Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Faculty of Engineering

HK03: Chemical Engineering

Semester 1 2017/2018

KC44703 OIL & GAS 1

Assignment 1
Topic : Methods in obtaining the most from oil and gas reservoir (Onshore)

NAME : ANEESCH PREETHA A/P VIDA NAIGAM

MATRIC NO : BK13110587

LECTURER : DR RACHEL FRAN MANSA

SUBMISSION DATE : 3 OCTOBER 2017

Oil and Gas 1 Assignment 1 Semester 1 2017/2018

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report was commissioned to discuss about the methods which could aid the
most in obtaining oil and gas from onshore reservoirs. We already have conventional and
commonly used methods in drilling out oil and gas. But, the question is, are those methods
effective in obtaining the most of oil and gas? So, when the answer is no, there are some
advents of innovations in the oil and gas industry. I have discussed three of such methods in
brief, in this report. Firstly, zipper fracking two wells at the same time. Just as interesting as
the name is, the method also forms an interesting pattern which aids in obtaining the oil and
gas. Next, by using the multilateral technology. Rather than spending some amount and
time drilling separate wells in many locations, we could just drill one well with several
branches. Finally, increasing the usage of sand in fracking. This is based on the simple
theory that when there is more grit, more oil will seep out. So, it can be concluded that
these methods are effective in obtaining the oil and gas, and also a very good investment. It
is recommended that the oil and gas industries could recycle the heat energy used more and
generate machines which could use renewable energy to operate in the future.

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…TABLE OF CONTENTS…

NO TOPIC PAGE
1 Executive Summary 1
2 Introduction 3
3 Methods to Obtain the Most from Onshore
-Zipper Fracking two wells at the same time 4
-Drilling multilaterals 5-6
-Increasing the use of sand 7
4 Conclusion 8
5 References 9

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

To start with, there are many methods to drill out oil and gas from both offshore and
onshore. In this case, we want to obtain the most from the reservoirs onshore. Onshore can
be defined as the mainland. To be scientifically precise, onshore simply means the
development of oil fields, gas deposits and geothermal energy on land.

To obtain oil and gas from onshore reservoirs, first we look for crude oil, natural gas
and geothermal deposits. It’s called prospecting. Then, it is essential to drill into the
underground deposits once we decide it is a potential reservoir.

The onshore extraction is a simpler task, which is less elaborate and more cost
effective compared to the offshore extraction (extracting oil and gas from the deep ocean),
because, in offshore extraction special method like seismic reflection is commonly used for
the exploration of crude oil, natural gas and geothermal deposits. In this case, we want to
make the most out of the methods used to obtain oil and gas.

Here, the methods used obtain oil and gas from shale. Shale is a sedimentary rock
which has fine grains that is formed from the compaction of silt and clay-size mineral
particles which is actually the mud. This kind of composition puts shale in the category of
sedimentary rocks known as "mudstones." Shale is differentiated from other mudstones
because it is fissile and laminated. This simply means that the rock is made up of several
thin layers. "Fissile" can be defined as the characteristic of a rock which would readily split
into thin pieces along the laminations.

The world's most important oil and natural gas deposits come mainly from the
organic black shale. These shales are black due to tiny particles of organic matter that were
deposited with the mud from which the shale is produced. As the mud was buried and
warmed within the earth, or we can say when it is cooked, some of the organic materials
take the form of oil and natural gas.

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2.0 Methods to obtain the most from onshore

2.1 Zipper Fracking two wells at the same time

Zipper fracking is actually a method to extract out oil and gas from the shale
rock formation. A liquid of high pressure is injected into a subterranean rock to break
open the existing holes and extract the oil and gas. This method was first introduced
in 2012, where professors at Texas Tech University innovated the fracking method.
Two wells are drilled side by side, in parallel but not too far from each other. Once
both the wells are drilled, they’re fracked at the same time. The fractures then would
create a zipper pattern, like the shape of dog teeth, that would dig out the rocks
more deeply and efficiently than in a single well.

