Case Study: Lukoil achieves record-setting 4,895-m horizontal drilling with SLB integrated drilling solutions

LUKOIL-Nizhnevolzhskneft Sets Record with Single-Run 4,895-m Horizontal Section, 88.5% Net to Gross

SLB worked with LUKOIL-Nizhnevolzhskneft to drill a highly challenging offshore extended-reach horizontal well in the Caspian Sea, where the operator needed to maintain wellbore stability, avoid faults and existing wells, and stay within a narrow geosteering window. The project required precise reservoir placement and reduced risk in a structurally uncertain environment, so SLB brought in its GeoSphere reservoir mapping-while-drilling service along with other integrated drilling technologies.

SLB engineered a custom drilling solution using GeoSphere, EcoScope LWD, geomechanics modeling, GRS survey management, i-DRILL, IDEAS, a Smith Bits SHARC drill bit, MEGADRIL fluid, and PowerDrive Xceed RSS. The result was 4,895 m drilled in a single run through five faults with no mud loss, 88.5% net-to-gross, and 4,316 m placed in pay zone. SLB’s approach also helped LUKOIL-Nizhnevolzhskneft set a world record for single-run GeoSphere footage at 4,908 m and achieve the longest 9½-in section drilled in one run on the project.

Lukoil