Underbalanced operations offer pluses and minuses

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1995 · Oil and Gas Journal

OSTI ID:163248

Bennion, D B ^[1]

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1. Hycal Energy Research Labs. Ltd., Calgary, Alberta (Canada)

Underbalanced drilling, when properly designed and executed, minimizes or eliminates problems associated with the invasion of particulate matter into the formation. Invasion damage often greatly reduces the productivity of oil and gas reservoirs, particularly in open hole horizontal well applications. Underbalanced drilling can also minimize numerous other problems, such as adverse clay reactions, phase trapping, precipitation, and emulsification. These problems can be caused by the invasion of incompatible mud filtrates in an overbalanced condition. The conclusion of this two-part series will cover screening criteria for selecting formations suitable for underbalanced drilling.

• OSTI ID: 163248
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal, Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 94; ISSN 0030-1388; ISSN OIGJAV
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
COST
CUTTINGS REMOVAL
DRILLING FLUIDS
FORMATION DAMAGE
LIQUID FLOW
MITIGATION
MWD SYSTEMS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PERMEABILITY
POROSITY
PRESSURE CONTROL
PRODUCTIVITY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR FLUIDS
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
SAFETY
TESTING
WELL DRILLING