Bridging the Gap between Drilling and Completions: Challenges and Solutions in Horizontal Wells

When:  Apr 21, 2016 from 11:30 AM to 01:00 PM (MT)
Associated with  Grande Prairie Section

 

Economic development of low permeability, unconventional reservoirs has necessitated the development of leading edge horizontal drilling, completion, and stimulation techniques.  As early as the 1980's, bold statements were made indicating that there were little advances in horizontal drilling technologies required,but that significant improvements in stimulation and completion technologies were necessary.

This presentation starts by asking the audience to consider two questions:

1) Does completion technology lag behind drilling technology? and

2) Can we drill longer wells than we can effectively complete/stimulate?

Through a historical overview of developments which allowed economic exploitation of tight reservoirs in the North Sea and Europe, it is shown that completion engineers were able to keep up with the advances made in horizontal drilling.  Lessons learned through the 1990's can be  applied to the development of unconventional reservoirs.

For the "resource plays" of today, it is recognized that the challenge for completion technologies to keep pace with drilling advances are different than in the past.  Economic, supply chain, logistics and environmental challenges may present the largest hurdles.    Today's challenges and limitations are discussed along with innovation solutions currently being applied.

The presentation wraps up by the future question:  Are completion engineers prepared to effectively stimulate and complete the "3-mile lateral"?  What will future field developments look like and what new completion technologies are required?  Can we bridge the gap between drilling and completion in unconventional reservoirs? 

Speaker: Mary Van Domelen, Continental Resources

Mary Van Domelen is an Engineering Advisor with Continental Resources. She holds a BS degree in Chemical and is a licensed engineer.  She has 30 years of experience in research and practical application of well completions.  Mary started her career with Halliburton and has worked in the USA, and Africa.  Prior to Continental, she worked for Maersk Oil and Chesapeake in horizontal drilling and completion operations.  She has co-authored more than 30 papers and holds several patents.  Mary plays an active role in the SPE by participating in organizing committees for conferences, applied technology workshops, and forums.

 

Pizza lunch will be provided  

 

Location

Room J107 Grande Prairie Regional College
J wing of the GPRC, Paid parking avaliable in lots C and F
Grande Prairie Canada
Registration Price
Member $20.00
Non-member/Guest $30.00
Student $10.00

Contact

Blair Fisher

bfisher@sanjel.com