#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Drilling of gas wells continues at the Pelyatka gas condensate field. As a reminder, Norilskgazprom is implementing a large-scale project to build new wells, which is significant for the gas supply of enterprises of the mining and metallurgical complex and the Big Norilsk.
It is included in the Nornickel energy complex’s development strategy. The work is being carried out by a drilling contractor. The company’s investment in the project is about ten billion rubles.
Drilling is being carried out at the site of well cluster No. 4. Initially, when designing the gas collection system, it was planned to build ten wells there. The first, already operating, five wells were drilled in 2016. In June of this year, drilling of five more new ones began. Two wells have been drilled, and the third one is being drilled.
Drilling of the first directional well with a depth of 2,727 meters was completed at the end of summer. Then the drilling rig was moved 60 meters, and drilling of the second well began. Its depth is 3,603 meters. The difference from the first is that it is not just directional, but directional with a horizontal end of the wellbore. And the length of the horizontal section at a depth of 3,603 meters is about 700 meters. As Vladimir Dmitrichenko, head of the Norilskgazprom project office, said, it is unique both in its design and in the drilling work carried out.
“The longer the horizontal part, the greater the drainage radius of the productive formation. In addition to increasing the productivity of the well, the prospects for production volumes per well increase, thereby reducing the need for fewer wells to develop the reserves of the formation as a whole for the field. This horizontal section is a unique story. Before this, horizontal sections of wells at Pelyatka were up to 400 meters. And here it is exactly 700 meters, of which about 600 meters pass through the main productive section of the formation, a perforated pipe is laid in it, through the holes of which gas will flow. That is, we expect that the well will be highly productive”.
After the drilling of the second well was completed in early October, drilling of the third one began. It is similar in design to the second one – both will be record holders for the length of the horizontal section among other wells of the Pelyatkinskoye gas condensate field. Completion of the third well drilling is scheduled for mid-December. At the same time, work on the development and testing of two already drilled wells is scheduled for November and December.
“Charges with explosives will be lowered on pump and compressor pipes into the production column, they should pierce the column through. Such piercing will ensure perforation of the productive section, through which gas from the earth’s formation will flow into the pipe. The Norilskgazprom’s geology and field development department has determined the specific intervals in the pipe where holes should be made. The first two drilled wells should be developed and tested by the end of the year. The second well that was drilled will be developed before the first, since there is no need to perforate it. It is currently filled with drilling mud. This kind of preservation fluid will be replaced with gas condensate. It is assumed that gas under reservoir pressure will displace it. Everything that has accumulated during the drilling process should come out, and the well will flow stably without pops and stops, and gas will flow through it like blood through veins. As a result of the tests, we should receive the first gas inflow and estimate the well flow rate”, says Vladimir Dmitrichenko, head of the project office.
According to the project, the predicted gas production levels from the first well will be 290 thousand cubic meters of gas per day, from the second and third – 750 thousand cubic meters.
The remaining two directional wells will be drilled in the first half of 2025. Then, as part of a new investment project, a range of improvement works will be carried out – well piping, construction of overpasses and service platforms, laying of a pipeline from the well to the point of tie-in to the existing collector. The new wells are planned to be commissioned in 2026.
Follow us on Telegram, VKontakte.
Text: Anzhelika Stepanova, Photo: Norilskazprom JSC
