PERFORACIÓN PETROLERA AVANZADA: Cap I - Perforación Direccional

History and Development of Directional Drilling

Early Instances of Directional Drilling

• The first directional drilling occurred in 1930, initially for unethical purposes, such as crossing property lines.

• A directional drilling tower was installed to extract hydrocarbons from a well that was not under the driller's ownership.

Acceptance and Implementation

• By 1934, directional drilling received approval due to its effectiveness in controlling blowouts in wells.

• In Bolivia, directional drilling began in 1954 under the guidance of engineer María Canon.

Definition and Characteristics

• Directional drilling is defined as deviating a borehole based on a planned trajectory towards a specific target.

• Unlike conventional vertical drilling, directional drilling allows for significant deviation from the initial vertical axis.

Reasons for Employing Directional Drilling

Accessibility Issues

• There are six primary reasons necessitating directional drilling: inaccessible locations, multiple well formations on one platform, relief wells, side tracking, and salt domes.

Inaccessible Locations

• Obstacles like houses or protected areas can prevent conventional vertical drilling; thus, directional methods are employed to reach reservoirs without disturbing surface structures.

Geological Challenges

• Fault lines often indicate hydrocarbon reservoirs but pose challenges during vertical drilling. Directional techniques help navigate these geological features effectively.

Multiple Wells from One Platform

• Offshore platforms benefit from multiple wells drilled from a single location to reduce costs while maximizing resource extraction efficiency.

Specific Applications of Directional Drilling

Relief Wells

• Relief wells are crucial for managing uncontrolled adjacent wells by allowing operators to control pressures and prevent hazardous situations.

Side Tracking Techniques

• Side tracking involves deviating from an originally drilled hole when obstructions occur (e.g., stuck pipe), ensuring continued access to resources without starting anew.

Salt Domes as Indicators

Understanding Directional Drilling Techniques

Risks of Drilling Through Salt Domes

• The speaker discusses the risks associated with drilling through salt domes, emphasizing that it can lead to significant problems.

• A major concern is the loss of circulation due to drilling fluids entering salt formations, which can cause swelling and other complications.

Key Components of Directional Drilling

• Introduction to directional drilling components, starting with surface location as the initial point in the drilling process.

• The kickoff point (KOP) marks where deviation begins; this is crucial for understanding well trajectory.

• Explanation of well inclination and how it affects drilling direction, including terms like "build-up" and "drop-off."

Trajectory and Well Sections

• Description of various sections in a wellbore: tangential section, start drop, and final descent points are highlighted.

• Emphasis on horizontal displacement from vertical alignment towards the target area.

Understanding Angles in Drilling

• Discussion on angle increase rates during drilling; important for managing curvature effectively.

• Introduction to terms such as "build-up rate" (angle increase per length drilled).

Types of Directional Wells

• Overview of different types of directional wells: vertical depth (true vertical depth - TVD), measured depth (MD), and their significance in planning.

• Four main types of directional wells are identified: Type 1 (J-shaped), Type 2 (incremental), Type 3 (continuous increment), and horizontal wells.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Directional Drilling

Advantages and Disadvantages of Directional Drilling

Overview of Directional Drilling

• Directional drilling allows access to reservoirs more quickly, but it comes with higher costs compared to traditional vertical drilling.

• This technique is particularly beneficial in offshore environments where multiple wells can be drilled from a single platform, enhancing hydrocarbon extraction efficiency.

Efficiency and Production

• When assuming no salt dome interference, vertical extraction may not be as efficient; directional drilling can cover a larger area of the reservoir, leading to increased hydrocarbon recovery.

• One significant advantage of directional drilling is its potential for greater production rates compared to direct vertical approaches.

Cost Considerations

• The cost of directional drilling is elevated due to specialized instruments required for monitoring deviation and direction control.