Horizontal Wells in Water Supply Applications

摘要

More than 2000 horizontal wells have been completed for environmental remediation purposes since 1988. Directionally drilled horizontal wells have been used for many remediation applications including ground water extraction for pump-and-treat systems, total fluids extraction, air sparge, biosparge, soil vapor extraction, nutrient injection, and ground water containment/migration control. Only a few directionally drilled horizontal wells have been installed in the United States for potable water supply. It is anticipated that the use of these wells in this application will grow dramatically as human population increases and the demand for potable water increases proportionately. Because much of the population growth is expected in today's relatively undeveloped nations, it is likely that much of the increase in water demand will be in these areas as well. But it is also likely that continuing population growth in certain areas of the United States will fuel the demand for water. Horizontal water supply wells will play a part in meeting this demand.