Low-cost short-radius re-entry horizontal drilling program revitalizes aging Northern Michigan Niagaran oil fields
This paper highlights recent experience gained while developing a low-cost drilling program in Northern Michigan`s Niagaran reef trend based upon modem short-radius, horizontal drilling technology to re-enter existing wellbores. Since the program`s beginning in September 1994. It has evolved significantly and cost performance has steadily improved from over $600M to less than $350M per well. Greater than three-fold production increases and as high as ten-fold reductions in GOR (gas-oil ratio) along with decreased water production have been observed upon completion. Key to the program`s success has been a team approach to well planning involving the combined efforts of a multi-disciplined engineering staff, production and drilling operations, and quality service company support. In order to lower costs and maximize the pool of potential re-entry candidates, the program`s focus has been to emphasize a simplified well design relying primarily on production test data and minimal evaluation logging. A discussion of specific remedial, drilling, and completion procedures is summarized with overall program performance measures and evaluation data results from a three-well evaluation program completed in 1994 and a 20-well program completed in 1995.
- OSTI ID:
- 457337
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961003-; TRN: 96:006576-0059
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 71. annual technical conference and exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Denver, CO (United States), 6-9 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of 1996 SPE annual technical conference and exhibition: Drilling and completion; PB: 944 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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