What Is Directional Drilling
The majority of oil and natural gas wells are located directly above the reservoirs from which they draw oil and natural gas. Each of those wells drills straight down until reaching the reservoir and then extracts the oil or gas. Each oil well bores a single line to the reservoir down below. Directional drilling is very different. A directional drilling company can locate one or more oil reserves that are positioned in a location that isn’t directly beneath the well. Instead, the rig drills at an angle to reach the reservoir of oil and extract it. Because the rig drills at an angle instead of straight down, the practice is referred to as directional drilling. It should also be noted that drilling is performed for utilities and piping. Let’s discuss more details of directional drilling.
The Benefits of Directional Drilling
The traditional rig drills straight down and either find what the drillers intend or is a dry well. There is just one bore, which means there is just one chance to get it right. A directional drilling company can bore multiple shafts going in different directions to find oil and gas reservoirs and extract their contents. One directional-drilling rig can do the work of several traditional oil rigs and extract oil and gas from an area ranging in size from between five and 10 square miles. Because one directional drilling well can tap multiple sources, it’s much faster and more affordable to drill for oil and gas. A directional drilling company can build and maintain a single rig instead of several traditional drilling rigs to extract the same amount of oil and gas.
The Ability to Extract From Delicate Areas
Directional drilling enables the extraction of oil and gas from locations where drilling and extraction might not be possible. A directional drilling rig can tap into oil and gas reservoirs that are located beneath neighborhoods, cities, and even bodies of water. The directional drilling rig is a very safe and proven way to tap into oil and gas reservoirs without disrupting the soil or structures located on the surface. Directional drilling does not cause oil spills in bodies of water and seldom affects groundwater supplies.
Directional drilling does come with some challenges. Drilling at an angle is more difficult than when drilling straight down to reach an oil and gas field. The angle can weaken the drill bit and makes the drilled bore more vulnerable to ground movement. Directional drilling rigs are mounted on tracks so that they can move around as needed for angled drilling. The effects of laying the tracks and the movement of the very heavy rig damage the ground. When the rigs are removed, though, the ground can be replaced and become overgrown with grass and wild plants once again. Finding a reliable company to work with is crucial. Contact us today for more information or to get started with our services.
The Process of Choosing Drill Locations
A directional drilling company doesn’t guess where its rigs should go. Instead, they identify where oil and gas reservoirs are located and the best location to reach them with directional drilling. A variety of technologies help directional drilling companies to pinpoint the likeliest areas for oil and gas exploration. Computer programs enable engineers to make 3D renditions of oil and gas fields. The rendering helps them to choose the best location for the drilling rig, the drilling angle, and where to start the drilling process. Organized plans for utilities, piping, and cables are included in the process as well. When the locations are known, GPS-guided drilling helps companies to tap into the resources quickly and begin the process. The drilling operators can adjust the drill’s direction while drilling is underway, which makes it easier to reach the desired location.
According to Globe Newswire, the world’s directional drilling market had reached about $9.53 billion in 2021. The process of directional drilling is a significant contributor to industrial technology. If you’re in need of directional drilling for utilities, piping, and cables, contact Hardrock HDDP or check out our customer reviews to learn more about our company. Our experienced team would be happy to help you with any project, so please reach out to us today.