Drillers call well drilling "making hole." The basic concept is simple; it is the actual practice that is an art. A revolving steel bit at the bottom of a string of pipe grinds a hole through the rock layers. The bit may be studded with tungsten carbide or industrial diamonds to reduce bit wear and penetrate harder rock formations.
As the bit penetrates deeper, the drill crew threads additional pipe from the top of the string. Sections of pipe are typically 40 feet long, but may be longer; diameters and wall thickness vary, depending on well depth. A fluid called drilling mud lubricates the bit, removes cuttings, conditions the well bore, and stabilizes the pressure in the hole.
Wells need to intersect the natural rock fractures in the gas bearing formations if the well is to be productive. To increase this probability, Talisman Energy USA uses a unique horizontal drilling technique in the lower portion of the hole. After drilling vertically for about 9,600 to 10,000 feet, the equipment is turned 90 degrees within a 600 foot radius to drill another 3,000 feet horizontally through the structure. This horizontal drilling procedure through the Trenton-Black River increases the likelihood of getting a better well, and decreases the chance of a dry hole.
