
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Dumbrell, K. 
T1  - THE DRILLING OF PALM VALLEY &#x2013;2 WELL, AMADEUS BASIN, NORTHERN TERRITORY, USING AIR AS THE CIRCULATING MEDIUM
JF  - The APPEA Journal
JO  - The APPEA Journal
Y1  - 1974
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
SP  - 176
EP  - 180
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ73025 
N2  - Magellan Petroleum (N.T.) Pty Ltd&apos;s Palm Valley -2 was spudded in on 21st December 1969 and reached total depth of 6559 feet on 2nd February 1970. The well was completed as a gas well after flowing at the rate of 69.7 MMCF per day during testing.Hole and casing sizes were: 26 in. (20 in.) 31 ft; 17&#xbd; in. (13&#x215c; in.) 431 ft; 12&#xbc; in. (9&#x215d; in.) 4225 ft; 8&#xbd; in. (7 in.) 6057 ft. The rig used was a National 100 and in addition to 6 in. O.D. and 8 in. O.D. drill collars 3 x 11 in O.D. and 6 x 9&#xbc; in. O.D. were run for drilling down to 4225 feet.Compressed air was used as the circulating medium. The air equipment major components comprised: -2 Ingersoll Rand 1500 cfm primary compressors1 Ingersoll Rand 1500 psi booster compressor1 12 in.&#x2212;3000 psi Shaffer rotating BOP.15 Rock bits were used in the drilling of Palm Valley &#x2212;2. Substantial water was encountered while drilling through the Mereeinie Sandstone which is a major aquifer of the region.The 7 in. casing was set at 6057 ft and drilling below this point to total depth (6559 ft) was carried out with 2&#x215e; in. production tubing, 4&#xbe; in. drill collars in conjunction with OTIS N nipple, XO sliding-door sleeve and X landing nipple. This string was used as a combination drill out/production assembly and was left in the hole as a completion string after removing the sliding sleeve with the wire line. A Cameron LDO 2&#x215e; in. control head was installed prior to drilling out the 7 in. shoe.The use of air as a circulating medium on Palm Valley &#x2212;2 clearly demonstrated the economic and operational advantages of this drilling method. There are undoubtedly other favourable geological areas in Australia where this drilling and completion procedure could be adopted to great advantage. 
ER  -

