ABSTRACT
Cementing integrity in oil and gas wells is essential for maintaining wellbore stability and preventing environmental contamination. However, extreme conditions such as high pressure, elevated temperatures, and chemical exposure throughout the well lifecycle pose significant challenges to cementing durability. These factors often lead to cracking, debonding, and structural failure, creating pathways for gas leakage. Existing studies typically focus on specific leakage pathways or experimental conditions, overlooking the complex in-situ environment and the critical structural interfaces. This study develops an innovative experimental framework to address these challenges, replicating realistic in-situ conditions of a rock-cement-steel system. This study examines the physical and mechanical behaviours of the interfaces under operational conditions and quantitatively evaluates long-term deterioration mechanisms. The findings provide valuable insights into the whole-life performance of cementing systems, contributing to robust solutions for oil and gas wells and applications such as underground energy storage and low-carbon infrastructure.
