Application of heel intersect horizontal well concept in coal bed methane play: a case study
Han Lu A * , Mariano Ospina Guevara A , Chunlin Zhao A and Lijun Zhu AA Arrow Energy Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
The APPEA Journal 62(1) 66-76 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ21023
Submitted: 20 December 2021 Accepted: 1 February 2022 Published: 13 May 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.
Abstract
Arrow Energy is a 50/50 joint venture between Shell and China National Petroleum Corporation. It holds vast coal bed methane gas resources in the Surat and Northern Bowen basins of Queensland, Australia. Recently the well design in the north Bowen asset has evolved to a heel intersect multilateral concept to further reduce the surface footprint, extend reservoir access and improve cost-effectiveness. The new well design components consist of a vertical producing well intersected by a horizontal multilateral well. It was tested on several targeted reservoirs and areas. There were a number of key learnings developed during the horizontal well construction, such as underbalanced drilling, intersect well technology, and directional drilling learning curve. Post completion, special considerations have been given on initial dewatering rates and solids-related production trends as a holistic well production strategy to assess the well concept selection effectiveness. This paper describes the key challenges and learnings from the well construction and production phases of the heel intersect multilateral well trials. This program has significantly helped Arrow Energy to mature the well design concept for future campaigns.
Keywords: Bowen Basin, coal bed methane, completions, drilling, heel intersect horizontal well, new concept, production, project optimisation.
Han Lu is a skilled engineering professional with 13 years’ experience in various roles within the well delivery space. Currently he is the Well Engineering Team Lead at Arrow Energy, where he is responsible for design and execution of wells lifecycle activities from drilling to abandonment. Previously, Han has worked for a number of operators in New Zealand and Australia. He is familiar with both conventional and unconventional types of operating environment and legislation. In the last 3 years, Han has been primarily working on Arrow Energy’s Bowen basin, where a wide range of horizontal well technology and concepts have been implemented. Han holds a master’s degree in Well Design and Well Engineering from Robert Gordon University. He also has bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering and Chemical Engineering from University of Adelaide. Han is a charted engineer with Engineering Australia and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. |
Mariano Ospina Guevara has a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Petroleum Engineering from Heriot-Watt University. Mariano has more than 14 years’ experience in completions and production, for conventional and unconventional assets. Mariano started his career with OMV Austria as a Completions Engineer for onshore conventional oil and gas wells, and later commenced his position as a Production Engineer. In 2011, Mariano relocated to New Zealand within OMV, where he was employed as a Production Technologist to provide offshore support on the Maari Field. In November 2013, Mariano joined Arrow Energy in Australia as a Senior Production Technologist. Since then, Mariano has gained extensive experience in CSG horizontal wellbores, reservoir and production challenges, and artificial lift system solutions in the Bowen Basin. |
Chunlin Zhao has 25-years’ experience in various roles within the well production and completion space. He is the Well Discipline Lead at Arrow Energy, where he is responsible for compliance of wells standards and process, regulatory reporting and performance monitoring. Chunlin has broad international oil and gas experience and has worked on a number of challenging projects. Chunlin holds a bachelor’s degree in Production Engineering from the Petroleum Institute of Daqing. |
Lijun Zhu graduated from the Chemical Engineering Institute of Yangtze University (Jianghan Petroleum University) with a bachelor’s degree. He has 17 years of international drilling experience in different offshore and onshore projects in China, Iran, Tunisia, and Vietnam. He has a special interest in drilling fluids. Lijun is currently the well engineering manager at Arrow Energy, where he is accountable for wells business planning, engineering design, and practise. |
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