Plug & Abandonment Strategy for Upstream Wells

How NTG Auburn Delivers Safe, Compliant, and Cost-Optimized Restoration Programs

For operators managing mature upstream assets, plug & abandonment (P&A) represents one of the most risk-sensitive and cost-intensive phases of the well lifecycle. Regulations continue to tighten, environmental scrutiny is increasing, and abandonment liabilities are now evaluated on par with drilling and completions performance.

At NTG Auburn, our role is to help operators reduce uncertainty, mitigate risk, and execute P&A programs efficiently through a blend of engineering expertise, field experience, and world-class project management. Whether handling a single well or a full-field abandonment campaign, our focus is simple: safe execution, regulatory compliance, and cost control without compromise.

The NTG Auburn Approach to Upstream P&A Strategy

1. Comprehensive Well Evaluation Built on Real Data

Quality P&A decisions start with understanding the well’s true condition.
NTG Auburn specializes in:

• Full well design and historical data reconstruction

• Integrity evaluation (pressure anomalies, corrosion, cement condition)

• Log interpretation (CBL/VDL, noise, temperature, ultrasonic)

• Diagnostic planning for data-poor wells

We bridge historical data gaps and generate actionable engineering packages that reduce uncertainty before a single tool is run.

2. Establish Clear Zonal Isolation Objectives

Regulations vary by jurisdiction, but best practice always includes:

• Restoring the integrity of primary barriers

• Ensuring isolation between hydrocarbon zones

• Preventing vertical migration to freshwater aquifers

• Designing plugs for long-term environmental stability

To streamline the regulatory side of abandonment, operators increasingly rely on dedicated environmental partners. NTG Auburn works closely with NTG Environmental to ensure all abandonment plans align with federal, state, and local requirements. Their team provides full-service support for permitting, documentation, and regulatory compliance—reducing administrative burden and keeping projects on schedule.

3. Regulatory-Aligned Barrier Design

Each asset has unique regulatory requirements, and misalignment can create major rework costs.
NTG Auburn ensures:

• Clear barrier schematics aligned with local P&A regulations

• Material selection based on geomechanics and well conditions

• Verified documentation for barrier placement and compliance audits

This elevates regulatory confidence and eliminates costly redesigns later in the program.

4. Optimization of Rig vs. Rigless P&A

Because rig time can account for nearly half of total abandonment cost, NTG Auburn helps operators determine the safest and most economical approach:

• Rigless options using wireline, slickline, or coiled tubing

• Rig-required operations for high-risk or heavy-intervention wells

• Cost modeling and scenario analysis to select the optimal path

Our clients regularly see significant cost reductions through campaign-wide rigless screening and planning.

5. Engineering Solutions for Well Integrity Challenges

Aging wells often come with structural and isolation issues.
NTG Auburn provides engineering oversight for:

• Sustained casing pressure remediation

• Section milling or PWC

• Squeeze cementing design

• Barrier placement through damaged or complex wellbores

We coordinate with trusted vendors while acting as the operator’s technical gatekeeper, ensuring solutions are technically valid and economically justified.

6. Project Management That Reduces Cost and Operational Risk

Effective P&A is as much logistics and oversight as it is engineering.
NTG Auburn delivers:

• End-to-end program planning and AFE development

• Vendor management and tendering

• On-site or remote operations supervision

• Continuous cost tracking and NPT mitigation

• Post-job reporting and regulatory documentation

This integrated approach ensures safe execution and predictable financial outcomes for operators.

7. Leveraging Digital Tools for Efficiency

Our team uses modern digital workflows for:

• Real-time tracking of operations

• Digital wellbore models and barrier planning

• Risk assessments and change management

• Cost dashboards for multi-well campaigns

Operators gain transparency, improved decision-making, and consistent program execution.

8. Surface Restoration and End-of-Life Planning

Beyond subsurface isolation, NTG Auburn manages:

• Wellhead and conductor removal

• Environmental impact assessments

• Surface remediation requirements

• Final regulatory close-out packages

This ensures wells are left in a fully compliant, future-safe condition.

Why Operators Choose NTG Auburn for P&A Programs

• Independent technical oversight without service-company bias

• Deep engineering expertise in well design, integrity, and intervention

• Proven cost reductions through rigless planning, campaign efficiencies, and performance optimization

• Reliable field supervision delivering safe, precise execution

• End-to-end project management that reduces liability, uncertainty, and downtime

We help operators turn P&A from a liability into a structured, predictable, and cost-controlled operation.