Unconventional natural gas resources offer an opportunity to access a relatively clean fossil fuel that could potentially lead to energy independence for some countries. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing make the extraction of tightly bound natural gas from shale formations economically feasible. These technologies are not free from environmental risks, however, especially those rela...

The rate of penetration (ROP) is one of the vital parameters which directly affects the drilling time and costs. There are various parameters that influence the drilling rate; they include weight on bit, rotational speed, mud weight, bit type, formation type, and bit hydraulic. Several approaches, including mathematical models and artificial intelligence have been proposed to predict the rate o...

The use of horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracturing technologies has enabled the production of immense quantities of natural gas, to date principally in North America but increasingly in other countries around the world. The global availability of this resource creates both opportunities and challenges that need to be addressed in a timely and effective manner. There seems little...

Filtration index of the drilling fluid is an important parameter of well drilling, especially at drilling-in the reservoirs. Standard parameter in the study of drilling fluids is static filtration index. At the same time, it is more feasible to determine dynamic filtration index, if considering actual conditions of the well. Use of polymer carbonate-weighted drilling fluids is advisable at dril...

Hydraulic fracturing and other recent technological advances have dramatically increased the availability of natural gas in the United States. Moreover, since peaking in 2008, U.S. natural gas prices have fallen dramatically, and industry analysts are forecasting that prices will remain low for the next several decades (e.g., U.S. DOE 2013a). These trends have broad implications for energy mark...

Over the past decade, there has been a surge in drilling for natural gas and oil in shale rock. Natural gas and oil extraction using high-volume, slickwater hydraulic fracturing from clustered multiwell pads using long, directionally drilled laterals (known by its popular name ‘fracking’), is an unconventional extraction process that is currently the focus of controversy. The process involves t...

Oil and gas well drilling activities are associated with numerous hazards which have the potential to cause injury or harm for people, property and the environment. These hazards are also a threat for the reputation of drilling companies. To prevent accidents and undesired events in drilling operations it is essential to identify, evaluate, assess and control the attendant risks. In this work, ...

Decreased technological costs and increased efficiency of horizontal drilling has made obtaining natural gas from shale deposits through hydraulic fracturing a viable economic option. However, current estimates of per kWh costs to obtain natural gas through this method do not account for increased environmental risks. By incorporating damages from air and water pollution, the true cost of hydra...