Expanding Solutions for Unconventional Oil and Gas Recovery

Abstract

A recent multi-well program in central Texas illustrates that conventional intent can produce unconventional opportunity. The aforementioned drilling campaign was in its second year of using solid expandable technology to attain a slimmer well profile in a series of high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) gas wells. The wellbore design included in a 6 x 7–5/8 in. solid openhole liner expanded across the Upper Bossier formation that enabled 14–3/4 in. surface casing while still reaching TD at ~15,000 ft with 4–1/2 in. casing. This design improved the rate of penetration resulting in reduced overall drilling costs and in turn a savings of approximately $1M per well. Over 40 openhole systems had been successfully expanded by way of conventional installation when a process modification enhanced the already significant benefits of using solid expandable tubulars. Conventional installation usually requires underreaming or hole enlargement to expand and cement the liner. The hard rock formation and the swellable elastomers employed on the openhole system eliminated the need for underreaming or cementing. Zonal isolation was achieved by setting the elastomers at the shoe of the expandable liner. The operator estimated that by dispensing with these steps an additional four to six days of rig time was saved. The current and future need for hydrocarbons has not diminished. This global demand is a main driver to develop more comprehensive downhole solutions. Every technical advantage is needed to help bring unconventional oil and gas plays within practical and economic reach. This paper explains how solid expandable tubulars have provided operators with a valuable tool to enhance drilling operations and mitigate wellbore challenges. This paper outlines the increasing and potential application realm of solid expandable tubulars and describes how incorporating these systems into the initial well design optimize the possibilities and potential of the technology. Introduction Even with the extreme fluctuation of energy prices and the current state of economic uncertainty, the future need for hydrocarbons shows little sign of waning. These variables have impacted oil and gas recovery projects, whether by abridging drilling programs or exploring unconventional plays with atypical methods. A large percentage of the world's future energy demands will be fulfilled by unconventional natural gases that include tight gas, coalbed methane (CBM), shale gas, deep earth gas, geo-pressured gas, and methane hydrates. Many unconventional gas reservoirs require the formation to be fractured hydraulically to improve the formation productivity by providing a conductive path and joining the existing fractures and cleats in the reservoir (Zahid 2007). Unconventional oil, such as heavy and tight oils or those from tar sands and shale, may be more costly to produce but their development remains an interesting proposition nonetheless. Although heavy oils can be pumped similarly to conventional oils, they require more extensive refining. As with tar sands, extracting oil from shale or tight formations is more complex than conventional oil recovery, which contributes to the expense.

Research of a novel double cross-linking fracturing fluid

“…However, guar gum is becoming more and more expensive. Meanwhile, with the development of unconventional oil and gas such as shale gas, tight gas and shale oil, new requirements are put forward for its the performance (Allison 2016;Wallace and Fritsch 2009;Bi et al 2013;Zhao and Dong 2016). In order to meet the fracturing requirements of complex formations, the fracturing fluids should be reformed and strengthened.…”

Analytical model for stick–slip phenomenon in solid tubular expansion

“…Solid expandable tubular is developed specifically to allow additional casing strings to be run to cover up problem zones to facilitate drilling a well to the ERD target (Wallace and Fritsch, 2009). It aims at cutting down the costs incurred in well drilling and completion by providing smaller casing schemes, cheaper completions, as well as lower-cost work-over and casing repairs (Campo et al, 2003;Contreras et al, 2010;Durst and Ruzic, 2009).…”