Extended reach drilling advancements dramatically improve performance on Bass Strait wells
- Esso Australia Ltd., Sydney, New South Wales (Australia)
Esso Australia Ltd. (EAL) has been drilling deviated wells in Bass Strait since 1968. Recent technological developments have been employed on the Mackerel Infill Drilling Project, that have significantly improved EAL`s ability to drill Long Reach (LR)/Extended Reach (ER) wells more economically and consistently. The more notable achievements have been: advancements in hole condition reporting, utilizing torque and drag monitoring; the successful use of non-rotating drillpipe rubbers to reduce surface torque to acceptable levels; deeper casing setting depths, to minimize torque and drag, and to reduce time-dependent hole problems; the use of inhibitive/encapsulating mud systems for control of reactive clays/shales; and use of wellbore stability modeling. These advancements have helped EAL to drill 50% greater meterage than was expected in 1993, at 16% lower cost per meter. This paper chronicles the engineering decisions behind these advancements, their applications in the field, the success/failure story on Mackerel to date, and how these developments have been incorporated in EAL`s future well planning.
- OSTI ID:
- 113428
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-941131-; TRN: IM9544%%388
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Asia Pacific oil and gas conference: regional growth - meeting the change, Melbourne (Australia), 7-10 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Asia Pacific oil and gas conference: Proceedings; PB: 715 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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