Drilling/completion fluids

Drilling

NETL Finds Naturally Occurring Signals Can Improve Oil and Gas Production and Safety

Researchers with the National Energy Technology Laboratory showed that naturally occurring signals in underground fluids can serve as effective indicators of flow patterns between existing wellbores. Understanding these patterns can lead to increased efficiency and safety.

The unconventional area of interest optimized casing design, with theillustration of the formations drilled in the combined vertical/curve/lateral 8-½-in section.

Directional/complex wells

Options Reduce Nonproductive Time in Drilling Unconventional Horizontal Wells

This paper highlights nontraditional methods to cure oil-based-mud losses in horizontal wells drilled in unconventional plays.

$Fig. 1—A tricone bit (a) and a rock sample (b) after drilling with a tricone bit. No visible fractures were observed at the bit/rock interface in any test.$

Drilling/completion fluids

Study Examines Thermal Effects on Drilling Performance in Hot Dry Rock

This paper evaluates the effect of rapid cooling on the rock-cutting process and incorporates this effect as a component of drilling-performance optimization.