In Reeves County, operators are faced with the challenge of drilling through the Delaware Mountain Group, which includes drilling through the Bell, Cherry, and Brushy Canyon. The notoriously troublesome Brushy Canyon requires a bit that will be able to overcome interbedded lithological challenges while maintaining a steady ROP.
Recently, an operator drilling in this formation set a goal to one-run through the Brushy Canyon, reaching past 8,500 ft. Additionally, this operator was shooting to accomplish this while pushing the limits on ROP. To achieve efficient drilling in this highly interbedded formation, bit and downhole tool selection are critical.
This operator teamed up with Ulterra and Scout Directional to address the challenges faced in this formation. Ulterra’s patented SplitBlade™ technology was expected to deliver significant performance in terms of speed and durability.
Ulterra’s 12.25” SPL616 drilled the Intermediate section from a depth in of 1,505 ft. to a depth out at 8,517 ft., reaching past the Brushy Canyon with an impressive average ROP of 179.8 ft/hr. Utilizing an RSS assembly, this operator was able to manage vibration while steering the bit with great directional control. Further, SPL616 demonstrated impressive speed and durability, pushing this operator to achieve the fastest 12.25” intermediate run to date.
