When oil and gas mining multinational and other mining firms makes statement that their survival will be impossible without horizonal drilling, it is not just a statement but the truth. This form of technology is what keeps these firms going. Initially associated with heavy investment, the costs are quickly absorbed when the well starts becoming productive.
In case you are wondering how it is achieved, here is a little guide. The most common way is to first drill a vertical well running to where the targeted rock is located. The drill pipes are withdrawn at this point and replaced with a hydraulic motor. This is attached to the drill pipes at one end and drill bit at the other end. It rotates the drill bit while the drill pipes remain unmoved allowing for deviation of the drill from vertical orientation to the horizontal orientation.
In order for its success, a number of gadgets and related devices have to be used particularly to determine the azimuth and orientation. These instruments are used to provide information necessary to guide the drill bit to the desired targets.
The total cost of burrowing added to that of hydraulic fracturing per foot exceeds the vertical alternative by up to three times. With this revelation, there must be other factors, and not cost that make this the most preferred method of drilling. The answer lies in productivity level and environmental considerations.
There are many answers to this question, and here are a few. First, it gives the alternative way of mining deposits that occurs under surface features that do not permit vertical burrowing. This includes cities, parks, a number of treasures and indeed some natural features. The solution lies in making a vertical drill at the edge of that city of feature and proceeding with the horizontal burrowing to the mineral reserve.
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.
The other advantages associated with horizonal drilling are increased pay zone area, possibility of intersecting reservoirs particularly if they have features, ease of accessing out-of-control mines like those with pressure build up and allows installing underground facilities that facilitate excavation.
The rock permeability and fluid viscosity are also issues that can be sold with this mining method. In highly impermeable rocks, highly viscous fluids hardly move about. The effect is that the fluid can only be accessed when the drill is close enough. The horizontal drill allows closer location of drill and fluid flow by gravity into drills hence increased productivity. Mining in this case could have been an issue if vertical means was used.
Looking at the merits with which horizonal drilling comes with; it is easy to understand why a number of large mining firms says that they could not survive if not for this method of boring holes into the ground. Initial cost is expensive; the benefit however exceeds making it a worthy investment.
In case you are wondering how it is achieved, here is a little guide. The most common way is to first drill a vertical well running to where the targeted rock is located. The drill pipes are withdrawn at this point and replaced with a hydraulic motor. This is attached to the drill pipes at one end and drill bit at the other end. It rotates the drill bit while the drill pipes remain unmoved allowing for deviation of the drill from vertical orientation to the horizontal orientation.
In order for its success, a number of gadgets and related devices have to be used particularly to determine the azimuth and orientation. These instruments are used to provide information necessary to guide the drill bit to the desired targets.
The total cost of burrowing added to that of hydraulic fracturing per foot exceeds the vertical alternative by up to three times. With this revelation, there must be other factors, and not cost that make this the most preferred method of drilling. The answer lies in productivity level and environmental considerations.
There are many answers to this question, and here are a few. First, it gives the alternative way of mining deposits that occurs under surface features that do not permit vertical burrowing. This includes cities, parks, a number of treasures and indeed some natural features. The solution lies in making a vertical drill at the edge of that city of feature and proceeding with the horizontal burrowing to the mineral reserve.
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.
The other advantages associated with horizonal drilling are increased pay zone area, possibility of intersecting reservoirs particularly if they have features, ease of accessing out-of-control mines like those with pressure build up and allows installing underground facilities that facilitate excavation.
The rock permeability and fluid viscosity are also issues that can be sold with this mining method. In highly impermeable rocks, highly viscous fluids hardly move about. The effect is that the fluid can only be accessed when the drill is close enough. The horizontal drill allows closer location of drill and fluid flow by gravity into drills hence increased productivity. Mining in this case could have been an issue if vertical means was used.
Looking at the merits with which horizonal drilling comes with; it is easy to understand why a number of large mining firms says that they could not survive if not for this method of boring holes into the ground. Initial cost is expensive; the benefit however exceeds making it a worthy investment.
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