All wells will one day need to be permanently plugged and abandoned. Tight plugs are important in order to avoid environmental problems in a long-term perspective. With today's technology, plugging operations are difficult, expensive and time demanding. SINTEF's research is thus focusing on lowering the costs related to permanent well plugging without jeopardizing the environment. Our work includes e.g. laboratory testing and improvement of plugging materials, testing and development of methods for removing pipes and cement from wells, leak detection and cost optimization of larger well plugging campaigns.

New research and innovation center to provide climate-friendly value creation on the Norwegian continental shelf
The Board of the Research Council of Norway decided on June 11 to grant SFI Swipa (Subsurface Well Integrity, Plugging and Abandonment) status as Center for Research-Driven Innovation for the next eight years.