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New Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Technologies. Radius Energy, LLC. May, 2013. Growth in Horizontal Drilling in Recent Years . Horizontal Wells . Horizontal wells are often better suited for developing layered , tabular deposits (resource plays) such as coalbed methane and shale
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New Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Technologies Radius Energy, LLC May, 2013
Horizontal Wells • Horizontal wells are often better suited for developing layered , tabular deposits (resource plays) such as coalbed methane and shale • Now well established, this process provides a lower cost resource development process . • …………… But…………. • Horizontal wells still often present unique drilling and production related problems. • New technology may be available to further reduce the cost of drilling and producing horizontal wells.
PROBLEM 1 - Vertical wells have sump (“rat hole”) to place pump • Liquid separates in vertical section; falls to sump • Sump is below producing formations; No fluid head pressure to hinder production Gravity Separation: Gas rises to surface Liquid falls into Sump (“Rat-Hole”)
BUT - Horizontal wells have no rat hole – Pump must be placed directly in production stream • Any gas production causes interference with pump’s ability to pump liquid • Inefficient pumping causes liquid level to build; High bottom-hole pressure hinders production Gas Interference Pump is unable to “pump” gas – Fluid level raises
SOLUTION: • Selective create a seal below the pump to temporally form an isolated pumping chamber : • Form seal • Pump liquid • Release Seal Normal Operation: Sealing Device OPEN Pump OFF Sealing Device: OPEN Pumping Cycle: Sealing Device: CLOSED Pump ON Sealing Device: CLOSED
PROBLEM 2 – Electric pump cable can become damaged when being installed in deviated well Electric Cable exposed to damage Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)
SOLUTION: • Use “Wet Connect” to install pump cable inside of discharge tubing after pump is in place. Pump-down plug pulls cable into tubing – even into horizontal sections
PROBLEM 3 – Solids may settle along bottom of horizontal well – Blocking flow or inlet to pump Solids settle along bottom of well, blocking flow and inlet to the pump
SOLUTION: • Slowly rotate tubing with eccentric tail joint to keep solids agitated and in suspension. Suspended solids removed from well along with other production liquids. Helically shaped tail-joint “wipes” the circumference of well bore to agitate solids
SUMMARY - • A number of new technologies can be applied to aid in the deliquification of horizontal wells. Gas interference can be eliminated by cycling the pumping and gas producing periods. A number of tools and methods can be used to isolate the pump from the flow of gas. By setting the frequency of the pumping cycle to a relatively short interval of time, there is little effect to the performance of the well. • For more information, please contact: • Joseph A. Zupanick, PE • Radius Energy Services, LLC • (304) 688-6556 • Joe.Zupanick@RadiusEnergy.com