Understanding

Well Construction and

Surface Footprint

Well Construction Timeline

Well Site Planning & Preparation

Stage 1: Planning and Preparation

Acquire Surface Lease
Agreement
Determination of multi-well pad
or single well pad requirements
Inform stakeholders of the
proposed well construction
Evaluation of sour gas
probability; this will influence
equipment location, etc.
Acquire Well license(s)
Obtain Operation(s) permits
Site Excavation and Preparation
The preparation of the location
would include the drilling of
initial rat hole/mouse hole and
placement of conductor string/
pipe
Identify safety procedures,
environmental and regulatory
requirements
Outline the emergency response
plans/procedures

Drilling

Stage 2: Drilling
Drilling rig and equipment
mobilization (if not used for
Surface Hole drilling)
Drilling fluids/mud testing and
recycling
Blow Out Preventer (BOP)
installation
Surface, and intermediate (in
some cases) casing cemented
into the wellbore
Drill cutting samples taken and
analyzed (ongoing throughout
the drilling process)
Wellbore drilled to total
depth(vertical, directional or
horizontal)
Potential reservoir(s) identified
and evaluated using geophysical
logging techniques

Most stages of well construction include stakeholder dialogue. Consultation

with stakeholders is the responsibility of the individual project proponent.
2

Stage 3: Casing and Cement

Production casing
lowered into the well
and cemented into place
Diagnostic tools are
utilized to ensure
wellbore integrity

Completion & Stimulation

Stage 4: Completion & Stimulation

Drilling rig is moved offsite and
permanent wellhead installed
Stimulation equipment is moved
into place
Reservoir horizons are
perforated and then stimulated
Stimulation equipment is moved
offsite
Producing zones are tested
With the drilling and completion
equipment demobilized, the
surface footprint is dramatically
reduced.

Site Maintenance

After casing, cementing and well

stimulation activities are completed,
and assuming the well is successful,
there will be additional construction
activity on site to install surface
facilities if required, tie the well
into the pipeline infrastructure, and
contour and reclaim part of the lease
site.

This information booklet discusses well construction practices only. For more information about
the completions process, including Hydraulic Fracturing or other stimulation techniques, please
reference Understanding Hydraulic Fracturing or Understanding Water and Unconventional Resources
at www.csur.com
3

Well Construction Timeline

Casing & Cement

Well Site Planning & Preparation

Single vs. Multi-well pad
A standard single well lease site for conventional
oil or gas will typically affect a surface area
measuring 100 metres by 100 metres. The
lease site will typically hold the drilling rig and
additional equipment along with supervisory
accommodation and material storage. If multiple
wells from a single pad are planned, the surface
area of the lease site would be larger; in some
cases as much as double the size. (100 metres by
200 metres.) While a multi-well pad site will have a
larger surface area, the cumulative surface impact
of the total number of wells drilled in the project
area will be smaller. Pad sites allow multiple
wells to be drilled from one surface lease, thereby
reducing the total surface area required for oil and
gas development. Once drilling is completed and
the well(s) is/are connected/tied-in to the pipeline,
a portion of the lease area can be reclaimed to
minimize surface disturbance.
Surface Lease Site Agreement
A surface lease site agreement grants a company
access to drill a well(s) on land that is held either
privately, by the crown or by a First Nation. The
agreement also specifies any conditions relating
to the commitments and responsibilities of both
the company and the landowner, including the
payment of compensation by the company to the
landowner.

License & Permit

Federal and/or Provincial and Municipal
licenses and permits are required for lease site
construction; project specific requirements will
vary depending on the location of the well.
Excavation & Leveling
To prepare for initial drilling, the lease site is
leveled, if necessary, with a bulldozer and/or
grader, with careful consideration given to buried
pipelines and utilities, as well as proximity to
surface water features. The scale and duration of
lease site preparation is site-specific. On some
drilling sites, a cellar may be excavated. This is
where the main borehole is to be drilled. A reserve
pit and settling pits may be excavated and are
used for water or drilling fluid (mud) discharges.
Often the soil layers are separated for better soil
conservation. Upon completion of the drilling, the
soils can then be restored to their original location.

