Slim hole drilling proven in remote exploration project

Journal Article · Mon Jun 22 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:5153680

Dachary, J ^[1]; Vighetto, R ^[2]

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1. Total Exploration Production, Libreville (GA)
2. Total Exploration Production, Paris (FR)

This paper reports on a helicopter-supported slim hole exploration project in a remote tropical forest which cost 15% less than a conventional drilling operation. The potential savings after improvements in rig equipment, bits, and drilling and coring methods may approach 30%. Because of the small size of the slim hole equipment, the impact on the rain forest was small. The areas cleared for locations and access during the operation were 75% less than that required for similar operations with conventional road-transported rigs. During the second half of 1991, Total Exploration Gabon, a subsidiary of Total Exploration Production, conducted a slim hole drilling project in the Gabonese tropical rain forest in a joint venture with Chevron Corp., Exxon Corp., and Austria's OMV AG. During this helicopter-supported operation, two wells were drilled: one to 2,747 m (9,010 ft) ending with a 3 in. hole and one to 418 m (1,371 ft) ending with a 5-7/8 in. hole. Continuous coring operations recovered 1,868 m (6,127 ft), or 59% of the total length drilled.

• OSTI ID: 5153680
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 90:25; ISSN OIGJA; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
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29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
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47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
DRILL BITS
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLING RIGS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EQUIPMENT
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PLANNING
REMOTE AREAS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCES
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
WELLS