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Permalink Reply by Mike Tomlin on January 21, 2009 at 9:39

Thanks for the reply.

Is it common for the pipe to get stuck.

I do not know geology or drilling, but do you think some areas will not be able to be drilled (or much harder to be drilled) because of difficulties with underground formations getting the pipe stuck?

--could not think of how to ask this question, let me know if this makes no sense.

Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Checkmateking on January 21, 2009 at 11:05

If you don't ream enough and drill to fast it isn't hard to get stuck.

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Permalink Reply by Dion Warr, CPL on January 21, 2009 at 11:09

Mike:

I would imagine it is possible to have some "Bermuda Triangle" areas where geologic conditions are such that mechanical failure bears out to be a strong possibility ('heaving shale', impermeable rock, in the vicinity of salt domes, etc.), but the general conditions in all formations down to the Smackover in the HS are more or less known in most of these areas.

More than likely, this is an unfortunate circumstance; it is just one of things that can occur when you drill. One tries to minimize their occurrence (at $2.5-$4MM vertical, $6-$10MM horizontal, who wouldn't want to?), but casing can separate, wells can lose circulation and returns downhole, pipe becomes stuck, logging tools, wireline, and coiled tubing can get snagged, even if you have all the strata visualized and the well engineered properly.

Apparently, they could not free the pipe after about 10 days to 2 weeks, and gave up. P&A, and a "do over".

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Permalink Reply by Dorcheated A1 on January 21, 2009 at 11:15

Dion,
On average about how many times might this occur. 1 every 100 wells, or 1,000. etc.

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Permalink Reply by Dion Warr, CPL on January 21, 2009 at 12:24

DCT:

Not terribly often, at least to the point that it is fatal to the well... Minor and moderate snafus can be fairly common in wells; generally the crew can and will attempt to work it out (pressure/depressure/push/pull until tools, mill around and sidetrack debris and casing problems, etc.), and many times they succeed in proceeding to completion.

I'd be at a loss to give you a decent estimate on percentage, though.

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Permalink Reply by Dorcheated A1 on January 21, 2009 at 12:30

Thanks Dion,
I appreciate the information.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Tomlin on January 21, 2009 at 12:07

Thanks for the info. everyone.

There is a producing Haynesville well a few miles south and east of this well and it is producing about 200 mcfd in month 6. Not good at all. Don't know if it is vertical or horizontal. But it should be producing better than that regardless. EnCana is the operator, so I hope they can have better success considering they own all the leases around this area.

Those results combined with our "pipe being stuck" problem have people getting a little nervous.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Tomlin on January 22, 2009 at 9:39

Does anyone know how to look at all of the unit applications for Red River Parish?

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Permalink Reply by Dion Warr, CPL on January 22, 2009 at 18:01

Mike T:

Pull the docket schedule off of DNR events calendar. Here is the general link to the schedule, although you can click straight to the day of the hearings and the docket through the calendar:

http://dnr.louisiana.gov/cons/CONSEREN/hearings/pubhearings2009.htm

Each item generally has the field listing, the letter and the application. You can use SONRIS Lite to lookup all the applicable fields in a given parish. (Fields by Parish)

There are probably other ways to get to this, but it is what I would do. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on January 22, 2009 at 18:42

Mike, EnCana has already shown they can make high rate Haynesville Shale wells (horizontal & vertical) and have a lot of experience in other areas with shale and tight sand gas wells. The 200 Mcfd well was probably one of their early verticals so I wouldn't worry too much.

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