Wells are designed and constructed to ensure underground water sources are protected. When a well is drilled, multiple layers of steel casing are inserted into the well and cemented in place. This creates a solid barrier between the well and any fresh groundwater sources.
Preventing Water Contamination
Like all Canadians, the natural gas and oil industry values fresh water and the industry works to prevent water contamination. Regulations are in place to protect the environment and to ensure a well is properly engineered to maintain safety and integrity over its full life cycle. Industry uses several tools to assure the quality, and proactively monitor the status, of the steel casing and cement for early detection of degradation including:
- Production packers – create a seal between the well and the casing
- Corrosion logs – identify pits, cracking, holes in the steel casing
- Cement bond logs – measure the bond between casing and the cement determined by acoustic sonic and ultrasonic tools
- Production log tools – record casing thickness and whether the casing has corroded.