Easy Dig Pty Ltd

Do you need to drill a new well or can you use an existing one?

A new well is not always necessary. Many techniques are available to use existing vertical wells and exit through the casing. Depending on the completion techniques required, the costs for using existing wells compared to new wells, will generally favour existing well utilization. However, geologic considerations and current reservoir data collection opportunities must be weighed carefully with any potential cost savings.

If you choose to drill underbalanced, can you safely drill with air?

Air drilling oil and gas wells has been an accepted industry practice for over 60 years. Grand Directions has been drilling with an air/foam-mist system for the last three years with no safety problems.

How do I choose which horizontal drilling system is appropriate for my reservoir?

An engineering assessment of the completion techniques necessary to economically recover the reserves will largely determine if the horizontal well can be an open hole completion or will require tubulars placed in the curve and/or in the horizontal sections. The critical issue is wellbore stability and the need for zonal isolation to construct a low maintenance, long life completion.

What are the costs associated with directional drilling using various drilling systems?

Based on studies of over 25,000 horizontal wells world wide, an expert has recognized key relationships between horizontal and vertical well costs. One third of horizontal wells are not economic successes When the cost ratio for a proposed horizontal well approaches or exceeds 2.5 to 3.0 times the cost of a vertical well in the same field, the chances for an economic success are greatly reduced

How do I determine which of my reservoirs are valid horizontal drilling candidates?

Collect sufficient reservoir and production data to be able to build a computer model of the reservoir. Perform history matching to gain confidence on the simulation results. Predict the production effects of various horizontal completions options to determine the most reasonable approach to applying horizontal wells to accelerate reserve recovery.

Why should I consider horizontal drilling for my reservoirs?

Maximize hydrocarbon recovery rates and project economics Spread out the pressure drop across a longer interval of wellbore minimizing water coning Repenetrate a reservoir to get away from historical water coning and recover reserves that would otherwise be stranded Take advantage of horizontal well geometry for secondary recovery projects

How can your drilling and completion operation minimize formation damage?

Overbalanced, poorly designed and maintained drilling fluids will cause excessive formation damage. The lower the bottom hole pressure (BHP) of the target reservoir, the more difficult it is to mediate any damage caused from the drilling and completion process. Underbalanced drilling, when properly conducted, will help to minimize formation damage reducing or eliminating remedial action required to restore well bore productivity.

Will an open hole provide a satisfactory completion technique?

This is determined by understanding the long-term borehole stability issue associated with the candidate reservoir. This issue is critical in determining the answer to open hole completions versus installing casing or liners in the curve or lateral sections.

What kind of rig is necessary for horizontal drilling?

When new wells are planned to be drilled horizontal, the drilling rig is usually employed to drill both the vertical and horizontal portions of the wells. However, depending on the equipment requirements for the curve and lateral sections, a smaller (less costly) work over rig may be moved in after the drilling rig has completed the vertical section.