ref_wellbore_purpose


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kind description status
wildcat A exploratory wellbore drilled in an unproved area to test for a new field, a new pay, a deeper reservoir, or a shallower reservoir. Also known as an exploration well. current
new-field wildcat An exploratory wellbore drilled to search for an occurrence of hydrocarbon at a relatively considerable distance outside the limits of known pools of hydrocarbon, as those limits were understood at the time. current
new-pool wildcat An exploratory wellbore drilled to search for additional pools of hydrocarbon in close proximity and at the same stratigraphic level as known pools. current
shallower-pool wildcat An exploratory wellbore drilled to search for additional pools of hydrocarbon in close proximity, but at a shallower stratigraphic levels than the known pools. current
deeper-pool wildcat An exploratory wellbore drilled to search for additional pools of hydrocarbon in close proximity to known pools of hydrocarbon but at a deeper stratigraphic levels than the known pools. current
outpost wildcat An exploratory wellbore drilled to search for additional pools of hydrocarbon or to extend the limits of a known pool by searching in the same interval at some distance from a known pool. current
stratigraphic test A research wellbore drilled for the purpose of gathering geologic information on the stratigraphy of an area. A C.O.S.T. well would be included in this category. current
appraisal A wellbore drilled into a formation shown to be potentially productive of oil or gas by an earlier well for the purpose of obtaining more information about the reservoir. current
delineation A wellbore drilled outward from a successful wildcat well to determine the extent of the oil find, the boundaries of the productive formation. current
development A wellbore drilled in a zone in an area already proved productive. current
infill development A developmental wellbore drilled to fill in between established wellbores, usually part of a drilling program to reduce the spacing between wellbores to increase production. current
injection A wellbore that is drilled with the purpose of injecting fluids into a reservoir, usually for enhanced recovery. current
general service A wellbore drilled to provide a service such as subsurface fluid monitoring, waste disposal, fluid storage, blowout relief and borehole re-acquisition. Not necessarily an E & P wellbore. current
monitor A service wellbore drilled to allow continuous or periodic measurement of a property of the subsurface through time. current
waste disposal A service wellbore drilled for the purpose of injection of sewage, industrial waste, or other waste fluids into the subsurface for disposal. current
fluid storage A service wellbore drilled for the purpose of injection of fluids into a reservoir for storage and later withdrawal. current
blowout relief A service wellbore drilled with the specific purpose to provide communication at some point below the surface to another wellbore which is out of control. current
borehole re-acquisition A service wellbore drilled to intersect another wellbore below the surface for the purpose of extending the life of a well whose surface borehole has been lost or damaged. current
drilling test A wellbore drilled to test the suitablity of a particular type of equipment or drilling practice. current
mineral A non-E&P wellbore drilled for the purpose of locating and/or extracting a mineral from the subsurface, usually through the injection and/or extraction of mineral-bearing fluids. current
research A wellbore drilled with the purpose of obtaining information on the stratigraphy, on drilling practices, for logging tests, or other such purpose. It is not expected to find economic reserves of hydrocarbons. provisional

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