Page 54 - Primer on Enhanced Oil Recovery

Introduction to well technology
6

Abstract

At present, both onshore and offshore, at all stages from the pursuit for hydrocarbons and
exploration of hydrocarbon deposits up to the industrial development of oil and gas fields,
along with geological, geophysical, geochemical and other studies, well drilling is
employed. The wells are used for the access to the oil (gas) reservoirs, the assessment of
hydrocarbon reserves, the development of deposits and the development of explored
hydrocarbons. Oil extraction can also be done by use of excavated wells and a mines.

Chapter Outline

6.1 Well construction elements 46
6.2 Well flushing and drilling fluids 47
6.3 Well completion 48
6.4 Multilateral wells 50

At present, both onshore and offshore, at all stages from the pursuit for hydrocar-
bons and exploration of hydrocarbon deposits up to the industrial development of
oil and gas fields, along with geological, geophysical, geochemical and other stud-
ies, well drilling is employed. The wells are used for the access to the oil (gas)
reservoirs, the assessment of hydrocarbon reserves, the development of deposits and
the development of explored hydrocarbons. Oil extraction can also be done by use
of excavated wells and a mines.
It is believed that the first in the world (July 4, 1847) industrially drilled oil well
was done at the Absheron peninsula of the Bibi-Heybat field in the Republic of
Azerbaijan, where an industrial oil inflow was obtained from a depth of 21 m. The
first oil well in the United States was drilled in 1859 in the state of Pennsylvania by
Edwin Drake, who produced oil from a depth of 25 m.
The French engineer Fowell invented and applied in 1848 the method of contin-
uous wells flushing (removal of rock cuttings by a circulating stream of water) dur-
ing drilling.
Washing circulating fluid flow for the first time was used for the first time in the
United States in 1901. Next important step was taken with was an introduction of
diesel and gasoline engines into the drilling practice. All this created global and
prosperous oil industry.

Primer on Enhanced Oil Recovery. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817632-0.00006-2
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