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English: Directional of Drilling in Iraq
English: Directional of Drilling in Iraq
University of
kitab Petroleum Engineering
Department
second year
English
Directional of drilling
in Iraq
HORIZONTAL DRILLING
Horizontal drilling is an important application of directional drilling
and is used to increase the productivity of various formations
(Figure 3). One of the first applications for horizontal drilling was
in vertically fractured reservoirs. In fractured reservoirs, a
significant quantity of the production comes from fractures. Unless
a vertical well encounters a fracture system, production rates will
be low. A horizontal well has a much greater chance of
encountering a prolific fracture system. Horizontal wells are a very
common way to produce formations. The Austin Chalk in Texas is
a classic example of using horizontal drilling techniques to
produce a fractured reservoir.
Figure 3 Horizontal drilling.
Horizontal drilling is used to produce in thin oil zones with water or
gas coning problems. The horizontal well is optimally placed in
the oil leg of the reservoir. The oil can then be produced at high
rates with much less pressure drawdown because of the amount
of formation exposed to the wellbore.
Additionally, horizontal wells are used to increase productivity
from low permeability reservoirs by increasing the amount of
formation exposed to the wellbore. Numerous hydraulic fractures
can be placed along a single wellbore to increase production and
reduce the number of vertical wells required to drain the reservoir.
Horizontal wells can also be used to maximize production from
reservoirs which are not being efficiently drained by vertical wells.
These wells usually have permeability streaks in combination with
natural fractures. The horizontal well can connect the portions of
the reservoir that are productive.
Horizontal drilling was a major innovation in the industry.
It revolutionized shale drilling and led to the technique of fracking.
Some believe that fracking "obscured the far more important role
played by horizontal drilling in enabling oil and gas to be produced
from previously inaccessible rock formations, revolutionizing
energy output and even international relations". Today
approximately two-thirds of all wells are horizontal. [1]
MULTILATERAL DRILLING
Directional drilling can be used to drill multilateral wells as well.
Multilaterals are additional wells drilled from a parent wellbore as
illustrated in Figure 4. Multilaterals can be as simple as an open
hole sidetrack or it can be more complicated with a junction that is
cased and has pressure isolation and reentry capabilities.
Multilaterals are used where production can be incrementally
increased with less capital costs. Multilaterals can be used
offshore where the number of slots are limited. It is also used to
place additional horizontal wells in a reservoir.
Figure 4 Multilateral wells drilled from a platform.
SIDETRACKING
Sidetracking is one of the primary uses for directional drilling.
Sidetracking is an operation which deflects the borehole by
starting a new hole at any point above the bottom of the old hole
as in Figure 5. The primary reason for sidetracking is to bypass a
fish which has been lost in the hole; however, there are several
other reasons for sidetracking. A sidetrack can be performed so
the bottom of the hole can intersect a producing formation at a
more favorable position such as up dip above the oil-water
contact. A well can be sidetracked to alleviate problems
associated with water or gas coning. A sidetrack can be
performed in an old well to move the location of the bottom of the
hole from a depleted portion of the reservoir to a portion that is
productive, such as, across a fault or permeability barrier.
Sidetracking an exploration well can lead to a better geologic
understanding of an area (Figure 6) especially where the geology
is complicated. Sidetracking and directional drilling can be more
economical than multiple exploration wells if the upper portion of
the well is expensive to drill.
In horizontal wells, it is a common practice to sidetrack existing
vertical wells. A whip stock is set inside the casing and the well
sidetracked. Then the formation is drilled horizontally to increase
productivity. Multiple sidetracks can be drilled from the same well,
which are termed multilaterals.