Well engineering for re-entry operations
Oil and gas operators are constantly looking at their existing assets for ways to increase their value. Several operators consider a re-entry program as the principle leveraging technology in strategic acquisitions. Much of the current re-entry operations effort targets the longer reach sidetrack and multilateral well markets. The key to this effort, whether it involves coiled tubing drilling, short radius drilling or multilateral well technologies, is re-entry well engineering. The engineer evaluating a re-entry prospect must apply significant levels of reservoir engineering, rock mechanics, completion engineering and drilling engineering to properly design the well and develop successful procedures. Re-entry drilling means that the operator is working with proven or probable reserves. Completion design and engineering are the most important aspects of well design once the target has been selected. Ultimately, the completion design selected will dictate the type of re-entry program: slot recovery, drilling out below the current casing shoe, or section milling and whipstock sidetracking. It can also dictate the principle aspects of the drilling program. The acceptable wellbore inclination build rates (dogleg severity), wellbore length, and drilling fluid selection are commonly influenced and even dictated by the completion design. These factors are discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 395396
- Journal Information:
- Petroleum Engineer International, Vol. 69, Issue 10SUP; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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