DTEK Oil&Gas completes deep-well construction at the Machukhske gas condensate field

DTEK Oil&Gas has completed the drilling of well No. 59 with a depth of 5,245 m at one of Ukraine’s most difficult gas fields, the Machukhske gas condensate field.

The gas deposits of the Machukhske field are carbonate-derived and are characterised by abnormally high reservoir pressures at over 1000 atm, in addition to bottom hole temperatures of 160-170° C. By completing this feat, the company has introduced a unique technological approach, as wells as innovative solutions, to effectively develop these reserves.

Thanks to the use of advanced technologies, the drilling time was reduced to 141 days. Prior to this, the construction of such wells at the field could last longer than one year. Service-Oil LLC, the drilling contractor, undertook the project using a Drillmec-350 rig which was equipped with a Top Drive system. The drill bit service was provided by NOV. Traditionally, drilling fluids, including hydrocarbon invert emulsions, have been provided by Geosyntez-Engineering. Wellbore trajectory control, automatic verticality control, bottomhole parameters and drilling process optimisation were performed by Schlumberger using RSS, LWD and downhole process sensor systems.

For the first time in the Machukhske field, drilling of the 8.5" section was also carried out with a hydrocarbon solution, which minimised risks and reduced construction time by 11 days.

CEO of DTEK Oil&Gas Igor Shchurov: “Despite the adverse circumstances currently found in the oil and gas market, DTEK Oil&Gas continues to invest in the development of Ukrainian gas production. This year we have successfully completed the drilling of three wells and are continuing with the construction of two more. The total investment of DTEK Oil&Gas in drilling in 2020 will amount to roughly UAH 3 billion – a measure of our ongoing contribution to strengthening Ukraine's energy independence ”.