Selecting a drilling and completion strategy: directional drilling is only one of a number of drilling and completion strategies.
Introduction
Directional drilling in coal has been used in Australia since 1995, however its use only became widespread from 2002. Since then its growth has been rapid, and lessons are often being learnt by new operators or contractors attempting the art. Given that the definition of directional drilling is intentionally deviating a wellbore from the path it would naturally take, then we shall consider all types of directional drilling, from deviated vertical wells to horizontal sections.
This article attempts to compile the evolution and lessons learnt from directional drilling in coal in Australia and to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the advantages and limitations of directional drilling.
History of directional drilling in Australia
Surface directional drilling rigs were introduced into Australia in the late 1980s by Andy Lukas (of AJ Lucas) for a job at Appin Colliery in a joint venture between Occidental and AGL to test the effectiveness of the then new technology. The business continued with directional drilling: the first horizontal directional drilling (HDD) job performed by AJ Lucas was duplicating the oil pipeline under the taxiway at Sydney Airport for Caltex. Market interest in HDD began to grow and continued into river crossings as Telstra, known at the time as Telecom, rapidly expanded its fibre optic network. Competitors joined the market in the early 1990s.
Pontil, later Major, embarked on lateral CBM drilling at Moura in 1995 for BHP Seamgas. Initially the work was performed to pre-drain methane ahead of mining, but was later changed to CSG production and led to the first gas piped to market in Gladstone.
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