HORIZONTAL DRILLING, A NEW PRODUCTION METHOD

Abstract

Vertical or deviated wells cross a production formation for only short distances. Horizontal wells, however, are capable of remaining within a reservoir for distances up to several hundred metres in an effort to enhance production possibilities.

A world-wide coverage of the method will be presented, with the latest information on drilling, logging, completion and costs.

Application of horizontal wells will be described with an emphasis on the production results recently obtained and, more particularly, on the Rospo Mare field, offshore, in the Adriatic Sea.

Horizontal wells are providing a new approach to the flow geometry within a production formation. There is no doubt that they will be used more and more in the future to optimise the drainage of most reservoirs.