Coalbed Methane L-Type Horizontal Well Rig: CMD100 One-Pass Well in 16 Days, Qinshui Basin

Executive Summary

To scale up coalbed methane (CBM) production in the Qinshui Basin — China's core CBM producing region — operators need large numbers of L-type horizontal directional wells delivered fast. The No. 3 Brigade of the Shandong Provincial Coalfield Geology Bureau deployed the CORTECH® CMD100 full hydraulic truck-mounted drilling rig, equipped with a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) system, a high-torque spindle braking system and an air DTH hammer drilling process. The rig completed the vertical, build-up and lateral sections in one continuous run, finishing a typical CBM horizontal well at 2,010 m total depth, 1,060 m vertical depth and 950 m lateral length in only 16 days. The rig has since served dozens of local CBM wells and become an industry benchmark for fast, mobile CBM development.

Project Background & Challenge

The Qinshui Basin is rich in CBM reserves, and raising recovery rates requires a large program of L-type horizontal directional wells. The operating conditions worked against speed:

• Moderate but variable depth: reservoirs sit between 160 m and 1,000 m deep, while the horizontal section needs to reach about 1,000 m — a profile that mixes shallow installation discipline with deep lateral drag.

• Mountain terrain: most drill sites are in hilly country with complex road access, so rig mobility and easy relocation are decisive.

• Hard directional problems: soft-hard interbeds make the build-up section difficult, and high friction in the lateral raises the risk of drag and stuck pipe.

With dozens of wells planned across scattered mountain sites, the operator needed a rig that could move in, build angle and hold the lateral without losing time between sections.

Our Solution

The CMD100 was chosen specifically for its combination of truck-mounted mobility and integrated directional drilling capability:

• Truck-mounted full hydraulic design: the self-contained vehicle rig drove into mountain sites and rigged up quickly, eliminating the slow skid assembly and crane work that bog down conventional rigs between scattered pads.

• MWD steering: the measurement-while-drilling system gave real-time inclination and azimuth data, letting the crew build angle precisely and hold the lateral trajectory.

• High-torque spindle braking + air DTH hammer: stable braking controlled sliding in the curve, while air DTH hammer drilling accelerated penetration through hard interbeds.

• One-pass integration: rather than changing equipment between sections, the same rig drilled the vertical section, the build-up (curve) section and the horizontal section in a single campaign — directly cutting the 16-day total.

Key Results

For the full technical specifications of the CORTECH® CMD100, see the CMD100 product page.

Customer Value & ROI

• Faster well delivery: a 16-day single-well cycle compresses the field schedule for a multi-well program, turning capital into producing wells months earlier.

• Lower relocation cost: truck-mounted mobility means the rig drives between mountain pads without cranes or skid teams — a major saving when dozens of wells are spread across rough terrain.

• One rig, three sections: no section-by-section equipment swap reduces non-productive time and logistic complexity.

• Proven at scale: having already completed dozens of local CBM wells, the rig's performance is repeatable, not a one-off.

FAQ

How long does it take to drill a CBM L-type horizontal well?

On this Qinshui Basin project, the CMD100 completed a full L-type CBM horizontal well — vertical, build-up and lateral sections combined — at 2,010 m total depth in only 16 days.

What is an L-type horizontal well in coalbed methane development?

An L-shaped well drills vertically to the reservoir, builds angle through a curve section, then runs a long lateral horizontally through the coal seam to maximize drainage area. The CMD100 drilled the whole profile in one pass.

Why is truck-mounted mobility important for mountain CBM sites?

Mountain pads are scattered with poor roads; a self-contained truck rig like the CMD100 drives between sites and rigs up fast, avoiding the crane and skid-assembly delays that slow conventional rigs down.

Can one rig drill vertical, build-up and lateral sections in one campaign?

Yes. With MWD steering, high-torque spindle braking and air DTH hammer drilling, the CMD100 completed all three sections continuously on this well, which is why the 950 m lateral well finished in 16 days.

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