Horizontal Drilling

PETE 411 - Well Drilling 34.
Horizontal Drilling Slide 1

PETE 411

Well Drilling
Lesson 34

Horizontal Drilling
PETE 411 - Well Drilling 34. Horizontal Drilling Slide 2
Horizontal Drilling
Why Drill Horizontal Wells?
Relative Production Rates
Relative Costs
Types of Horizontal Wells
Drilling Problems & Solutions
How Popular is Horizontal Drilling?
Examples
Increase Reserves

Increase Production Rates

Control Water Production

Control Gas Production
Produce From Thin Reservoirs

Connect Vertical Fractures

Produce Methane from Coal Seams

Increase Injectivity
- (steam, water, polymers, etc.)
Control Sand Production
Production Rates
Oryx - Austin Chalk
Vertical Horizontal Horizontal/Vertical
Well Well Production Ratio
B/D B/D

12 507 42

15 215 14

5 107 21

Production Rates
Drilled 7 wells from 1986 to 1989.
Drilled ~ 85 wells in 1990

Vertical Well Drilling Cost: 235 $/ft
Horizontal Well Drilling Cost: 520-282 $/ft
Cost Ratio: 2.2-1.2
Drilling Costs
Austin Chalk (1993)
Vertical well ~ $500,000
Recompletion as Horizontal Well ~ $375,000
New Horizontal Well ~
$1,000,000-2,000,000
~ $100+/ft to
$150/ft
{these numbers are rough estimates only}
Rospo Mare - Italy
Prudhoe Bay
Vertical Well: 3000 - 4000 B/D
Horizontal Well: 10,000 - 12,000 B/D
Production Ratio: 3 - 4
Vertical Well: 235 $/ft
Horizontal Well: 520 - 282 $/ft
Cost Ratio: 2.2-1.2
Long Radius (~1,000-3,000 ft) {~2-6 deg/100 ft}
Medium Radius (140~700 ft) {~8-40 deg/100 ft}
Short Radius (~20-40 ft)
{~1.5-3 deg/ft}
<1,000 ft ~5,000 ft ~8,000 ft
New Drilling Technology
Measurement While Drilling (MWD)
Directional Surverying and Control
Indentification of Markers (identify zones)

Top Drive
Drill with 90-ft stands instead of 30-ft joints
Circulate while pulling drillpipe out of hole
Rotate drillpipe while pulling out of hole
New Drilling Technology
Mud Motors
Drill without rotating pipe
Change hole direction while
drilling
Steerable systems
Potential Problems in Horizontal
Drilling
Running equipment in and out of hole
drillstring, casing, cables

Preventing/Remedying differential
sticking

Excessive torque
Potential Problems in Horizontal
Drilling
Cleaning the hole and preventing cuttings
from settling along the hole bottom

Controlling weight on bit to achieve and
maintain directional control

Cementing casing or liner
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.

Horizontal wells are often very attractive in
formations with extensive vertical fractures.
Summary
The use of horizontal wells has been
growing - worldwide.

Horizontal wells has increased our
recoverable reserves.
In the U.S. one rig in ten is drilling
horizontal wells. (1994) (1998)

Today ~ one rig in fifteen is drilling
horizontal wells. (2001)
Long - Radius Wells
Used for achieving large horizontal
displacements from platforms or drilling pads
Used for achieving very long horizontal sections
(to 6,000 ft +)

Build Rate: ~ 2-6 degrees/100 ft
Build Radius: ~ 1,000-3,000 ft
Length of Horiz. Section: 1,000 - 8,000 ft (1995)
Method:
Use conventional directional drilling
technology

Use rigid bottom hole assemblies,
motors & bent subs, stabilizers

or Use Navigation drilling systems with
steerable drilling motors
Medium - Radius Wells
Build Rate: ~ 8 - 20 degrees/100 ft
(up to 40 deg/100 ft in some
cases)

Build Radius: ~ 300 - 700 ft

Length of Horiz. Section: 1,000-6,000 ft
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
Use compressive service drillpipe through
the curve if Build Rate > 15 deg./100 ft.
(CS drillpipe has integral wear knots
every ~ 10 ft)
Short-Radius Wells
Build Rate: ~ 1 - 3 degrees/ft

Build Radius: ~ 20 - 40 ft

Length of Horiz. Section: 200 - 1,000 ft
Method:
Two downhole motor designs are available
Drill vertical rathole to identify horizon
Build angle with special curve-drilling
assembly with a non-rotating shell that
gives curvature to the tool
After building angle to horizontal, use a
special angle-hold assembly: this
consists of two undergauge stabilizers
behind the bit, and flexible drillpipe.
Horizontal Well Pair
Horizontal Well Pair
Vertical Injection Wells and
Horizontal Production Well

Horizontal Drilling

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PETE 411 - Well Drilling 34.

Horizontal Drilling Slide 1

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