Generating a Full Field Development Plan in a Highly Restricted Urban Drilling Location in partnership with Paradigm for Mineral Resources.
The Challenge
This project was located in a highly restricted urban environment directly under the city of Greeley, Colorado. The development field had limited surface drilling locations to achieve optimal acreage production.
The Approach
To effectively access the target gas condensate reserves, IPT proposed designing long horizontal wells, up to 17,000’ measured depth, with significant offsets of up to 4,500’ before entering the lateral section. In-depth engineering analysis in string design and Torque/Drag analysis was needed to avoid string failures and ensure drillability.
Execution of accurate trajectory planning, survey error modeling, clearance analysis, and visualization was crucial to avoid failures and potential wellbore collisions.
The Solution
The IPT team leveraged its vendor network for premier solutions to ensure successful execution. The Paradigm Sysdrill application was used for comprehensive well planning, survey management, and drilling engineering analysis. IPT was able to rapidly design multiple pad patterns that fulfilled all requirements for anti-collision and reservoir placement.
The Results
IPT successfully demonstrated engineering feasibility for the client’s acreage despite significant challenges in the area. IPT and Mineral Resources have since successfully drilled and completed the project.
Project Highlights
- 10 square miles of pay-zone under the city of Greeley, Colorado
- 3-dimensional wellbore planning
- 0 abandoned wells
Drilling engineering services involve the design, planning, and execution of wellbores, including trajectory design, torque and drag analysis, and anti-collision modeling to ensure safe and efficient drilling.
They enable precise well placement from limited surface locations, allowing operators to access subsurface reserves while avoiding infrastructure conflicts and minimizing risk.
Long-reach horizontal drilling allows operators to extend wellbores thousands of feet laterally, increasing reservoir contact and production while reducing the number of surface locations required.
Through advanced 3D trajectory planning, survey error modeling, and clearance analysis, engineers ensure safe spacing between wells and avoid intersections.
It helps predict mechanical loads on the drill string, preventing failures and ensuring the well can be drilled to its target depth safely and efficiently.
If you are planning a development in a constrained environment or need to optimize complex well designs, IPT Well Solutions provides expert drilling engineering services to help you execute with confidence. Contact our team to discuss your project.