Texaco Canada completes unique horizontal drilling program

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5328381

Loxam, D C

Texaco Canada Resources Ltd. recently completed an innovative drilling program to tap shallow reserves in its Athabasca oil sands lease, south and east of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Texaco successfully drilled 3 wells using a drilling rig with a 45 degrees-slanted mast. Since 1972, Texaco has operated an in situ pilot project in their Athabasca field. In 1979, the company recognized the need to reduce capital cost for a commercial venture while providing improved recovery in development of the oil sands. Texaco could only develop these shallow 260- to 660-ft (80- to 200-m) oil sands by drilling highly deviated wells. Furthermore, the combination of shallow depth and unconsolidated bituminous sands presented unique drilling problems to obtain long horizontal sections. Although the path followed in drilling was not always as proposed, the company achieved its objectives.

• OSTI ID: 5328381
• Journal Information: Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States), Vol. 54:11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
ALBERTA
OIL SANDS
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
ATHABASCA DEPOSIT
DEPTH
WELL DRILLING
WELLS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CANADA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DIMENSIONS
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
040300* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Drilling
Fracturing & Mining