Roy Williams, Texaco, Inc.
Costs to drill and equip deep Delaware Basin gas wells have been significantly reduced in recent years despite inflationary trends. Well planning must be meticulously performed and improvements in drilling or completion techniques implemented with minimum time lag. Each casing setting depth must be considered as to how it relates to total cost and safety. The latest improvements in bits and drilling fluid must be incorporated in well planning. Cementing design must consider limited annuli clearance, high differential pressure, high temperature and pumping time requirements. Rig selection and aggressive on-site supervision is important to minimum cost drilling. Effective formation treatments are designed to open all reserves to the well bore. Improvements in drilling techniques and equipment are expected to continue at a rapid pace.