Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nancy Mosley on December 24, 2018 at 5:02am

Good question! Merry Christmas to you!

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Permalink Reply by farmgas on December 24, 2018 at 5:10am

Think of the cost savings!!

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Permalink Reply by Coffeeguyzz on December 24, 2018 at 5:14pm

I do not think it is possible for several reasons, the pressure differential between Utica and Marcellus wells being just one.

Think of a long metal straw going down from the surface 8,000 feet to a Marcellus well.

The entire hardware must be able to contain the highest expected pressure which, I believe runs about 3,000 psi to over 4,000 in Susquehannah county.

The deeper Utica wells, from 10,000 to 13,500 feet vertical depth, regularly exceed 7,000 psi up to 10,000 psi Flowing Casing Pressure for monsters like the Scotts Run and the Gaut.

Intermediate size casing must be installed in a telescopic fashion - cemented throughout the process - to ensure well integrity.

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Permalink Reply by Coffeeguyzz on December 24, 2018 at 5:23pm

And just as a quick PS regarding Utica wells, XTO (Exxon), Chevron, and even Chesapeake have taken out very recent permits targeting the Utica/Point Pleasant formations.

There is a GREAT deal of anticipation regarding future Utica potential, but maintaining long lasting conductivity to the wellbore has been a major problem.

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Permalink Reply by Bullfrex on December 25, 2018 at 7:55am

Here is another thought; in NC PA, the Marcellus and the Utica formations have different planes. What I mean by that is, one formation is sloping gently towards the surface as the rock goes North, while the other formation slopes away from the surface as the rock goes North.

With the well completion reports I have seen, the operator begins to turn away from vertical at some point in the downward wellbore, trying to enter the formation at roughly the same plane.

So after all that, it may not be feasible to change formations from the same kick-off point.

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Permalink Reply by farmgas on December 25, 2018 at 3:51pm

I think I need to restate my question in a different way.    There are many wells intended for the Marcellus layer drilled to the kick-off point and then plugged and abandoned.   Can this same vertical well be used a second time for a Utica well?   The cost savings would be substantial. 

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Permalink Reply by jason irvine on December 29, 2018 at 1:06pm

Even if they cannot use the same bore hole. They can use the pads, gsthering lines, water, roads and bridges in those locals. Huge savings. The well itself is insignificant when u include all those items.

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Permalink Reply by Jon on April 4, 2019 at 6:25pm

I know of a pad that has vertical marcellus, devonian and utica. The horizontal shafts were never drilled though.

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Permalink Reply by william Allen. Ladd on April 5, 2019 at 3:19am

If I am correct, The Painter pad has two wells, one accesses Marcellus and the other accesses the Utica.   Rumor has it that Painter pad is scheduled in some future date for five wells total. But who knows for sure?  A pipeline ROW was established very soon after Painter pad  was drilled first time. Second well drilled about a year later. Both wells are in production today.  

Plans for new pads seem to change from day to day. That pipeline Row was to pick up production from Abplanalap drill pad as soon as a well was drilled. However I do not believe a well has ever been completed at Abplanalap pad. Much preparation on Abplanalap pad was done and access ROW to pad plus township road to Abplanalp pad was seriously up graded to carry heavy truck traffic last fall.  A thirty inch fill was added to a section of this township road.  Ditches and culverts added . Seems like all activity has moved to Potter county now.

Granddad Ladd

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