Shale Drilling and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

William Fleckenstein, P.E.BP Adjunct Professor

Colorado School of Mines

Shale Drilling and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Vertical vs. Horizontal Drilling

United States Current Rig Count (Baker Hughes) and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Breakout Information   This Week +/- Last Week +/- Year Ago

     

Oil   718 22 696 386 332

Gas   955 -12 967 221 734

Miscellaneous   10 1 9 -2 12

     

Directional   218 -2 220 32 186

Horizontal   943 24 919 436 507

Vertical   522 -11 533 137 385

        

Drilling Rigs are Differentand Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Shale Drilling and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Why not just a horizontal well?

Demand for more fracsd Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

The Reservoir Contact Is Even Better!! Drilling and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Each Fracture Stimulation Creates a Complex Fracture Network Drilling and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Microseismiclling and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

• Maps the fracture growth• Identifies azimuth• Requires observation well

SMicroseismic Barnett Shale Horizontal and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Prop the Fractures OpenDrilling and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Horizontal Completions with Mechanical Packers

12

Allow multiple stimulations along horizontal interval

Horizontal CompletionsFrac Baffles or Frac Sleeves

13

Diversion with Expandable PackersSleeves are actuated with balls

Coiled Tubing with Sand Plugs

14

Horizontal Completions Cemented Perf and Plug

15

Plug and Perf Method1. Annular Isolation (and diversion accomplished with cement)

2. Frac stages initiated through perforations isolated with bridge plugs

3. Bridge plugs are removed with coiled tubing drilling.

Size of Fracture Stimulationsand Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Well Costs (Range Resources)Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Lots of Water in “Water Fracs” Drilling and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Horsepower to pump those water fracsDrilling and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Protection of Groundwater Drilling and Completions

P E T R O L E U ME N G I N E E R I N GD E P A R T M E N T

Getting a good cement job means:

• Centralization• Pipe movement and fluid

velocity (looking for turbulence)

• Spacer design• Rheology properties of mud• Other specific issues to a

cement job.