Slant entry well system and method

• US 6,848,508 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Effective Exploration LLC
• Original Assignee: CDX Gas LLC (EnerVest Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zupanick, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stephenson, Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US10/749,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 166/313, 166/380, 166/52, 166/117.6, 175/79, 175/80, 175/81, 175/82, 239/33, 239/17, 239/DIG.12, 239/587.1, 239/548
• US Class Current: 166/313
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/006 Production of coal-bed methane E21B43/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/305 comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well

Abstract

A guide tube bundle includes two or more guide tubes. Each guide tube includes a first aperture at a first end and a second aperture at a second end. The longitudinal axis of the first aperture of each guide tube is offset from the longitudinal axis of the second aperture of the guide tube Furthermore, the guide tubes are configured longitudinally adjacent to each other and are twisted around one another.

Claims

1. A guide tube bundle, comprising:

two or more guide tubes;

wherein the two or more guide tubes each comprise a first aperture at a first end and a second aperture at a second end;

wherein the guide tubes are configured longitudinally adjacent to each other;

wherein the longitudinal axis of the first aperture of each guide tube is offset from the longitudinal axis of the second aperture of the guide tube; and

wherein the guide tubes are twisted around one another.

2. The guide tube bundle of claim 1, wherein the angle at which the guide tubes are twisted comprises approximately ten degrees.

3. The guide tube bundle of claim 1, wherein:

the guide tubes are configured longitudinally adjacent to each other at their first ends; and

the guide tubes are separated at their second ends.

4. A method for orienting well bores, comprising:

forming an entry well bore from the surface;

inserting a guide tube bundle into the entry well bore, the guide tube bundle comprising;

two or more guide tubes, wherein;

the two or more guide tubes each comprise a first aperture at a first end and a second aperture at a second end;

the guide tubes are configured longitudinally adjacent to each other; and

the guide tubes are twisted around one another; and

the longitudinal axis of the first aperture of each guide tube is offset from the longitudinal axis of the second aperture of the guide tube; and

forming two or more slanted well bores from the entry well bore using the guide tube bundle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the longitudinal axis of the first aperture of each guide tube is oriented vertically; and

the longitudinal axis of the second aperture of each guide tube is oriented at an angle offset from the longitudinal axis of the first aperture.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the angle at which the guide tubes are twisted comprises approximately ten degrees.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the guide tubes are configured longitudinally adjacent to each other at their first ends; and

the guide tubes are separated at their second ends.