Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by insomniacnla on July 27, 2009 at 6:47

One well by Encana where the lateral is east to west is next to me in Sec. 14 15n 14w but I have no idea why.

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Permalink Reply by The_Baron on July 27, 2009 at 8:31

The gossip from CHK and HK is that the shale has a "grain" to it. The shale fracs better with a north-south lateral.

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Permalink Reply by The_Baron on July 27, 2009 at 8:32

CHk has drilled a east-west as well.

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Permalink Reply by Bacon on July 27, 2009 at 8:45

Hey Baron, Any production figures on the CHK well? None of the ECA wells (that I noticed) have been reported. I was wondering if it was one those experimental type deals but they seem to have several going that way.

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Permalink Reply by The_Baron on July 27, 2009 at 9:24

It IP at 2.6 million per day.

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Permalink Reply by Mac Davis on July 28, 2009 at 19:46

5 adjacent sections have NS laterals. Sections to N, W, S, NW, SW all have NS laterals. Does the "grain" change over that short a distance? Maybe they figured out EW works better in that area and are changing patterns.

I notice that there are 4 vertical wells in the same section T15NR14W14, but they are shallower. It doesn't seem that they would affect drilling into a lower level.

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Permalink Reply by Mac Davis on July 27, 2009 at 10:12

Some other possibilities:

1) The physical properties of the surface make it easier to situate the well on the East or West border of a Unit. (Water features, existing roads, location of houses, etc.)

2) It was easier to acquire surface rights on the East or West border of a particular Unit.

I'm puzzled over why there are so many laterals that run at angles to NSEW in a square unit. You do get to run a somewhat longer lateral, but it makes it harder to efficiently drain the unit when you add more wells later.

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Permalink Reply by The_Baron on July 28, 2009 at 7:44

again, I have been told the laterals are best when drilled "with the grain".

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Permalink Reply by Grillin' - MmmMmm on July 28, 2009 at 9:03

Yes Baron, there is science to the direction of the lateral. Has to deal with the stress patterns within the formation and the impact that has on frac'ing. In the Barnett this was figured out after a while, by comparing rates to the directions. Most have it figured out and are applying similar techniques to the HS.

Sometimes the geometry makes it a bit more difficult, though.

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Permalink Reply by Bacon on July 29, 2009 at 2:11

Mark, would you think that ECA is in kind of test mode with these? Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Mac Davis on July 29, 2009 at 10:49

Mmmarkkk, does that mean you need to try laterals in different directions until you figure out what's best for Haynesville? Or do they study core samples, etc. and figure it out before a well is drilled?

Do you think they've tried enough EW laterals in the HS to decide that NS is best? There don't seem to be a lot of EW laterals to draw data from.

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Permalink Reply by Grillin' - MmmMmm on July 29, 2009 at 11:18

Over many years in the Barnett a lot was learned through "experience"; we're using that experience and some improved science to not have to climb up the learning curve as much. With core data, some very sophisticated logging data and a few other techniques, the maximum and minimum stress fields are determined and that will generally drive the preferred direction of the well. It took a while in the Barnett...first in how we located frac's in vertical wells and then in how we drilled the horizontals. The HS has the benefit of this 20-year learning lab in the Barnett.

Now, I used "preferred" above for a simple reason: you can't always get what you want!! Thanks Mick! Sometimes lease/unit boundaries or other physical issues get in the way and you have to go with "less than optimal".

Not sure what ECA is trying to do; haven't been keeping an eye on them. I'll see if I can pull a bit of data and make a few phone calls.

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