Some Experience with Drilling and Use of Horizontal Wells and Way of Their Application in Croatian Hydrocarbon Reservoirs

Abstract

In many hydrocarbon reservoirs horizontal well paths enable the more economical extraction of oil and gas than with vertical wells in the same reservoirs. This is especially true for cases of by-passed oil in partially depicted reservoirs. Successful design and drilling of horizontal wells is made possible by detailed knowledge of the geological structure, together with up-to-dale geophysical and other data. The drilling and production of the first horizontal well in Croatia are discussed and analysed. Methods for drilling and completion of horizontal wells, together with a proposal for their global utilization, are presented,