Multi-Well Pad Technology in the Fuling Shale Gas Field

The Fuling Shale Gas Field is the first commercial development of shale gas in China and thus is now a national demonstration area. After three years of research and development, the Gas Field had developed "multi-well pad" technologies to cope with requirements presented by shale gas developed in complex mountain areas. These technologies could significantly reduce the time and costs required for the development of shale gas. This paper reviews key "multi-well pad" technologies developed in the Fuling Shale Gas Field from four aspects:first, optimized deployment and design of well patterns, second, drilling operations in the "multi-well pad" system for shale gas development, third, fracturing operations in the "multi-well pad" system for shale gas development and fourth, construction or skid-mounted stations. Field tests and application performances showed that the combination of "multi-well pad" drilling operations involving a single rig for 2-4 wells or two rigs for 5-8 wells with zipper fracturing with one fracturing unit or synchronous fracturing with two fracturing units could fully satisfy development demands related to accomplish of platform construction, drilling, fracturing, well testing and commercial production within the same year. In addition to providing construction of 50×108 m3 productivity in Phase 1 development of the Fuling Shale Gas Field with reliable technical supports, the "multi-well pad" system has become the core technology for economic development of shale gas fields. In fact, these technologies might provide necessary guidance for large-scale development of shale gas in China.