Multilateral (ML) wells have been synonymous with the means to improve recovery from conventional reservoirs by adding drainage. Throughout the years, there have been limited ML well applications in various US unconventional plays. Widespread use has likely been curtailed by the challenging commodity price environment that has forced operators to drill and complete wells faster to lower recovery costs and provide production to the market quicker. This paper discusses the use of ML technology in unconventional programs to optimize shale development. Thousands of ML wells have been drilled and completed to date in many conventional applications worldwide. Applications range from benign projects to more complex programs that include deepwater, subsea, and extended-reach projects. Many unconventional heavy oil applications have been developed in various regions using ML technology during the last 20 years. The use of ML technology in many of these applications created efficiency in the operator's development plans because fewer wells were necessary to drain reservoirs more effectively. This helped save drilling and completion, production and surface equipment, and all other related infrastructure costs. Early this decade, ML technology also began to make inroads in the shale oil and gas marketplace. ML technology has been used to develop a limited number of unconventional shale and tight oil and gas wells in both Canada and the contiguous US. Some of the published data addressed the operational issues, surface logistics, and general efficiencies of many of these previous ML multistage projects. This paper presents a case study that examines in additional detail the drilling and completion of two single horizontal wells vs. a single ML well in an unconventional play. This paper discusses the potential benefits of ML applications and modifications to consider during the drilling and completion of shale and/or tight oil and gas wells. Objective viewpoints are also presented to generate further discussion.
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