The document discusses horizontal drilling, a technique that angles drilling at 90 degrees from vertical, highlighting its historical development from the 1950s to 2000, with significant growth in its use. It outlines the objectives of horizontal drilling, including avoiding gas and water coning, increasing flow rates, and expanding contact areas in low permeability zones. Different types of horizontal drilling methods, including ultra-short, short, medium, and large radius wells, are also described along with their specifications.

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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