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Line 41: − − [[File:M107FG2.jpg|thumb|300px|Figure 2 Average drill times from spud to attaining total depth (blue bars) for wells drilled by QEP in Pinedale field. With improved drill bits, mud systems, and crew efficiency, drill times decreased by more than 80% between 2003 and 2013. Also shown are the number of wells drilled each year (brown bars) and the wells per rig per year (purple line). The green box shows the record well drilled in just 8.6 days in 2012. Data in part from QEP Resources investor relations presentation (http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/23/237732/QEP1Q13OpsSlides.pdf accessed July 3, 2013).]] − [[File:M107FG3.jpg|thumb|300px|Figure 3 Simultaneous operations being conducted in Pinedale field with drilling, fracking, setting of surface pipe, and facilities installation all occurring concurrently.]] − [[File:M107FG4.jpg|thumb|300px|Figure 4 High-density pad drilling allows development of a large subsurface volume of the gas resource with minimal impact to the surface environment.]]
→Significance of the pinedale field
==Significance of the pinedale field==
==Significance of the pinedale field==
<gallery mode=packed heights=300px widths=300px>
M107FG2.jpg|{{figure number|2}}Average drill times from spud to attaining total depth (blue bars) for wells drilled by QEP in Pinedale field. With improved drill bits, mud systems, and crew efficiency, drill times decreased by more than 80% between 2003 and 2013. Also shown are the number of wells drilled each year (brown bars) and the wells per rig per year (purple line). The green box shows the record well drilled in just 8.6 days in 2012. Data in part from QEP Resources investor relations presentation (http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/IROL/23/237732/QEP1Q13OpsSlides.pdf accessed July 3, 2013).
M107FG3.jpg|{{figure number|3}}Simultaneous operations being conducted in Pinedale field with drilling, fracking, setting of surface pipe, and facilities installation all occurring concurrently.
M107FG4.jpg|{{figure number|4}}High-density pad drilling allows development of a large subsurface volume of the gas resource with minimal impact to the surface environment.
</gallery>
Pinedale is special not only because of its geological characteristics and its size but also because of the efficiency in operations that the field's operators have achieved. As a result, it has become the model for tight gas sandstone development in fields around the world. In addition, Pinedale has been groundbreaking on environmental and regulatory issues, particularly in the creative ways that industry has worked with government and environmental regulators to shape policy and regulations that benefit both industry and the environment. Pinedale became the first major greenfield development in the United States in an environmentally sensitive area with thousands of wells planned on hundreds of pads. Furthermore, the field was only 10% developed when the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) process was started in 2005.
Pinedale is special not only because of its geological characteristics and its size but also because of the efficiency in operations that the field's operators have achieved. As a result, it has become the model for tight gas sandstone development in fields around the world. In addition, Pinedale has been groundbreaking on environmental and regulatory issues, particularly in the creative ways that industry has worked with government and environmental regulators to shape policy and regulations that benefit both industry and the environment. Pinedale became the first major greenfield development in the United States in an environmentally sensitive area with thousands of wells planned on hundreds of pads. Furthermore, the field was only 10% developed when the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) process was started in 2005.
The continuity provided by year-round access led to significant performance improvements in drilling and completion efficiencies. Average drilling times have dropped from more than 60 days per well in the early 2000s to less than 12 days per well in 2013. In recent years, some wells have even been drilled to depths of over 14,000 ft (4300 m) in less than nine days (Figure 2).
The continuity provided by year-round access led to significant performance improvements in drilling and completion efficiencies. Average drilling times have dropped from more than 60 days per well in the early 2000s to less than 12 days per well in 2013. In recent years, some wells have even been drilled to depths of over 14,000 ft (4300 m) in less than nine days (Figure 2).
The decline in drill times can be attributed to a number of factors including fit-for-purpose rigs, improved drill-bit technology, drilling wells with oil-based mud instead of water-based mud, consistently trained and experienced crews, use of down-hole mud-motors and steerable assemblies, new slim-hole well designs, multiwell pad drilling, and removing steps from the critical path of the drilling rig. Similar performance gains have been seen on the completions side where wells once took more than a month to complete. Now a pair of wells can be completely fracked with over 20 frack stages per well within four or five days. These efficiencies have given Pinedale operators a cost advantage that has expanded the economic limits of the field and allowed for full field development through high density drilling.
The decline in drill times can be attributed to a number of factors including fit-for-purpose rigs, improved drill-bit technology, drilling wells with oil-based mud instead of water-based mud, consistently trained and experienced crews, use of down-hole mud-motors and steerable assemblies, new slim-hole well designs, multiwell pad drilling, and removing steps from the critical path of the drilling rig. Similar performance gains have been seen on the completions side where wells once took more than a month to complete. Now a pair of wells can be completely fracked with over 20 frack stages per well within four or five days. These efficiencies have given Pinedale operators a cost advantage that has expanded the economic limits of the field and allowed for full field development through high density drilling.