The G. W. Hatch No. 1 Well in Pearsall Field, Dim mit County, Texas, was proposed to achieve horizontal penetration in the Austin Chalk formation. Pinnacle Royalty and Operating Company, Inc. (PROCO), the independent operator of the well, elected a conservative long-radius approach that allowed the use of steerable positive.;displacement motors (PDMs). The use of steerable motors resulted in a smooth well bore, relatively low torque and drag forces while drilling the horizontal reach section of the well, and the ability to steer the wellbore to total depth.Casing was set after the. first build section was completed into the top of the Austin Chalk formation in order to minimize hole problems and permit handling of any anticipated well kicks.The 1253-ft horizontal section, drilled in underbalanced conditions, positively identified producing fracture systems while minimizing the formation damage that typically results from ongoing drilling operations.Drilling continued horizontally in, an underbalanced state, although occasional flowing conditions did occur, using both rotary and slide modes of stee~able drilling.Sp~cial surface production systems were utilized to handle well flow during drilling operations. The design and field operations of this equipment were critical to the safety and success of the project. Detailed planning prevented problems during actual operations.

The G. W. Hatch No. 1 Well in Pearsall Field, Dim mit County, Texas, was proposed to achieve horizontal penetration in the Austin Chalk formation. Pinnacle Royalty and Operating Company, Inc. (PROCO), the independent operator of the well, elected a conservative long-radius approach that allowed the use of steerable positive.;displacement motors (PDMs). The use of steerable motors resulted in a smooth well bore, relatively low torque and drag forces while drilling the horizontal reach section of the well, and the ability to steer the wellbore to total depth.Casing was set after the. first build section was completed into the top of the Austin Chalk formation in order to minimize hole problems and permit handling of any anticipated well kicks.The 1253-ft horizontal section, drilled in underbalanced conditions, positively identified producing fracture systems while minimizing the formation damage that typically results from ongoing drilling operations.Drilling continued horizontally in, an underbalanced state, although occasional flowing conditions did occur, using both rotary and slide modes of stee~able drilling.Sp~cial surface production systems were utilized to handle well flow during drilling operations. The design and field operations of this equipment were critical to the safety and success of the project. Detailed planning prevented problems during actual operations.