Figure 1 Zipper fracking

This method enables both the wells to produce more oil and gas. This method was
used in the Barnett Shale in Texas, where the zipper-fracked wells increased the volume of a
typical well two folds. This technique is pretty much easier in onshore compared to offshore.
This is due to shale being a uniform layer of rock, so then companies can dig the wells near
to each other. Since the rigs don’t have to be moved too far in between the holes, this saves
up time and money. Usually, it takes days and cost the company hundreds of thousands of
dollars to drill a rig.

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Oil and Gas 1 Assignment 1 Semester 1 2017/2018

2.2 Drilling multilaterals

A multilateral well is actually a single well which consists of one or more wellbore
branches. These branches would radiate from the main borehole. Oil producer and S&A
Resource Report holding Laredo Petroleum are actually working in the Permian Basin. Based
on their work, 64 wells in four shale layers help to recover 44 million barrels of oil. It is
amazing to know that just the top layer could recover 12 million barrels of oil.
Approximately, this method increases oil recovery by nearly fourfold. Plus, this company has
many other wells to drill into like nearly 3500 well locations. This simply means they have
many layers more to drill, and this is equivalent to nearly 1.6 billion barrels of oil. This much
of oil takes up 35 years of drilling work. That’s plenty of oil.

Figure 2 Multilateral well configurations

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2.2.1 Significance of using this method

 Higher Production (Ph.A.Charlez, 1999): If we target into thin pools, vertical

wells would have smaller contact area with the reservoir and this results in lower
production. Drilling several laterals in these thin reservoirs which increases
contact improves recovery.
 Fast Recovery (Ph.A.Charlez 1999): The reservoir contact is higher in
multilateral wells, so the more oil can be recovered from multilateral wells
compared to from single vertical or horizontal wells.
 Decreased environmental impacts: There will be lesser consumed drilling
fluids and generated cuttings in multilateral wells, compared to separated wells.
Therefore, the effect of these multilateral wells on the environment is reduced.
 Saving time and cost (G. Ismail 1996): Drilling several laterals in a single well
will have substantial time and cost saving than drilling several wells in the
reservoir.

Figure 3 Multilaterals- Stacked laterals

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2.3 Increasing the use of sand

Sand is a very much better tool in hydraulic fracking. When more grit is poured into
the horizontal wells, more oil comes seeping out. This is regardless of how extreme the
amounts are. The usage of sand has been doubled ever since 2011, on a per-well basis.
Reaching nearly 8 million pounds, based on consulting firm IHS Inc.

The usage of sand is not a new invention or advancement, but it is very important in
fracking and it was never really that significant in traditional vertical-well drilling. Due to the
high density of shale rocks, drillers rely on both sand and water in huge quantities to force
the oil out. The water is splashed into the well at high pressure to form tens of thousands of
tiny cracks in the rock. This is where the sand comes in handy, they keep the cracks open,
elongate them and make them more jagged. A bigger amount of sand can increase the
amount of fractures that stay open.

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3.0 CONCLUSION

To conclude, I have learnt about the three methods mentioned, namely zipper
fracking, multilateral technology and the usage of more sand can actually help in obtaining
the most oil and gas from the reservoirs onshore. Zipper fracking is where we drill multiple
wells side by side, not too far from each other. This forms the zipper pattern. Then, in the
multilateral technology one well is constructed with more branches. This saves up costs.
Finally, the usage of more sand in fracking as more sand will form more grit to push out oil
from below.

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4.0 REFERENCES

1. Charlez, Ph.A. and Breant, P. "The Multiple Role of Unconventional Drilling

Technologies. From Well Design to Productivity." SPE European Damage Conference.
Netherland: SPE 56405, May 31, 1999.

2. Ismail, G. and El‐Khatib, H. "Multi‐Lateral Horizontal Drilling Problems & Solutions

Experienced Offshore Abu Dhabi." Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and
Conference. UAE: SPE 36252, October 13‐16, 1996.

3. Retrieved from the web : https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-technologies-allow-

shale-industry-thrive-pj-wilcox

4. Retrieved from the web : https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-technologies-allow-

shale-industry-thrive-pj-wilcox

5. Retrieved from the web : https://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-companies-tap-new-

technologies-to-lower-production-costs-1442197712