New shale technologies, best practices

PRAMOD KULKARNI, Editor

Horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracturing have been the technology enablers for shale gas and liquids exploration and production. In the early days, the operators thought this was all the technology they needed—drill down to the shale formation, kick off a horizontal lateral somewhere in the shale and start fracing. The results, of course, were inconsistent. Some wells produced at exceptionally high initial rates; others were low producers. Moreover, the wells were expensive to drill and produce.

Over the last decade, operators, service companies and equipment manufacturers have made technology advancements that are now enabling operators to discern the sweet spots in shale, access them with geosteering, and then frac and produce wells closer to their best potential.

World Oil is pleased to present its first Shale Technology Review, an examination of new developments and best practices across the shale technology spectrum—geosciences, horizontal drilling, multi-stage fracturing and water management.