Excavated lease site

Safety Procedures & Emergency Response Plans

All drilling sites are typically classified according
to areas of potential and/or actual exposure to
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S). H2S is an extremely toxic
and poisonous gas. Employers will take special
precautions when choosing equipment. Well site
employees are trained to respond accordingly should
they encounter H2S. Under these circumstances,
all employees are required to wear specially

approved masks and air supply equipment. The

recommendations and employee instruction will vary
depending on the type of area, as will the emergency
response plans (ERPs) that are in place
Environmental and Regulatory Considerations
Provincial and federal regulations, which govern
the oil and gas industry, have been in place for
many years. They have been established to ensure
that both the public and the environment are
protected throughout exploration, development and
production of hydrocarbon resources. Regulations are
also continually reviewed and revised, as required, in
response to advancements in industry technologies
and the techniques employed to extract the resource.
The fundamental regulatory basics of surface
and groundwater protection, wellbore integrity,
lease construction, for example, apply to all
types of hydrocarbon developments; including
unconventional resources. Similarly, the use of
water for drilling and completion activities require
approvals or permits from appropriate authorities.
Prior to acquisition of the surface lease site, a number
of different steps are required. Requirements will vary
depending on the location of the proposed development
and jurisdictional prerequisites.
5

Well Site Planning & Preparation

Drilling of the Surface Hole , etc.

As part of any oil or gas well, a conductor hole
and surface hole are required as part of the entire
wellbore. Commonly, a rathole and/or a mousehole
are drilled prior to the actual drilling of the well to
reservoir depth. A conductor hole, also referred to
as a starter hole is a large diameter hole, lined with
pipe which varies in depth, and is used to house the
BOP (Blow Out Preventer). A rathole is a hole lying
below the rig floor, 30 to 35 feet deep, lined with
casing into which the kelly is placed when hoisting
operations are in progress. A mousehole is a shallow
bore hole under the rig floor, usually lined with pipe,
into which joints of drill pipe are temporarily placed
during drilling operations. These are either done by
the portable rig that drills the conductor hole, or
can be done by the primary rig after rigging-up. The
surface hole is drilled and cased to isolate potential
shallow groundwater aquifers from the wellbore.

Drilling
Equipment Assembly and Placement
A site, and its access road, must accommodate a large number of
temporary and semi-permanent structures and tanks, all brought
in by truck. At a newly-prepared drill site, the stability of the well
pad is necessary to support the drilling rig and auxiliary equipment
required onsite. In some localities where the ground is unstable rig
mats are commonly used. After the well pad is properly prepared
the drilling rig is then unloaded and assembled.
There are many rig designs, and this booklet does not cover each
type individually. During assembly of the rig, some equipment may
be handled and set with crane, rig up trucks, or forklift, depending
on the size of the rig.
The substructure is assembled, pinned together, leveled, and tied
into other rig components. Once the substructure is set in place,
installing the power system and raising the derrick begins. Most
drilling rigs are powered by electricity that is delivered by onsite
diesel powered generators.
While one crew finishes preparing the rig floor, another crew might
be rigging up the circulating system. The mud tanks and mud
pumps are set into the predetermined location.
Once all additional drilling and auxiliary equipment are set into
place a final inspection can be done. The entire process of riggingup can take one or two days. Where multiple wells are drilled from
a single pad, commonly the drilling rig will have the ability to
move to the next location on the lease with minimal disassembly/
reassembly.
6

Source: Shale Exploration

Drilling boreholes deep into the ground
and preparing them to produce oil and
gas is a highly technical and specialized
process. Throughout the operation,
custom-designed fluids fulfill many
different roles. While drilling, these include:
lubricating the drill bit; circulating
drilled-up rock out of the hole; containing
formation fluids within the hole; and
facilitating operation of sophisticated
formation evaluation tools. Fluids may
be water-based, oil-based, or synthetic.

Step 1
Drill vertically until the wellbore
reaches a point above the
targeted reservoir.
Step 2
Kick off and begin to drill at an
increasing angle until the wellbore
runs horizontally through the
targeted reservoir.

Vertical vs. Horizontal

Although historically oil and gas wells have been drilled
vertically, new technologies have made it possible for
wells to be drilled horizontally. The purpose of drilling
a horizontal well is to increase amount of reservoir rock
that is intersected from the wellbore. Horizontal drilling
first entails drilling a vertical well to a predetermined
depth above the reservoir. The well is then drilled at an
increasing angle until it intersects the reservoir interval
in a horizontal plane. Once horizontal, the well is then
drilled to a selected length, which could extend to as
much as 3500m. This portion of the well, called the
horizontal leg, allows significantly increased contact of
the wellbore with the reservoir compared to a vertical
well. Upon completion of drilling, production casing
is commonly placed into the wellbore. A perforating
gun is lowered into the
wellbore and placed
in a selected interval
within the horizontal
leg. It is then activated
to create a series of
holes in the casing to
allow communication
between the reservoir
and the wellbore

Step 3
Drill horizontally to desired length.

