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According to IBIS World, the oil drilling and gas extraction market in the U.S. is worth around $256 billion and is comprised of over 81,000 businesses. This market has flourished in the U.S. thanks to innovation and the implementation of technologies that serve to enhance productivity in gas and oil production further. This has been a key driver to the booming business of buying and selling mineral rights over the previous 2 years. Much of this success can be chalked up to a process known as directional drilling. While this process is not new to the modern drilling arena, various improvements and upgrades to the process have been made, which has enabled this drilling method to become even more efficient and cost-effective over time.
WHAT IS DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
Directional drilling is a term used to describe the process of directing a wellbore towards a specific location underground. Established around the 1920’s, this process has come to play an important role in today’s oil drilling industry. While an oil well is traditionally drilled at a vertical angle, directional drilling is when wells are drilled at various angles. In doing so, oil reserves can be accessed more effectively.
KEY ADVANTAGES OF DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
One key advantage of directional drilling is that this process can be used to lessen environmental impact by drilling multiple angular wells that extend out of the same main vertical wellbore. New directional drilling technologies also make it possible to tap oil reservoirs that are very far away or located very deep below the Earth’s surface.
DOES DIRECTIONAL DRILLING WORK?
In the simplest of cases, directional drilling works by pointing the drill in the desired direction. However, more complex variables and obstacles require a unique process. According to insights published by RigZone, these more complicated directional drilling techniques utilize a bend near the drill bit in conjunction with a steerable mud motor.
The way directional drilling is specifically carried out largely depends on the type of directional drilling being utilized, which is determined based on the desired results. For example, horizontal drilling can be used to increase production by 20 times compared to vertical drilling. This type of drilling is achieved by drilling a well horizontally across an oil reservoir. The reason why this type of drilling allows for such a significant increase in production is that it allows the well to reach reserves that are located in tight shale formations that are a mile or more below the Earth’s surface.
WHAT CAN DIRECTIONAL DRILLING ACHIEVE?
- Wells that are created using directional drilling are more efficient than traditionally drilled wells.
- Directional drills can go places where standard drills cannot. For example, horizontal wells can go under buildings, roads, and other obstacles.
- Directional drilling reduces disruption around the reservoir site.
- Wells created using directional drilling generates less contaminated waste.
- Directional drilling is a less expensive process.