Conoco Inc. and 24 international companies are forming a group to conduct drilling and formation evaluation research.
Research will be conducted at Conoco's borehole test facility near Newkirk, Okla. The area is particularly well suited because there is a wide range of geological formations at relatively shallow depths, said Roger Able, Conoco general manager, production engineering and research.
THE FIRST PROJECT
The group's first project will be to study a variety of commercial and prototype measurement while drilling devices that gauge downhole drilling parameters, resistivity, neutron porosity, bulk density, and other properties.
Seven service companies have offered to demonstrate commercial and prototype tools, which are of particular interest in the drilling of horizontal or highly deviated wells.
Conoco in July will drill two wells for the project to about 3,200 ft, penetrating sandstone and limestone formations with 0-26% porosity and 0.5-200 ohm-m in resistivity. The drilling interval includes open fractures and organic shale.
Five wire line companies have offered to demonstrate state of the art logging tools as part of another research project once drilling research is complete.
Conoco hopes the initial efforts will establish a permanent joint industry test facility where companies can cooperate in acquisition and synthesis of research data and reduce duplication of effort.
The present group consists of 25 companies from the U.S., France, the U.K., Norway, Japan, and Italy. More members are being sought.
If about 30 participate, an extensive program can be conducted for about $30,000/participant, Conoco said.
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