In well decommissioning, plugging and abandonment (P&A) is one of the most technically demanding and cost-critical stages of the asset lifecycle.
With decommissioning activity increasing in Malaysia and globally, the ability to effectively plan, design and execute well abandonment activities has become increasingly important.
In Malaysia alone, decommissioning plans for the next three years include the plugging and abandonment of approximately 130 wells, alongside the abandonment of around 50 facilities. Globally, wells can account for more than 50% of overall field decommissioning costs.
The challenge is not simply understanding how to plug and abandon a well. It is knowing how to plan the right abandonment strategy, manage barriers and risks, select appropriate equipment and materials, estimate time and costs, and make sound technical and commercial decisions throughout the P&A process.
SEMARAK Training’s Advanced Well Abandonment: Principles & Practice course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the technical and commercial aspects of well decommissioning. Over three days, participants will explore the principles, techniques and challenges involved in well P&A while developing practical insights that can be applied to well-specific decommissioning activities.
From Well Abandonment Principles to Practical Execution
This three-day programme takes participants through the key considerations involved in planning and executing permanent well abandonment.
The programme combines technical instruction, group discussions, practical examples, individual exercises and team-based case studies. Participants will examine the principles of well barriers, permanent plugging materials, plug placement, working unit selection, abandonment complexity, barrier verification and contracting models.
Key areas include well barrier envelopes, abandonment design, permanent barrier requirements, plugging materials, offshore working units, time and cost estimation, plug placement techniques, casing removal, barrier verification and contracting models.
Participants will also explore special abandonment considerations for horizontal wells, HPHT wells, multilateral wells, multiple reservoirs, shallow permeable zones, slot recovery sidetracks and subsea wells.
By the end of the programme, participants will have a stronger understanding of the technical, operational and commercial considerations required to plan and manage well abandonment activities effectively.
What You Will Gain
Through this course, participants will develop the ability to:
- Understand the key principles, challenges and regulatory considerations associated with well plugging and abandonment
- Apply well barrier principles and understand the requirements for permanent barriers
- Evaluate different plugging materials and their suitability for permanent abandonment
- Understand the selection of appropriate working units for onshore and offshore P&A operations
- Assess abandonment complexity and apply different approaches to time and cost estimation
- Understand different plug placement techniques and methods for verifying barrier integrity
- Evaluate tools and techniques for casing cutting, removal and wellhead removal
- Identify and manage key risks and uncertainties associated with well decommissioning
- Understand different contracting models and their implications for P&A execution and commercial outcomes
Participants will also work through real case studies and exercises, providing opportunities to apply the concepts discussed throughout the programme.
Learn Through Real-World Experience and Practical Exercises
Well abandonment cannot be fully understood through theory alone.
This course places strong emphasis on practical application, with frequent use of real-world examples, group discussions and individual and team-based exercises. Participants will be challenged to examine existing approaches to P&A planning and consider the risks and uncertainties that can influence successful decommissioning execution.
Who Should Attend?
This programme is primarily intended for:
- Technical staff from all disciplines with existing exposure to P&A activities
- Technical Management requiring a deeper understanding of well decommissioning challenges
- Professionals involved in well abandonment planning, execution and management
- Personnel who need to strengthen their understanding of relevant regulations, guidelines and standards
The course is particularly relevant for professionals who are already familiar with P&A activities and want to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the technical and commercial considerations involved.
Secure Your Place
Course: Advanced Well Abandonment: Principles & Practice
Date: 3–5 November 2026
Duration: Three days
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
This programme is HRD Corp claimable
If your role involves well abandonment, decommissioning, drilling, completions, well intervention or technical management, this course will help you strengthen the knowledge required to plan P&A activities, evaluate technical options, manage risks and uncertainties, and support effective well decommissioning execution.
Download the course brochure for the full programme, fees and registration details:
