BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

HORIZONTAL AND EXTENDED REACH DRILLING
The nature of a reservoir has some effect on the suitability of medium-radius drilling, but much less
so than with long-radius. Fractured reservoirs, like the Austin Chalk, may be the most economical
use of the medium-radius technique to date.
Figure 11 - 2
Schematics of Medium-Radius Applications.
The reduced vertical depth needed for medium-radius wells is an advantage of this technique. A
medium-radius well requires less lease space to reach a horizontal target than a long radius well. A
typical medium-radius curve requires less than 500 feet of departure, while a long-radius curve
requires over 1400 feet.
BAKER HUGHES DRILLING FLUIDS
REFERENCE MANUAL
REVISION 2006. 11-4