Tight oil resources are abundant in China, but at present the domestic technology for tight oil development remains at the exploration stage. The US has the most mature technologies for tight oil development all over the world, which may provide significant reference for tight oil development in China. The analysis of tight oil development process in the US indicates that horizontal well technology and hydraulic fracturing technology are the key to successful development of tight oil. The matching techniques and tools are the most important components of the technology, including horizontal well patterns, rotary steering tools, walking drilling machine, and staged/segmented stimulation techniques and tools. This paper summarizes the drilling techniques, matching tools, drilling equipment, fracturing techniques, staging completion tools and fracturing operation parameters in US tight oil development, based on understanding of the key technologies concerning tight oil drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the US. Comparison of tight oil development in China and the US shows that the key to efficient tight oil development in China is international cooperation and independent research and development of relevant technologies.

tight oil  /  hydraulic fracturing  /  horizontal well  /  factory operation  /  walking drilling machine  /  multistage stimulation system