what is horizontal drilling, historical background of horizontal drilling, objective of horizontal drilling, types of horizontal drilling

1. Horizontal Drilling
mubarik.ali43@yahoo.com
international member of
SPE 4353073
RAO MUBARAK ALI
INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
JAMSHORO, SINDH, PAKISTAN
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2. What is Horizontal Drilling
 Horizontal drilling is a technique which drills the well at 900 from the vertical
angle.(A vertical well is one with zero inclination angle).
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3. Historical Background
 1950s Russians drilled 43 horizontals
 1978 Esso, modern horizontal, Alberta.
 1979 Arco drilled to overcome high GOR’s and gas coning.
 1979-83 Elf test 3 onshore horizontals; Elf and Agip drill firstOffshore horizontal.
 1986 50 horizontals worldwide. Cost 1.5-2 times greater than vertical wells
 1987-88 Horizontal well test theory and productivity assessment Guidelines. Numberof
horizontals increased dramatically
 1989 265 horizontals drilled worldwide.
 1990 1000 horizontals drilled.
 1991 First Australian horizontal drilled
 1992 Over 2,500 horizontals drilled worldwide - 75% in North America (mostly low
permeability, gas/water coning regions) Developments in hydraulic fracturing,
perforating, computer models and screen completion failures in
unconsolidated formations
 1993-2000 Horizontal wells are drilled world-wide and become routine wells
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4. Objectives
 To avoid gas conning and water conning.
 In case of Natural Fracture or Induced fracture we use Horizontal Drilling
Technique.
 Reduce Shale oil.
 Increase flow rate (because of greater well bore length).
 Increase contact area in low permeable zones.
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5. Types of Horizontal Drilling
 Ultra-Short radius well
 Short radius well
 Medium radius well
 Large radius well
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6. Ultra-Short radius well
 Technique used:
 CTD Rig (coil tubing drilling) used
 well drilled through jetting effect
 Specification:
 Build Angle 450 to 900 per 100 ft
 Tubing Dia: 1 to 2 inch
 Turning radius 1 to 2 ft
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7. Short radius well
 Technique used:
 Wiggly collars used which are flexible, whose Dia is 4 ¾ to 6 inch.
 Specification:
 Build Angle 20 to 50 per 100 ft
 Turning radius 20 to 40 ft
 Length 250 to 450 ft
 Maximum Horizontal Section 889 ft yet
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8. Medium radius well
 Technique used:
 Special Designed Machines are used or some time RSS(Rotary Steerable Systems) is
used.
 Specification:
 Build Angle 60 to 200 per 100 ft
 Turning radius 300 to 800 ft
 Maximum Horizontal Section 2000 ftto 4000 ft
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9. Large radius well
 Techniqueused:
 Common RSS(Rotary Steerable Systems) is used.
 Specification:
 Build Angle 20 to 60 per 100 ft
 KOP(kick off point) to Build-up Section 1000 to 3000 ft
 Length 1000 ft
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10. Thank You
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