Most companies drilling oil and natural gases normally concur that horizonal drilling is much more economical and generally effective in many aspects as compared to the vertical method. The method is now adopted in many mining firms.
In most cases however, the drills begin in the surface in form of a vertical well. This continues to the point where the well is a few feet above the target area. Once at this level, the piped are withdrawn from the well and instead a hydraulic motor is placed between the drill pipe and drill bit. In order for horizonal drilling to occur, this motor rotates the drill bit without rotating the pipes. The well can the well can therefore deviate from the original vertical orientation.
This means that deviation is possible and boring can take a horizontal path or any other angle other than vertical. This however may be impossible if not for special instruments used for azimuth determination and the general orientation. The data provided by such instrument is what help to the drill bit through to the targeted rocks.
This is a very expensive method of making a well. In fact, it is estimated that the cost of boring together with hydraulic fracturing per foot is three times more expensive than the vertical burrowing. However, the cost recovery and the general gains associated with it normally make the process worthwhile.
First, it provides a means of hitting targets that otherwise cannot be reached with the vertical drills. Look at the situation where the reservoir is located beneath a city, a park or any other place where it is impossible to drill. The solution is to drill from the edge and rich the target through a horizontal means. In addition to this, it is also possible to use one drill pad to drain a very broad area reducing the surface footprint that remains as the effect of boring. It is needless to say that it is environmental friendly.
Other benefits of using this method to access underground mineral reserves include increased pay zone as the rock may not be very thick but instead can be very wide. Burrowing horizontally across it as opposed to vertical method gives a larger surface area or increased length of pay zone.
It also increases productivity particularly in fractured reservoir where they can the intersected for maximum exploited with minimum budget. It also helps relieve pressure or seal otherwise out of control wells and provides a means for underground utility installation in situations where excavation is an issue.
When you consider permeability of some rocks and viscosity of some fluids, in a number of occasions, the horizonal drilling is likely to be the better alternative. The vertical method of burrowing work best with highly permeable rocks and very viscous fluids, when the opposite is the case, getting fluid flow into the drill can be an issue. A horizontal drill achieves this by making the holes as close as possible to the fluid.
From the above discussed merits, you can easily understand how the huge initial costs associated with horizonal drilling is quickly absorbed from the moment the mining starts. The impact of this technology is so huge that a number of multinational mining firms attribute their profits to it.
In most cases however, the drills begin in the surface in form of a vertical well. This continues to the point where the well is a few feet above the target area. Once at this level, the piped are withdrawn from the well and instead a hydraulic motor is placed between the drill pipe and drill bit. In order for horizonal drilling to occur, this motor rotates the drill bit without rotating the pipes. The well can the well can therefore deviate from the original vertical orientation.
This means that deviation is possible and boring can take a horizontal path or any other angle other than vertical. This however may be impossible if not for special instruments used for azimuth determination and the general orientation. The data provided by such instrument is what help to the drill bit through to the targeted rocks.
This is a very expensive method of making a well. In fact, it is estimated that the cost of boring together with hydraulic fracturing per foot is three times more expensive than the vertical burrowing. However, the cost recovery and the general gains associated with it normally make the process worthwhile.
First, it provides a means of hitting targets that otherwise cannot be reached with the vertical drills. Look at the situation where the reservoir is located beneath a city, a park or any other place where it is impossible to drill. The solution is to drill from the edge and rich the target through a horizontal means. In addition to this, it is also possible to use one drill pad to drain a very broad area reducing the surface footprint that remains as the effect of boring. It is needless to say that it is environmental friendly.
Other benefits of using this method to access underground mineral reserves include increased pay zone as the rock may not be very thick but instead can be very wide. Burrowing horizontally across it as opposed to vertical method gives a larger surface area or increased length of pay zone.
It also increases productivity particularly in fractured reservoir where they can the intersected for maximum exploited with minimum budget. It also helps relieve pressure or seal otherwise out of control wells and provides a means for underground utility installation in situations where excavation is an issue.
When you consider permeability of some rocks and viscosity of some fluids, in a number of occasions, the horizonal drilling is likely to be the better alternative. The vertical method of burrowing work best with highly permeable rocks and very viscous fluids, when the opposite is the case, getting fluid flow into the drill can be an issue. A horizontal drill achieves this by making the holes as close as possible to the fluid.
From the above discussed merits, you can easily understand how the huge initial costs associated with horizonal drilling is quickly absorbed from the moment the mining starts. The impact of this technology is so huge that a number of multinational mining firms attribute their profits to it.
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