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Title: Horizontal technology helps spark Louisiana`s Austin chalk trend

Abstract

A handful of companies paced by some of the most active operators in the US are pressing the limits of horizontal technology to ramp up Cretaceous Austin chalk exploration and development (E and D) across Louisiana. Companies find applications in Louisiana for lessons learned drilling horizontal wells to produce chalk intervals in Texas in Giddings, Pearsall, and Brookeland fields. Continuing advances in horizontal well technology are helping operators deal with deeper, hotter reservoirs in more complex geological settings that typify the chalk in Louisiana. Better horizontal drilling, completion, formation evaluation, and stimulation techniques have enabled operators to produce oil and gas from formations previously thought to be uneconomical. Most of the improved capabilities stem from better horizontal tools. Horizontal drilling breakthroughs include dual powered mud motors and retrievable whipstocks, key links in the ability to drill wells with more than one horizontal lateral. Better geosteering tools have enabled operators to maintain horizontal wellbores in desired intervals by signaling bit positions downhole while drilling. This paper reviews the technology and provides a historical perspective on the various drilling programs which have been completed in this trend. It also makes predictions on future drilling successes.

Authors:
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
220626
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Oil and Gas Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 94; Journal Issue: 18; Other Information: PBD: 29 Apr 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
02 PETROLEUM; LOUISIANA; OIL WELLS; NATURAL GAS WELLS; DIRECTIONAL DRILLING; TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT; RESERVOIR ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

Koen, A D. Horizontal technology helps spark Louisiana`s Austin chalk trend. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Koen, A D. Horizontal technology helps spark Louisiana`s Austin chalk trend. United States.
Koen, A D. 1996. "Horizontal technology helps spark Louisiana`s Austin chalk trend". United States.
@article{osti_220626,
title = {Horizontal technology helps spark Louisiana`s Austin chalk trend},
author = {Koen, A D},
abstractNote = {A handful of companies paced by some of the most active operators in the US are pressing the limits of horizontal technology to ramp up Cretaceous Austin chalk exploration and development (E and D) across Louisiana. Companies find applications in Louisiana for lessons learned drilling horizontal wells to produce chalk intervals in Texas in Giddings, Pearsall, and Brookeland fields. Continuing advances in horizontal well technology are helping operators deal with deeper, hotter reservoirs in more complex geological settings that typify the chalk in Louisiana. Better horizontal drilling, completion, formation evaluation, and stimulation techniques have enabled operators to produce oil and gas from formations previously thought to be uneconomical. Most of the improved capabilities stem from better horizontal tools. Horizontal drilling breakthroughs include dual powered mud motors and retrievable whipstocks, key links in the ability to drill wells with more than one horizontal lateral. Better geosteering tools have enabled operators to maintain horizontal wellbores in desired intervals by signaling bit positions downhole while drilling. This paper reviews the technology and provides a historical perspective on the various drilling programs which have been completed in this trend. It also makes predictions on future drilling successes.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/220626}, journal = {Oil and Gas Journal},
number = 18,
volume = 94,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Apr 29 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Mon Apr 29 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}