Drilling

Core Samples
In some cases, a core
sample of the formation is
Example of a
taken for testing. A special
core sample.
Typically 12
core barrel is lowered to
inches in length
the bottom on the drill
and 8 inches in
diameter. The
string and is rotated to cut
pitted surface
a core from the formation. represents visible
pore space.
This core is brought to the
surface and examined in
a laboratory. Some core
Source:
Kocurek
Industries
or chip analysis may occur
Source:
Kocurek
Industries
at the temporary on-site lab while other core samples
are sealed and shipped to specialized labs for in-depth
reservoir characteristic and core analysis.

Casing and Cement

Well construction activities are engineered to ensure
that groundwater bearing horizons are isolated from
the wellbore. This process eliminates the potential for
communications and possible contamination during
subsequent drilling, completion and final production
operations. To provide the protection necessary, usually
a number of steps are completed to isolate the wellbore
from the surrounding rock intervals that have been
penetrated during the drilling process.
Step 1 Once the conductor pipe has been put in
place the surface hole is drilled to the base
of groundwater protection, as defined by the
regulatory body. Surface casing is lowered into
the hole and cemented in place. At this stage,
a barrier of steel AND cement is created to
prevent the contamination of potential shallow
groundwater aquifers as well provide wellbore
stability for the remaining drill hole.

vertical) an intermediate set of casing may

be inserted into the wellbore and cemented
in place. The process of installation and
cementing of intermediate and production
casing is similar to surface casing. The decision
to install additional casing is based upon
expected reservoir conditions as well as
completion and stimulation techniques that
are to be used. This second (or third) set of
steel casing provides additional isolation of
the hydrocarbon zone from potential shallow
aquifers.

CSUR Casing Model

It is important to recognize that the oil and

gas industry uses technologically advanced
cement to construct the wellbore. Concrete
used for sidewalks is very different than the
cement used to secure surface, intermediate
and production casing in place. Cements are
tailored to formation, temperature, depth,
completion technique and other factors.

Step 2 The cement is allowed to set prior to

continuation of drilling and in some
jurisdictions, a cement bond geophysical log
is run to determine the integrity of the cement
that surrounds the surface casing.
Step 3 The wellbore is then drilled to its total depth.
In some cases, depending on the total depth
of the well or the orientation (horizontal or
8

Sur

face

Municipal water well

Private
well

Shallow groundwater aquifer

Deep groundwater aquifer

Surface
gas-well
lease

Protective steel casing:

Steel casing and
cement provide well
control and isolate
groundwater zones

1,00

0m

Lim
esto
ne

HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

1,50

0m

2,00

Induced shale
fractures

0m

San

dsto

ne

Gas

-rich

Hor

izon

Source: Canadian Natural Gas

2,30

0m

sha

le

tal b

ore
Note: Buildings and
well depth not to scale

Casing and Cement

It is important to ensure that groundwater is

protected, not only in the first few stages of wellbore
construction, but also during the full life cycle of the
well. This is a regulated process whereby the owner
of the well is required to ensure that conditions
downhole do not degrade the wellbore integrity over
time. Possible well integrity concerns could arise as
a result of poor cement bond, casing shift, corrosion
of casing over time, etc. There are several diagnostic
tools utilized in industry to help promote wellbore
integrity such as cathodic protection, chemical
treatment and production packers. There are also
several tools to identify wellbore integrity issues after
theyve occurred, for example, corrosion logs, cement
bond logs, production logs and casing patches.

Completions and Stimulation

Once the well has been drilled and cased it is now ready to
be stimulated. There are a variety of stimulation processes,
the most common of which being hydraulic fracturing.
Following the stimulation of the potential zone(s) the well
is ready to be equipped for production.
When the well is ready, hydrocarbons can be produced
either through the production casing or through tubing
inserted down the production casing. The type of
hydrocarbons produced (oil or gas) will determine the
type of production string used.

Coil Tubing Unit

If tubing is to be used, the joints are linked together with

couplings to make up a tubing string. Tubing is run into
the well much the same as casing, but tubing is smaller in
diameter and is removable. Coiled tubing can also be used
thus eliminating the need for tongs, slips, or elevators,
which makes it easier to install. Prior to production flow,
downhole isolation equipment such as packers or plugs
are removed and drilling fluid is flushed from the wellbore.
Hydrocarbons can now flow freely to the wellhead.

Source: Schlumberger

If the well does not flow on its own, artificial lift systems
may need to be considered, such as a beam pumping
unit.
Beam Pumping Units.

Source: United States Department of Labour

10

The drilling of an oil or gas well requires a number of highly

trained professionals, both in the office as well as in the field.
Key personnel may include but are not limited to:
Drilling Engineers design and implement procedures to drill
wells as safely and economically as possible, while at the
same time protecting the health and safety of workers and
other personnel in accordance with established regulations.
Surface Land Men ensure the timely and accurate acquisition
of surface rights; coordinating the efforts of Surveyors and
Brokers. They represent the drilling company and interact
extensively with internal Business Units, public and regulatory
stakeholders. They also make sure surface acquisition and
consultation compliance meet Regulatory requirements.
Surveyors determine the precise location of the planned
well the surrounding lease site. He or she is licensed by the
province and work on behalf of the oil and gas company

A Construction Engineer performs engineering work in the

field to support well construction and helps in the planning
and execution of construction work in the field.
Contractors or Sub-Contractors are employed by the oil and
gas company to perform work onsite throughout various
stages during well construction. The drilling crew, cementers,
well testers, water haulers and welders are all examples of
contractors that work on the construction site.
Well site geologists monitor the progress of the well as it
is drilled to identify the presence of oil and gas in the sub
surface. They also inform the rest of the drill team when the
well has reached the reservoir target.

11

Completions and Stimulation

Key Personnel

Site Maintenance
Footprint
Commercial production of unconventional resources often
requires numerous wells to intersect the oil and gas bearing
formation(s) in order to be economic. The technologies
of horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracture stimulation
coupled with multiple wells from a single pad have enabled
the cumulative surface footprint to be minimized.
Companies can drill multiple wells from a single-pad location
and extract the hydrocarbons from as much as 10 sq km.
While the size of a multi-well pad is slightly larger than
a regular oil and gas lease the cumulative footprint for
a development is much smaller than it would be with
conventional development using vertical wells. Fewer access
roads and the concentration of facilities and pipelines within
the pad footprint minimize the surface disturbance of a
development.

Construction vs. Production

Once the well is completed and fully moved through to
production, the footprint of the lease site is greatly reduced.

Multi-well pad during construction and completions activity

During the actual drilling and hydraulic stimulation

procedures for unconventional resource development,
there is a concentration of heavy equipment on site. Water
requirements for both drilling and fracturing can be large and
commonly a lined reservoir pit or tanks are used for storage.
In some cases, if the water source is nearby, temporary
pipelines are constructed to transport the water rather than
using tanker trucks. Upon completion of the drilling activities,
all of the heavy equipment is removed and permanent
surface facilities are constructed. In most cases, the footprint
Horizontal multi-well pad in production
of the wells and surface facilities is much smaller than the
Source: Trident Exploration
original drilling footprint
12

Site Maintenance

Well Control
Properly trained personnel are essential for well control
activities. Well control consists of two basic components: an
active component consisting of specialized drilling fluids
and pressure control to minimize the potential inflow of
hydrocarbons or groundwater fluids and a passive component
that consists of monitoring equipment that responds if a inflow
or pressure kick occurs. The Blowout Preventer (BOP) is an
integral part of the monitoring and well control equipment.
The first line of defense in well control is to have sufficient
drilling fluid pressure in the wellbore. In the subsurface,
underground fluids such as gas, water or oil are under pressure
(formation pressure). The column of drilling fluid in the
well creates a pressure (mud pressure) that counteracts the
formation pressure. If the formation pressure is greater than the
mud pressure, there is the possibility of a blowout.

Blowout Preventer (BOP)

The blowout preventer (BOP), accumulator and choke

manifold are installed by the rig crew after the surface casing is
set and cemented. The choke line valve is used to redirect the
mud from the well bore to the choke manifold should a pressure
event occur. If an event does occur, the BOP is activated,
containing the pressure and avoiding a blowout.
The BOPs, accumulators, and choke manifold need to be
properly maintained and are tested on a regular basis

Choke Manifold

13

Glossary and Terminology

Accumulator: A device used in a hydraulic system to store
energy or, in some applications, dampen pressure fluctuations.
Well pressure-control systems typically incorporate sufficient
accumulator capacity to enable the blowout preventer to be
operated with all other power shut down.

