World's deepest horizontal oil well drilled

ENI, through its Agip Division, and Schlumberger Directional Drilling Services have successfully drilling of the world's deepest horizontal oil well in the Villafortuna-Trecate Field in Italy.

The drilling was completed during the first week of October 2000, after a final bit run that reached a total depth of 6,421 meters (21,066 ft) at an angle of 89.6°. The horizontal drain extended for 184 meters with inclinations that varied from 85° to 90°. The vertical depth of 6,062 meters (19,888 ft) is a new world record for a completed horizontal well.

The new technology high-temperature SlimPulse system provides real-time gamma ray measurements, combined with continuous inclination and direction under the extreme bottomhole conditions of up to 180°C (356°F), and was decisive in successfully geosteering the Villafortuna 1 well towards the target pay zone.

"Eni has traditionally used forefront technical solutions to guarantee environmental protection," said Vittorio Mincato, Managing Director of Eni. "This success, too, achieved jointly with our partner Schlumberger, confirms our strategy which aims at meeting with constantly increasing efficiency the demand for environmental quality in processes, products and services."

Edited by Dev George
Managing Editor, Oil and Gas Online