The challenge
- →An uncontrolled well was releasing 8,000+ bbl/day and had to be killed from below.
- →The target had to be located and intercepted at extreme range under blowout conditions.
- →Permanent isolation was required from the San Andres all the way to surface — fast.
Our solution
DeadAhead™ wired-pipe active magnetic ranging. A relief well was drilled and steered to identify the target at a world-record 306.11 ft center-to-center — roughly 6x the longest range of any ranging system. A complex dynamic-kill operation stabilized the flowing well, then 1,560 bbl of cement was bullheaded to achieve zonal isolation from the San Andres to surface.
Relief well, ranging, kill and permanent P&A — all in under a week · world-record 306 ft ranging locate
The result
306.11 ft
center-to-center ranging locate — world record, ~6x the longest prior range
- ·Target identified at 306.11 ft center-to-center — a step-change, not an increment
- ·Dynamic kill stabilized an uncontrolled well flowing 8,000+ bbl/day
- ·Bullheaded 1,560 bbl of cement — zonal isolation from the San Andres to surface
- ·Relief well, ranging, kill and permanent P&A completed in under a week
Ranging
AMR
Deployment
Relief well — DeadAhead (wired pipe)
Re-entry
No
Location
West Texas (Permian Basin), USA
Year
2026