Cellar: A dug-out area, possibly lined with wood, cement or very

large diameter pipe, located below the rig. The cellar serves as
a cavity in which the casing spool and casing head reside. On
smaller rigs, the cellar also serves as the place where the lower
part of the BOP stack resides.

Aquifers: Any water-bearing formation encountered while

drilling. Drillers often are concerned about aquifers and
are required to take special precautions in the design and
execution of the well plan to protect fresh water aquifers from
contamination by wellbore fluids.

Cement Bond Logs: A representation of the integrity of the

cement, used in casing of the well.
Choke Manifold: A set of high-pressure valves and associated
piping that usually includes at least two adjustable chokes,
arranged such that one adjustable choke may be isolated and
taken out of service for repair and refurbishment while well flow
is directed through the other one.

Beam Pumping Unit: An artificial-lift pumping system using a

surface power source to drive a downhole pump assembly.
BOP (Blow Out Preventer): A large valve at the top of a well that
may be closed if the drilling crew loses control of formation fluids.
By closing this valve (usually operated remotely via hydraulic
actuators), the drilling crew can regain control of the reservoir.
Casing: Large-diameter pipe lowered into an openhole and
cemented in place. The well designer must design casing to
withstand a variety of forces, such as collapse, burst, and tensile
failure, as well as chemically aggressive brines.

Drill Bit: The tool used to crush or cut rock. Everything on a

drilling rig directly or indirectly assists the bit in crushing or
cutting the rock.
Drilling Fluid: Any of a number of liquid and gaseous fluids and
mixtures of fluids and solids (as solid suspensions, mixtures and
emulsions of liquids, gases and solids) used in operations to drill
boreholes into the earth.
Drill String: A pipe made of lengths of steel tubing that is
attached to the drilling tool and rotates during drilling. The
drilling fluid passes through the centre of the drill string through
the bit which is attached at the end.

Cathodic Protection: A technique used to minimize the rate

of corrosion of a structure. It does not eliminate corrosion, it
transfers corrosion from the structure under protection to a
known location where artificial anodes (plates or metal bars) are
placed and could be replaced easily.

14

Formation Fluids: Any fluid that occurs in the pores of a rock. Strata
containing different fluids, such as various saturations of oil, gas and
water, may be encountered in the process of drilling an oil or gas
well. Fluids found in the target reservoir formation are referred to as
reservoir fluids.
Formation Pressure: The pressure of fluids within the pores of a
reservoir, normally hydrostatic pressure, or the pressure exerted by a
column of water from the formations depth to sea level.
Geophysical Logs: A log of elemental concentrations from which the
geochemistry of the formation may be derived.
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S): An extraordinarily poisonous gas with a
molecular formula of H2S. At low concentrations, H2S has the odor of
rotten eggs, but at higher, lethal concentrations, it is odorless. H2S is
hazardous to workers and a few seconds of exposure at relatively low
concentrations can be lethal, but exposure to lower concentrations
can also be harmful. The effect of H2S depends on duration,
frequency and intensity of exposure as well as the susceptibility of
the individual.

Kelly: A long square or hexagonal steel bar with a hole drilled

through the middle for a fluid path. The kelly is used to transmit
rotary motion from the rotary table or kelly bushing to the drillstring,
while allowing the drillstring to be lowered or raised during rotation.
Mud Pressure: The pressure of the column of drilling fluid in the
wellbore.
Packer: A device that can be run into a wellbore with a smaller initial
outside diameter that then expands externally to seal the wellbore.
Perforating Gun: A device used to perforate oil and gas wells in
preparation for production.
Rigging-up: To make ready for use. Equipment must typically be
moved onto the rig floor, assembled and connected to power
sources or pressurized piping systems.
Rig Mat: A portable platform used to support equipment for
construction and resource-based activities including drilling rigs,
camps, tanks, helipads, etc. It also includes a structural roadway to
provide passage over unstable ground, pipelines and more.

15

Glossary and Terminology

Formation Evaluation Tools: The tools used for the measurement

and analysis of formation and fluid properties. Formation evaluation
is performed to assess the quantity and producibility of fluids from
a reservoir. Formation evaluation guides wellsite decisions, such
as placement of perforations and hydraulic fracture stages, and
reservoir development and production planning.

Canadian Society for Unconventional Resources (CSUR)

Suite 420, 237 - 8th Avenue SE
Calgary, AB T2G 5C3
Phone: 403-233-9298; Toll Free: 1-855-833-9298
Email: [email protected]; Web: www.csur.com