Thursday, May 5, 2016

How The Process Of Horizonal Drilling Occurs

By Amy Brown


Many methods of drilling exist today for different applications. Horizonal drilling is one of the technological marvels in this industry. This method is classified under directional drilling methods and is used in a number of applications where other methods cannot produce the desired results. In this process, the well is horizontally turned to move horizontally at some depth into the ground.

The turning of the well horizontally is necessary so as to gain access to energy reservoirs that are themselves extending horizontally. A common application of this method is in extracting gas from Marcellus Shale Formation. The well starts vertically up to some depth beneath the surface before it is turned to go horizontally. The resultant well assumes the shape of a letter J, but an exaggerated one.

A comparison between vertical and horizontal wells show that horizontal wells have the ability to access wider areas of rock and natural gas contained within them. As such, a smaller number of horizontally stretching wells is needed than that of vertical wells. This method is therefore rendered suitable in multiple situations.

The preference for horizontal wells by companies is often done for several reasons. First, with this method, the section length through reservoir is increased. That is achieved by making the wells at some angle into intended reservoirs. Secondly, this technique is comes in handy where other methods cannot be used. Such a scenario occurs where oilfields are located beneath a town.

To access such oil, the well is drilled at a location outside the town where drilling is viable. A vertical well is drilled before it is turned horizontally to access the oilfield. This process is also preferred in situations where cost needs to be kept low and ensure that minimum disturbance is caused to the land. This is achieved by grouping several wells at one location and then fanning them out underground to access the required oilfields.

The need to employ equipment at multiple points is eliminated by the existence of a central location. Equipment sharing is made possible. Transport costs are lowered while the manpower needed is kept to the minimum. There is also the restriction of environmental disturbance to a single location. This industry aims to minimize environmental pollution and disturbance and this process goes a long way in achieving that goal.

This method is associated with a few shortcomings of its own. Formerly, drilling horizontal wells took much longer than vertical wells. The process had to get stopped regularly to carry out some lengthy surveys. The rate of penetration was also very low. However, there has been some significant improvements in the procedure following the invention of modern downhole motors and equipment.

Cost is another shortcoming in this process. It is comparatively more expensive to drill horizontal wells than vertical ones. The process is quite challenging when the well has to be drilled at an angle. Finally, before better equipment and planning existed, sand influx was a major problem.




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