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timbo56 | October 14, 2009 08:56 PM | in Civil Engineering

How much steel is used to create the average shale gas well that has initial production of 5 million cubic feet per day??

I'm interested in comparing steel use for shale gas production with steel use for other types of natural gas production, for example coal bed methane, on shore conventional, off-shore jack-up rig,off-shore semisubmersible, etc. Any information would be very helpful. I'm thinking it might be quite a bit of steel use because of the need to drill down, then horizontal and then hydrofracture.

tags: steel , gas , shale

voted interesting: jeffhoard M$0.10

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dotchilatham | October 15, 2009 07:58 AM

From WBUR news, it states that

"Between its vertical and horizontal sections, a well bore will extend 9,000 feet or longer and require more than a million pounds of steel." That's just for the wellbore as far as I could tell.

If one mile is 5,280 ft. and according to a man named Matt at Contrarian Profits, who describes visiting a shale well "where the bit went down deeper than a mile, then turned west and drilled horizontally for more than a mile", then this may be a light estimate.

source(s):
http://www.wbur.org/news/npr/113043935
http://www.contrarianprofits.com/articles/there-will-be-oil%E2%80%A6-and-ho...

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Voted as best: unwirklich, twinpairs

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timbo56 | October 15, 2009 05:34 PM

That is helpful. But I'm not willing to call it a best answer just yet. What about the technology of Packers Plus Energy Services, which appears to spare the user from having to case the horizontal portion. My further question are, "is the Packers Plus string typically left in the ground?? How much steel is in the string?? What determines whether it is brought out and reused or left in the ground??" What about connecting the new well to a trunk pipeline?? Am I right in thinking that these wells will be more scattered because the shale reserves are so spread out??? What about other natural gas wells??? How much steel would a typical coal bed methane or overthrust belt well use??

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dotchilatham | October 15, 2009 06:11 PM

I do more research and ask around to see what I can find out for you. I enjoy researching more than anything else :) It's a hobby of mine.

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dotchilatham | October 20, 2009 08:52 PM

I still can't find anything. I'll continue to look though. I've had fun researching on this topic. It's actually quite fascinating.

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Voted "No best answer": jeffhoard, ssmacd, robbrown, lon, buddawiggi, lesliec, shinju,