Technology vital for horizontal well success
- Union Pacific Resources Co., Fort Worth, TX (United States)
Union Pacific Resources Co. (UPRC) has drilled more than 1,100 horizontal wells since 1987 and continues to operate about 15--20 rigs drilling horizontal wells. Technology has advanced the drilling, completion, formation evaluation, stimulation, and production of horizontal wells. Drilling break-throughs include dual-powerhead mud motors, retrievable whipstocks, and routine multiple lateral wells. Cost improvements have enabled UPRC to extend activity into deeper zones, which are hotter and more hostile. State-of-the-art drilling includes as many as four, 4,000+ ft horizontal laterals, horizontal wells at TVDs greater than 16,000 ft, and mud weights in excess of 15 ppg. In the Austin chalk, UPRC operates properties producing more than 480 MMcfd, 40,000 bo/d, and over 100,000 bw/d. The paper uses the wells of the Austin chalk to describe the technology used for formation evaluation, geological steering, muds, top drives, bit selection, mud motors, multiple laterals, retrievable whipstocks, water fracs, vapor-recovery units, artificial lift, automation, and surface facilities. Organizations, alliances, and corrosion problems are also discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 136992
- Journal Information:
- Oil and Gas Journal, Vol. 93, Issue 50; Other Information: PBD: 11 Dec 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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