Air Drilling and Multiple Hydraulic Fracturing of a 72° Slant Well in Devonian Shale

Abstract

This paper discusses site selection, air directional drilling, stimulations, and economic evaluation for a 72" slant well drilled in the Devonian shale, Roane County, West Virginia. The well was drilled to evaluate the concept of using directional drilling and multiple hydraulic fracturing to improve the gas production from a 450-foot naturally fractured Devonian shale section. The well trajectory remained in target for more than 1,500 feet at a preferred azimuthal direction perpendicular to the regional fracture trend and also the known production fairway. 45 well testing has been identifled tor each zone to show initial results.

Predicting Horizontal Well Performance: A Review of Current Technology

“…Field Experience in Fracturing Horizontal Wells A few cases of fracturing horizontal wells have been reported in the Iiterature. [75][76][77][78] In these cases, the operators decided on transverse fractures. Problems associated with creating the fractures have been discussed by EI Rabaa.…”