Horizontal Wells
Horizontal Wells
Horizontal Wells
Quiz B
Austin Chalk
Not to scale
Produce From Thin Reservoirs Connect Vertical Fractures Produce Methane from Coal Seams Increase Injectivity (steam, water, polymers, etc.)
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Horizontal Well Drainage Area = vertical drainage area = 30 acres *Steady State
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Vertical Well
Horizontal Well
Austin Giddings
Houston
Horizontal Drilling
Horizontal wells are often drilled perpendicular to vertical fractures in order to intersect and drain as many fractures as possible.
Horizontal drilling greatly reduces the risk of bypassing vertically fractured reservoirs.
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Horizontal Drilling
Oil-filled fractures
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Drilled 7 wells over a period of 4 years (1986-1989) Drilled 85 additional wells the next year (1990)
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500
Horizontal Well
250
Slant Well
Vertical Well
1982
1984
1986
Water
70m
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PRUDHOE BAY
Vertical Well: Horizontal Well: Production Ratio: Vertical Well: Horizontal Well: Cost Ratio: 3,000 - 4,000 B/D 10,000 - 12,000 B/D 3-4 235 $/ft 520 - 282 $/ft 2.2 - 1.2
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2-6 degrees/100 ft Long Radius Conventional - Directional 2,800-1,000 ft. radius 20-75 degrees/100 ft 300-125 ft. radius Medium Radius Short Radius Pay Zone 400-700 ft 1.5-3 degrees/ft
1,000-5,000 ft
1,000-6,000 ft
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Identify zones
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Top Drive
Drill with 90-ft stands instead of 30-ft joints
Circulate while pulling drillpipe out of hole Rotate drill pipe while pulling out of hole
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Mud Motors
Drill without rotating pipe Change hole direction while drilling without making a trip to change the BHA
Steerable systems
High-torque motors
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Geological Marker
MWD tools are used to locate geological markers as a well approaches its target so that the driller can determine the vertical distance between the bit and target.
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SUMMARY
Horizontal wells may produce at 3-5 times the rate of vertical wells in the same area. (as much as 20 times higher in special cases)
Horizontal wells typically cost 1.5-3 times as much as vertical wells in the same area.
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SUMMARY
(Continued)
Horizontal wells are often very attractive in formations with extensive vertical fractures.
The use of horizontal wells is growingworldwide. Horizontal wells will increase our recoverable reserves. In the U.S. one rig in ten is drilling horizontal wells. (1995) { ~7% today }
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LONG-RADIUS WELLS
Used for achieving large horizontal displacements from platforms or drilling pads Used for achieving very long horizontal sections (4000 ft +)
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METHOD
Use conventional directional drilling technology
Use rigid bottom hole assemblies, motors & bent subs, stabilizers Or, use Navigation drilling systems with steerable drilling motors
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METHOD
Use modified long-radius drilling technology
Use different motors for ANGLE BUILD and ANGLE HOLD sections
Use a TANGENT SECTION between the two build sections
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Fig. 1: Medium String Stabilizer Radius Angle Build Assembly Dump Valve
Bent Sub Low-Speed, High-Torque Motor Upper Bearing Housing with Stabilizer
Kickoff Sub
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METHOD
Downhole motor designs are now available
Drill vertical rathole to identify horizon Build angle with special curvedrilling assembly with a non-rotating shell that gives curvature to the tool
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METHOD
(Continued)
this consists of two undergauge stabilizers behind the bit, and flexible drillpipe
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Clutch Stabilizer
Stabilizer
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Single horizontal lateral Gull-wing well Stacked multilateral Fishbone well Gull-wing, fishbone well Stacked fishbone well
~9oAPI oil. ~1.2 * 1012 bbls in place. ~250 * 109 recoverable
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End of Lesson 20
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TM
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