Horizontal Drilling

The most commonly drilled wells for oil and natural gas are vertical. However, drilling at another angle, horizontally, enables drilling contractors to reach desired reservoirs that would be unattainable with strictly a vertical drilling method.

The horizontal drilling process involves drilling a well from the surface to a subsurface area, which is right above the target oil reservoir called the “kickoff point.” From there, the deviation of the wellbore begins from the vertical plane around a curve, intersecting the reservoir at the “entry point.” This occurs at a near-horizontal inclination and remains within the reservoir until the necessary bottom-hole location is attained.

The costs associated with horizontal drilling are higher than vertical drilling. However, in comparison to vertical drilling, horizontal drilling produces anywhere from 2.5 to 7 times more oil since the payzone is longer. This provides a much-improved potential return on investment for the drilling project.

Key Benefits of Horizontal Drilling Techniques

The use of horizontal drilling offers a multitude of benefits, such as:

• Improved productivity by increasing the payzone
• Fewer drilling pads
• Pressure relief
• Reduced impact on the environment

How Crown Exploration Uses Horizontal Drilling 

For almost 30 years, Crown has set itself apart from other exploration companies by applying new technology to proven areas. Our team uses advanced drilling techniques, such as horizontal drilling, to expose thousands of feet more oil in targeted payzones.

To learn more about how Crown Exploration uses horizontal drilling to maximize profit and minimize risk, contact our team today.

Sources: 

https://www.dmr.nd.gov/ndgs/documents/newsletter/2008Winter/pdfs/Horizontal.pdf

https://epcmholdings.com/horizontal-drilling-for-oil-and-natural-gas/

https://geology.com/articles/horizontal-drilling/