PETE 405

Drilling Engineering

Lesson 33

Horizontal Drilling
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Horizontal Drilling
Why Drill Horizontal Wells? Relative Production Rates Relative Costs Types of Horizontal Wells Drilling Problems & Solutions How Popular is Horizontal Drilling? Examples
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Why Drill Horizontal Wells?

Increase Reserves Increase Production Rates Control Water Production Control Gas Production
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Why Drill Horizontal Wells?

Control Sand Production Produce From Thin Reservoirs

Connect Vertical Fractures

Produce Methane from Coal Seams Increase Injectivity - (steam, water, polymers, etc.)
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Production Rates
Oryx - Austin Chalk Vertical Well B/D Horizontal Well B/D Horizontal/Vertical Production Ratio

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15 5

507
215 107

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14 21
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Production Rates
Oryx drilled 7 wells from 1986 to 1989. Drilled ~ 85 wells in 1990

Vertical Well Drilling Cost: Horizontal Well Drilling Cost: Cost Ratio:

100 $/ft 150 $/ft 1.5

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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}
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Rospo Mare - Italy

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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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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}

Length of Horizontal: <1,000 ft

~6,000 ft

~8,000 ft
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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
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New Drilling Technology

Mud Motors
Drill without rotating pipe Change hole direction while drilling Steerable systems

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Potential Problems in Horizontal Drilling

Running equipment in and out of hole
drillstring, casing, cables

Preventing/Remedying differential sticking Excessive torque

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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
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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.

Horizontal wells are often very attractive in formations with extensive vertical fractures.
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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 was drilling horizontal wells. (1994) (1998)

In 2002 ~ one rig in fifteen was drilling horizontal wells.

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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 (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)

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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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Medium - Radius Wells

Build Rate:

~ 8 - 20 degrees/100 ft (up to 40 deg/100 ft in some cases)

~ 300 - 700 ft

Build Radius:

Length of Horiz. Section: 1,000-6,000 ft

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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 Use compressive service drillpipe through the curve if Build Rate > 15 deg./100 ft. (CS drillpipe has integral wear knots every ~ 10 ft)
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Short-Radius Wells

Build Rate:
Build Radius:

~ 1 - 3 degrees/ft
~ 20 - 40 ft

Length of Horiz. Section: 200 - 1,000 ft

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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.
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Horizontal Well Pair

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Horizontal Well Pair

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Vertical Injection Wells and Horizontal Production Well

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