Vertical Well

A well that is not converted into horizontally in depth, allowing access to the oil and gas reserves are located directly below the point of surface access. Historically, natural gas and oil exploration has involved the use of vertical wells because the directional drilling technology was expensive and complicated. Drilling of vertical wells is considered a conventional method.

Vertical shafts differ directional wells, such as horizontal wells, deep because they require the use of directional drilling. This makes them less expensive to develop, although less productive because of their limited range.

While vertical wells may be less complicated to bring in line of directional wells, their limited angles make them less able to reach a wider part of the underground area. Because a vertical shaft can access only the reserves of petroleum and natural gas directly under, making a large manufacturing industry requires the drilling of many vertical wells. They are especially handy in case of reserve thin layers located over a wide area. Since a vertical well can be drilled in a single direction, the exploration company must estimate the most productive portion of the reserve from the beginning; a vertical drilled well can go right through the reserve, drawing only a portion of the available energy.

horizontal wells usually starting with the drilling of a vertical well. Drilling vertically allows engineers to examine rock fragments at different levels, in order to determine where the reserves are located. horizontal wells are then "kicked off" from the primary vertical shaft.

The extraction of oil and gas from unconventional sources such as shale rock, often requires the use of horizontal drilling technologies because the source can be executed in the horizontal direction. If the reserves are located in a residential area, well vertical drilling would require both the displacement of residents or require them to live next to a tower.