自从页岩革命开始以来，非常规油气储层中的水平井几乎像树根一样不断延伸，横跨多个盆地。随着钻井和完井技术的逐步改进，该行业以更少的资源做更多事情的能力也在不断提高——不断延长这些水平井，以更少的井到达更多的生产区。

钻更长的水平井有明显的优势，但这一过程也面临着一些技术和经济方面的挑战。 

评估第三英里的产出

Almost like tree roots, laterals in unconventional plays have spread farther and farther since the shale revolution began, weaving their way across multiple basins. As drilling and completions technologies have gradually improved, so has the industry’s ability to do more with less—constantly lengthening those laterals to reach more production zones with fewer wells.

Drilling longer laterals has an obvious upside, but the process comes with some challenges that are both technological and economic. 

Evaluating the third mile’s output