Calculator programs guide directionally drilled wells through tangled Thums lease

Over 900 wells have been directionally drilled in the Long Beach Unit of the East Wilmington field from four man-made islands and land-based drilling sites. As more wells are added to each site, the planning of new well courses has become more complex. The hand-held calculator, with Long Beach Unit-developed programs, has been an aid in laying out new wells which avoid existing cased bore holes. The hand-held calculator method also prevented unnecessary commercial computer runs of well plats from surface locations that prove impossible or impractical to drill. With the use of these programs the optimum well course can be designed, reducing drilling and design costs.