Advances Improve Drilling, Completion

摘要

Over the past decade, shale oil and gas production has grown dramatically in the United States, thanks to technological innovations along several fronts. Much has been written about hydraulic fracturing techniques, which produce a fracture network within the shale resource rock. Ideally, the fracture network increases total porosity and permeability in the rock, opening access for the hydrocarbons to reach the well bore and be produced. However, equally important to the success of shale play production are the innovations realized in drilling and simultaneous formation evaluation technology, which have allowed horizontal well bores to be drilled safely and efficiently.