Product Overview

Summary: This Well Abandonment and Plugging Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, defensible process for safely isolating and decommissioning water, exploration and production wells in line with Australian WHS and environmental expectations. It helps your business manage subsurface pressure, chemical and environmental risks while ensuring long-term integrity of the plug and protection of surrounding land, water and communities.

Improperly abandoned wells can present serious safety, environmental and reputational risks, including uncontrolled flow, cross‑contamination of aquifers and long-term integrity failures that surface years after a project has closed. This Well Abandonment and Plugging Safe Operating Procedure sets out a structured, step‑by‑step method for planning, preparing and executing permanent well abandonment in Australian operating conditions. It covers everything from initial well assessment and regulatory notifications through to barrier design, plugging operations, verification testing and final documentation.

The SOP is designed to support duty holders in meeting their obligations under Australian WHS and environmental legislation by embedding risk management into every stage of the abandonment process. It standardises how crews control downhole pressure, handle residual hydrocarbons and drilling fluids, select and place cement and mechanical plugs, and verify isolation before demobilisation. By implementing this procedure, organisations can reduce the likelihood of well control incidents, protect groundwater resources, and provide regulators and landholders with clear evidence that wells have been left in a safe, stable and environmentally secure condition.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a consistent, defensible approach to well abandonment that aligns with Australian WHS and environmental regulatory expectations.
• Reduce the risk of loss of well control, gas or fluid migration, and long-term integrity failures after operations cease.
• Streamline planning, approvals and field execution by clearly defining roles, responsibilities, equipment and verification steps.
• Improve worker safety by standardising controls for pressure management, chemical handling, confined spaces and lifting operations.
• Demonstrate due diligence to regulators, landholders and joint venture partners through robust records and sign‑off requirements.

Who is this for?

• Drilling Supervisors
• Well Site Managers
• Petroleum Engineers
• Mining Engineers
• Water Well Contractors
• WHS Managers
• HSE Advisors
• Field Technicians
• Operations Managers – Oil and Gas
• Environmental Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Uncontrolled release of formation fluids or gas during abandonment activities
• Well control incidents arising from inadequate pressure management or barrier failure
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals such as drilling fluids, completion fluids and cement additives
• Environmental contamination of groundwater and surface water from poor isolation or spills
• Confined space risks associated with cellar, pit or sump access
• Manual handling and lifting injuries from handling tubulars, plugs and cementing equipment
• Struck-by and caught-between incidents around rigs, pulling units and heavy plant
• Noise and vibration exposure from rig equipment and pumping units
• Working at heights risks when accessing wellheads, masts or derricks
• Heat stress, dehydration and outdoor exposure in remote or high-temperature locations

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Application
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Regulatory Approvals, Notifications and Stakeholder Engagement
• 5.0 Pre-Abandonment Planning and Risk Assessment (JSA/SWMS)
• 6.0 Well Data Review and Barrier Design Criteria
• 7.0 Equipment, Materials and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 8.0 Site Preparation, Access and Traffic Management
• 9.0 Well Kill and Pressure Control Procedures
• 10.0 Plugging and Cementing Operations – Step-by-Step Process
• 11.0 Verification of Barriers, Integrity Testing and Acceptance Criteria
• 12.0 Environmental Protection Measures and Spill Management
• 13.0 Confined Space, Working at Heights and Hazardous Chemicals Controls
• 14.0 Emergency Response and Well Control Contingency Actions
• 15.0 Decommissioning of Surface Infrastructure and Site Restoration
• 16.0 Inspection, Monitoring (if required) and Post-Abandonment Review
• 17.0 Documentation, Records, Photographic Evidence and Sign-Off
• 18.0 Training, Competency and Review of the SOP

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Regulations
• Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Resource Management and Administration) Regulations 2011 (for offshore operations)
• AS/NZS 2865: Confined spaces
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• ISO 16530-1: Well integrity – Life cycle governance (commonly applied as industry best practice)
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work
• Relevant state and territory petroleum, gas and water resources legislation and guidelines (e.g. WA DMIRS, QLD Resources Safety and Health, NSW Resources Regulator)