local residents do?   

Permalink Reply by searcherone on December 14, 2014 at 5:48pm

Link to press release from Magnum Hunter:

http://www.magnumhunterresources.com/pressreleases.html

from press release   "personnel were attempting to release the "night cap flange" when uncontrolled flow began from well.     Wild Well Services are on site attempting to gain control of well.

Permalink Reply by Cathy J Zimmerman on December 15, 2014 at 9:02am

I guess I am surprised that they don't have any wildcatters stationed in this area to contain these problems quicker.  Seems they always have to fly them in from TX a day or two after the issue starts.

Permalink Reply by Philip Brutz on December 15, 2014 at 9:28am

I wonder if there was lateral communication between the laterals that were being fracked and the lateral that was plugged? 

Permalink Reply by RAYMOND bAUMAN on December 15, 2014 at 6:17pm

 There are only about six firms in the world that regularly perform this work. Texas has two or now one firm. Canada has one and the rest are in Europe and Asia.  The events are not common in the industry, but more common in the early part of a  play ( oilfield development ). The work here is not like the Hollywood production The  Hellfighters, ( John Wayne). If my memory is correct only 12 firms responded to the mess after Desert Storm and the North Americans put out a majority of the well fires. this is even less dramatic the wells in Ohio have not caught fire and flows are better controlled but not contained . The last Well fire in  the Area Was in Roscommon  in Michigan in the 1970's during Drilling of a Niagara Reef Well..

Permalink Reply by Cathy J Zimmerman on December 16, 2014 at 4:01am

Thanks for sharing that!  I think we are all getting quite an education with this!

Permalink Reply by searcherone on December 17, 2014 at 1:46am

Monroe County Ohio Emergency Management says attempts to "repair" Stalder well yesterday (Tuesday) failed.    Wild Well Services will begin to "replace"  well head today.   Replacing head will take one to seven days.    Emergency Management is to give update later this morning.

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