Delaware basin drilling and completions

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1970 · 17th Annu. Sw. Petrol. Short Course Ass. Mtg.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6543553

Williams, R

The average cost to drill and equip 28 wells in this area, in 1968, at an average depth of 21,500 ft, was $1,350,000. Zones to be penetrated include massive evaporite sections, low frac-gradient sections, lost circulation zones, and abnormally high pressure intervals. Four strings of casing are used with one tieback liner. All tubular goods are selected realizing that the gas produced has high concentrations of HD2US. Cementing is done at temperature intervals of 230$ to 320$F. Drilling fluids include fresh water, brine, and low density invert oil-emulsion muds. Seventy-five percent of the bits used are carbide insert types. The number of bits necessery to drill the well has been reduced 50% in the last 2 yr. Rig selection is important, since rig time accounts for 35% of the cost of these wells; blowout preventers equipped with special features to handle underbalanced drilling are necessary. Operators must provide substantial personnel at the rig site since the large portion of the time, the rigs operate on a rate basis. Well completions in the 600- to 1,200-ft thick Ellenburger dolomite section are perforated sparsely. Generally, perforations are treated with a combination of acetic and HCl.

• Research Organization: Texaco Inc
• OSTI ID: 6543553
• Report Number(s): CONF-700466-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: 17th Annu. Sw. Petrol. Short Course Ass. Mtg.; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
DELAWARE
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
EXPLORATION
EXPLORATORY WELLS
FEDERAL REGION III
GEOLOGY
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
USA
WELLS