Vertical Versus Horizontal Wells Vertical Wells – Verticals...

Vertical Versus Horizontal Wells

Vertical Wells – Verticals wells are the traditional type of oil or gas well that go straight down, typically to a depth of about 50-300 feet. These wells penetrate perpendicular to the rock layer containing the oil or gas reserve. Hydraulic fracking on vertical wells is commonly used for “well stimulation” to increase the efficiency and output of the well. Compared to horizontal well fracking, this type of fracking requires lower pressure and volume.
Horizontal Wells – Horizontal wells terminate with the wellbore parallel to the rock layer containing the oil or gas reserve. Horizontal wells also reach a much deeper depth than vertical wells. For example horizontal wells drilled in the Barnett Shale Basin in Texas goes down between about 1,500 to 5,000 feet, while the horizontal wells drilled in the Bakken Shale Formation in North Dakota go down to up to 10,000 feet. Due to the higher pressure associated with these depths hydraulic fracking must be done at a much higher pressure and volume.

I guess the main difference is the depth?