American Oil and Gas Reporter - April 2015 - 127

SpecialReport: Performance Drilling
velopment from a single pad, there have
been several lessons learned, according to
Elkin.
"We have discovered that drilling as
many wells, and as long a lateral as technology or land constraints will allow, is the
most efficient and economical way to develop our reservoirs," he imparts. "We
have stacked target formations in some of
our plays, which allow us to double the
number of wells on a pad. The optimal
well spacing varies by formation and
area. We have learned that some areas require closer spacing to drain the reservoir
effectively, while other areas are more economical to produce at wider spacing.
The reservoir and rock qualities of a particular play will vary throughout the
reservoir, and as we continue to develop
and test each one, we determine the optimal spacing for that area."
Pad Dimensions
Elkin says EQT has a team that determines the dimensions of the pad. "The total number of wells and the associated surface equipment play a large role in determining pad size," he says. "From there,
the team plots and plans how the rig will
be constructed on the pad, the order in
which the wells will be drilled, how the
completions crew's equipment will be
placed on location, and where the permanent production facility will reside. Pre-

Not only has pad drilling increased the speed and efficiency of EQT Corporation's Appalachian Basin operations, but it also reduces the amount of community and surface
disturbance. Senior Vice President David Elkin points out that drilling only one well per
location would add 50-70 truck trips over area roadways each week.

planning all phases of the operation allows
us to plan each operation efficiently, so
the correct equipment can be put in the
best spot and pad infrastructure can be
placed properly."
The sequence in which the wells are
drilled also factors into the efficiency with
which the pad can be developed, according to Elkin.
"Wells usually are positioned in a
straight line when developing a pad," he
explains. "This minimizes the amount of
equipment that must be moved when

Determining pad size is a team
game at EQT Corporation, where
Senior Vice President David
Elkin says team members consider such factors as number of
wells and associated equipment, the position and sequence
in which wells will be drilled, how
completion equipment will be
placed, and the where the permanent production facility will
reside.

repositioning the rig for the next well. We
plan to drill a straight hole first, to gather information about our target formation.
Once that information is obtained, we will
start drilling in each direction outward
from our point of best control. This allows
us to land our laterals on target and stay
in our target more effectively.
"We also have learned that it is best to
drill the wells in order from one side to the
other," Elkin adds. "If wells need to be
drilled between one another, it incurs additional costs to ensure the well does not
affect the wells on either side."
Although pad size typically limits simultaneous stimulation efforts, Elkin
says that under optimum conditions-typically with a minimum of three wells-perfand-frac zipper work can lead to increased efficiencies.
"The key to success is proper planning," he emphasizes. "Functional rig-ups
as well as coordinating water and sand logistics are critical. Multiple unit drill-outs
and flowbacks have decreased overall pad
completion times dramatically. This typically has been more effective on pads with
more than five wells."
Elkin also notes that a rig with a
"walking package" can save a lot of time
moving from one well to the next.
"Another advantage to a walking rig
is that it can move to any well on the pad,"
he offers. "This allows us to set 90 percent of the equipment on location, and we
can develop the wells on the pad in any
order."
Responsible Exploitation
A number of leading producers in
APRIL 2015 127



American Oil and Gas Reporter - April 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Oil and Gas Reporter - April 2015

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