What is a multilateral well?
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A multilateral well is a well that has more than one branch radiating from the main wellbore. A multilateral well can have lateral branches into different formation layers. Multilateral wells make it possible to connect several well paths to one wellbore.
What is multilateral completion?
Multilateral completion systems allow the drilling and completion of multiple lateral boreholes within a single mainbore. This allows for alternative well-construction strategies for vertical, inclined, horizontal, and extended-reach wells. Multilaterals can be constructed in both new and existing oil and gas wells.
What are the different types of wells?
There are three types of wells: dug, driven, and drilled. Drilled are the most common today. Wells can have a pump or bucket added or they can be artesian with natural pressure bringing the water to the surface.
What are horizontal wells?
A horizontal well is a type of directional drilling technique where an oil or gas well is dug at an angle of at least eighty degrees to a vertical wellbore. This technique has become increasingly common and productive in recent years.
How long does it take to drill a horizontal well?
Can take a total of 1-2 weeks to drill each well, depending on depth. Will drill vertically down to “pay zone” or target formation, then curve until bit is horizontal and drill horizontally in target formation for desired length.
How long do horizontal wells produce?
After completion, a well can produce for as long as 20 to 40 years–providing energy and long-term revenue to governments and mineral owners and sustaining local jobs.
How do horizontal wells work?
Horizontal drilling is the process of drilling a well from the surface to a subsurface location just above the target oil or gas reservoir called the “kickoff point”, then deviating the well bore from the vertical plane around a curve to intersect the reservoir at the “entry point” with a near-horizontal inclination.
Why multilateral well construction and completions?
Multilateral well construction and completions reduce generated and embodied carbon during field development. Drilling rigs that are used to drill the boreholes represent sources of generated carbon of varying intensity based on their power source and consumption.
What is multilateral well drilling?
Multilateral well drilling technology is closely matched to the strata and subsurface conditions for optimized drilling productivity.
How can data visualization help in multilateral well development?
The disciplines involved in multilateral well development benefit from an integrated approach that uses data and visualization to guide well planning and the selection of multilateral well drilling technology. Well planning cycles are reduced when geologists, well planners, and drilling engineers share detailed 3D models with drilling plans.
What are the benefits of multilateral technology?
Benefits of multilateral technology can be enormous. Field development plans define well counts required to drain the reservoir―often with significant technical constraints and uncertainty. Multilateral well completions maximize reservoir contact per well, reducing the number of wells required.