Tubulars, Connections Engineered For Challenges Encountered In Resource Plays

摘要

Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have combined to enable operators to economically produce hydrocarbons from ultralow-permeability and low-porosity unconventional zones, and in so doing, have transformed the upstream oil and gas business. However, while long-lateral horizontal drilling and multistage fracturing make resource plays possible, they also pose significant operational challenges in the design and performance of downhole tubulars. With lateral lengths now extending beyond 8,000 feet, along with the number of fracturing stages exceeding 40 in some plays, the challenges being placed on tubular product performance continue to intensify.