The Norwegian University of Science and Technology and SINTEF research institution are collaborating to develop new oil well plugging materials based on bismuth alloys to improve the long-term safety of decommissioning operations in offshore oil and gas fields. This oil well plugging technology research aims to address technical challenges such as shrinkage, corrosion, and reduced sealing performance that traditional cement materials may encounter in high-pressure and high-temperature environments.

The research team compared the performance of bismuth-tin alloys and cement plugs through laboratory tests. Laila Hemad, a doctoral researcher at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, stated: "Bismuth alloy plugs have higher compressive strength and lower gas migration capability, which means bismuth alloy plugs have better sealing performance." Experimental data show that the volume expansion characteristic of bismuth materials during solidification can effectively prevent the formation of micropores, and its corrosion resistance is also suitable for subsea environments.

This oil well plugging technology innovation has significant economic benefit potential. Hemad pointed out: "Shortening installation time can reduce drilling operation time, thereby lowering costs. Another advantage of bismuth alloy plugs is that they can be deployed without a drilling platform, which will significantly reduce costs, as most of the costs in offshore operations come from drilling platform rental fees." Currently, the plugging budget for more than 2,000 oil wells on the Norwegian continental shelf is expected to exceed 73 billion US dollars.

As global oil and gas fields gradually enter the decommissioning phase, the demand for research and development of new oil well plugging technologies is becoming increasingly urgent. The Norwegian Oil and Gas Association has listed continuous improvement of plugging technology as a key research direction since 2015. The application research of bismuth alloy materials provides a new technical path for the industry, and subsequent expanded tests are needed to verify its adaptability under different well conditions.