Horizontal well technology in the U.S.A.: Has it delivered as promised?

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:170158

Deskins, W G; McDonald, W J ^[1]; Reid, T B ^[2]

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1. Maurer Engineering Inc., Houston, TX (United States)
2. USDOE Bartlesville Project Office, OK (United States)

Horizontal well technology has been widely and successfully applied in over 100 formations in the US. Much information has been published on drilling, completion, and workover systems, tools and techniques for these wells. Little has been presented describing overall production and economic success of horizontal technology in various formation types. This paper, based on a comprehensive study performed by Maurer Engineering for the DOE, addresses the overall success of horizontal applications in less-publicized formations, that is, other than the Austin Chalk. Operators in the US and Canada were surveyed on a formation-by-formation basis. Data were received describing horizontal well production in 58 formations in the US and 88 in Canada. Operators` responses were analyzed for trends in technical and economic success based on lithology (clastics and carbonates) and resource type (light oil, heavy oil, and gas). The potential impact of horizontal technology on oil reserves was also estimated.

• DOE Contract Number: AC22-93BC14861
• OSTI ID: 170158
• Report Number(s): CONF-950116--; ISBN 0-7918-1288-X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PERFORMANCE
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT