New tools allow medium-radius horizontal drilling

Journal Article · Mon Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5267820

Dech, J A; Hearn, D D; Schuh, F J; Lenhart, B

ARCO Oil and Gas Co. (AOGC) recently completed a project to develop new methods of drilling conventional-sized horizontal holes. A well bore of this type is particularly well-suited for producing low-permeability, fractured reservoirs at economic rates. Special drilling tools and support equipment were developed jointly with several major manufacturers. Of these tools, one of the systems developed with Norton Christensen most nearly met the design goals. This system was tested in Rockwall County, Tex., where a 6-in. OD horizontal hole was successfully drilled in the Austin chalk formation. The build rate from vertical to horizontal was 20/sup 0//100 ft; the horizontal portion of the well bore was drilled for another 1,340 ft. This gave a total horizontal displacement of 1,630 ft. The horizontal well bore was kept within a 30-ft vertical section.

• Research Organization: ARCO Oil and Gas Co., Plano, TX
• OSTI ID: 5267820
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Vol. 84:28
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
42 ENGINEERING
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
TEXAS
OIL FIELDS
COST
DEPTH
FIELD TESTS
FRACTURED RESERVOIRS
PERMEABILITY
DIMENSIONS
DRILLING
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
TESTING
USA
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing
420206 - Engineering- Mining & Drilling Equipment & Facilities- (1980-1989)