ADVANCED COMPETION TECHNIQUES FOR EXTENDED REACH WELLS

摘要

As the drilling phase of oilfield operations continues to evolve, completion technologies are continuously challenged to keep up and offer safe, practical and economical solutions. Among the latest trends in drilling technologies are extended-reach drilled wells (ERD). Even though there is no known official definition, a well is generally defined as extended reach if the ratio between true vertical depth (TVD) and horizontal displacement (HD) exceeds 2.5. Only a few wells with ratios exceeding 4.8 have been drilled to date. This paper discusses the completion equipment used and outlines the field operations carried out for Total Austral's extended-reach campaign in southern Argentina. It focuses on the application of new techniques and reviews the critical success factors, technical advantages and cost savings involved.