HORIZONTAL DRILLING IN AUSTRALIA: THREE CASE HISTORIES

Abstract

Three horizontal wells with horizontal sections of up to 331 m were drilled successfully during the development of the marginal North Herald and South Pepper oil and gas fields, which have relatively thin oil columns (6 to 12 m) at a depth of some 1200 m sub-sea. A steerable motor system was used to maintain directional control within the design parameters. This system proved to be successful from the start and no major changes to the bottom hole assembly design were required to drill all the wells. Average drilling time including running and setting the seven inch liner amounted to 12 days. The wells were tested with rates up to 7500 BOPD through a one inch choke.