METHOD OF DRILLING FROM A SHAFT FOR UNDERGROUND RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBONS
First Claim
1. An excavation method, comprising:
- (a) forming a substantially vertically inclined shaft;
(b) at a selected level of the shaft, forming a plurality of recess cavities extending approximately radially outward from the shaft, the selected level of the shaft being adjacent to or near a hydrocarbon-containing formation; and
(c) drilling at least one well outward from a face of each of the recess cavities, each of the wells penetrating at least a portion of the hydrocarbon-containing formation
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Abstract
The present invention discloses a selection process for installing underground workspace in or near a hydrocarbon deposit that is an appropriate workspace from which to drill, operate and service wells applicable to any of a number of methods of recovering hydrocarbons. The present invention includes a number of innovative methods for developing workspace for drilling from a shaft installed above, into or below a hydrocarbon deposit, particularly when the hydrocarbon reservoir is at significant formation pressure or has fluids (water oil or gases) that can enter the workspace. These methods can also be used for developing workspace for drilling from a tunnel installed above, into or below a hydrocarbon deposit. The present invention also discloses a procedure for evaluating the geology in and around the reservoir and using this information to select the most appropriate method of developing workspace for drilling from a shaft and/or tunnel.
225 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An excavation method, comprising:
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(a) forming a substantially vertically inclined shaft;
(b) at a selected level of the shaft, forming a plurality of recess cavities extending approximately radially outward from the shaft, the selected level of the shaft being adjacent to or near a hydrocarbon-containing formation; and
(c) drilling at least one well outward from a face of each of the recess cavities, each of the wells penetrating at least a portion of the hydrocarbon-containing formation - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A drilling method, comprising:
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(a) from a manned excavation, drilling through a flange positioned adjacent to a surface of the excavation to form a drilled hole extending outwardly from the excavation;
(b) placing a cylindrical shield in the drilled hole;
(c) securing the shield to the surface of the excavation; and
(d) introducing a cementitious material into an end of the drilled hole to form a selected recess cavity, wherein, when the cementitious material sets, the set cementitious material and shield will seal the interior of the hole from one or more selected formation fluids. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An excavation method, comprising:
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(a) excavating a shaft, the excavated shaft being at least partially filled with a drilling fluid and having a diameter of at least about 3 meters; and
(b) an automated and/or remotely controlled excavation machine forming an excavation extending outwards from the shaft, the excavation machine being positioned below a level of and in the drilling fluid when forming the excavation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An excavation method, comprising:
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(a) drilling a plurality of substantially horizontal drill holes, the drill holes defining an outline of a volume to be excavated;
(b) filling, at least substantially, the drill holes with a cementitious material, to inhibit the passage of a selected formation fluid between the adjacent, filled drill holes and/or to provide structural support; and
(c) thereafter excavating the volume to be excavated. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for recovering a bitumen-containing material, comprising:
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(a) determining, for a selected in situ hydrocarbon-containing deposit a set of possible underground and/or surface excavation methods;
(b) determining a set of surface restrictions above and around the deposit;
(c) determining a set of regulatory requirements applicable to excavation of the deposit;
(d) determining a set of physical limitations on underground excavation of the deposit;
(e) determining a set of physical limitations on surface excavation of the deposit;
(f) determining a set of data for the deposit;
(g) determining a set of geotechnical data for at least one formation other than the deposit;
(h) based on the sets of surface restrictions, regulatory requirements, physical limitations, deposit data, and geotechnical data, assigning a recovery cost to each member of the set of possible excavation methods;
(i) based on a comparison of the recovery costs of the members, selecting a preferred excavation method to be employed;
(j) in response to the preferred excavation method being an underground method, performing the following substeps;
(j1) for an inclined access excavation to the deposit, the inclined access excavation being a shaft and/or decline, determining whether the inclined access excavation will intercept a formation with a potentially harmful formation fluid;
(j2) in response to the inclined access excavation intercepting a formation having at least one potentially harmful formation fluid, requiring men to be absent from the inclined access excavation when the access excavation is excavated in the vicinity of the formation;
(j3) selecting a bitumen recovery method to be employed, wherein possible bitumen recovery methods comprise thermal, gravity drain, and nonthermal recovery methods; and
(j4) based on the selected bitumen recovery method, selecting (a) at least one location in the underground excavation for well head placement, the at least one location being at least one of in the inclined access excavation, in a recess cavity extending outwardly from the inclined access excavation, in a drilling room extending outwardly from the inclined access excavation, and in a tunnel extending outwardly from the inclined access excavation and (b) a position of the location relative to the deposit, the possible positions being above, in, and below the deposit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification