ConocoPhillips Sets Drilling Record in Alaska and Puts in Order for Monster Drilling Rig

 

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A record horizontal injection well of more than 26,000 feet has been drilled by ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. in the State of Alaska. At the same time, the company has ordered a massive powerful new drilling rig.

The site called CD5 is in the Colville river Unit on Alaska’s North Slope and is the first commercial oil development on Alaska Native lands within the boundaries of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

The 26,196 foot long well was drilled in the alpine field by Doyon Rig 19 to a total vertical depth of nearly 7,400 feet then had a horizontal leg of 17,228 feet. It took 24 days to drill.

“Longer wells allow the company to access more of the reservoir without increasing the gravel footprint of the development,” explained Mike Wheatall, manager of drilling and wells for ConocoPhillips Alaska. “Ultimately, longer wells like these could mean more oil produced over a longer period of time.”

Making the well even more astonishing is that more than 60 square miles of subsurface can be accessed from a single drilling pad. Alpine was the first North Slope field developed exclusively with horizontal well technology.

ConocoPhillips also put in an order this week for a much larger rig that will beat even current long-distance drilling records in the state. The company has signed a contract with Doyon Drilling Inc. but the rig won’t arrive in Alaska until 2020. With it, ConocoPhillips says it will be able to drill wells 6.25 miles long.