What type of well typically produces a few barrels per day and accounted for 15 percent of total U.S. production in 1986?

What type of well typically produces a few barrels per day and accounted for 15 percent of total U.S. production in 1986?

• A. Horizontal wells
• B. Stripper wells
• C. Offshore wells
• D. Conventional wells

Answer: (B)

Wells that produce only a few barrels per day are called stripper wells. The idea here is that even though each well isn’t very productive, there are many of them, especially in older, mature fields on shore. Their small, steady output adds up, so they can account for a noticeable share of total production. In the mid-1980s, stripper wells contributed about 15% of U.S. oil production, illustrating how cumulative output from many low-rate wells can be economically significant. They contrast with high-rate producers like horizontal or offshore wells, which deliver larger volumes per well, and with conventional wells that don’t inherently imply such low daily output.

Wells that produce only a few barrels per day are called stripper wells. The idea here is that even though each well isn’t very productive, there are many of them, especially in older, mature fields on shore. Their small, steady output adds up, so they can account for a noticeable share of total production. In the mid-1980s, stripper wells contributed about 15% of U.S. oil production, illustrating how cumulative output from many low-rate wells can be economically significant. They contrast with high-rate producers like horizontal or offshore wells, which deliver larger volumes per well, and with conventional wells that don’t inherently imply such low daily output.