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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.
Just like the vertical wells, most of horizonal drilling work starts with vertical drills. This goes deep to the point where it is just few hundred meters from the targeted rock. At this level, the drill pipes are withdrawn and a hydraulic motor placed at the point where they meet the drill bit. They are fixed in such a way that the drill bit is rotated by the motor without having to rotate the drill pipes as it were with the vertical burrowing.
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.
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.
It is the only way reverses unreachable directly from the surface can be reached. It is not unusual to discover mineral reservoir beneath a city, a part or natural features that make them inaccessible through vertical burrowing. In such situations, the solution is to bore vertically from the edge of that city and make a horizontal turn once underground.
Other than this, the surface area that can be drained through this method is larger from just a single drill from the surface. This greatly reduces the number of surface footprints making it environmentally friendly. Burrowing through the rock horizontally also means increased pay zone, particularly when the targeted rock is not too thick.
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.
Considering a situation where you are drilling with highly viscous fluid in highly impermeable rocks, any movement of fluid to the drill is very difficult and takes time. If the vertical drills are used, the mining is close to impossible. The horizontal drills however take the holes closer to fluid. The force of gravity also comes to aid the fluid flow into the drill facilitating mining.
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.
Just like the vertical wells, most of horizonal drilling work starts with vertical drills. This goes deep to the point where it is just few hundred meters from the targeted rock. At this level, the drill pipes are withdrawn and a hydraulic motor placed at the point where they meet the drill bit. They are fixed in such a way that the drill bit is rotated by the motor without having to rotate the drill pipes as it were with the vertical burrowing.
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.
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.
It is the only way reverses unreachable directly from the surface can be reached. It is not unusual to discover mineral reservoir beneath a city, a part or natural features that make them inaccessible through vertical burrowing. In such situations, the solution is to bore vertically from the edge of that city and make a horizontal turn once underground.
Other than this, the surface area that can be drained through this method is larger from just a single drill from the surface. This greatly reduces the number of surface footprints making it environmentally friendly. Burrowing through the rock horizontally also means increased pay zone, particularly when the targeted rock is not too thick.
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.
Considering a situation where you are drilling with highly viscous fluid in highly impermeable rocks, any movement of fluid to the drill is very difficult and takes time. If the vertical drills are used, the mining is close to impossible. The horizontal drills however take the holes closer to fluid. The force of gravity also comes to aid the fluid flow into the drill facilitating mining.
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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