Forming openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation using magnetic tracking
First Claim
1. A method for forming openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
- forming a first opening in the formation;
providing a plurality of magnets to the first opening, wherein the plurality of magnets is positioned along at least a portion of the first opening, and wherein the plurality of magnets produces a series of magnetic fields along at least the portion of the first opening; and
forming a second opening in the formation using one or more of the series of magnetic fields such that the second opening is spaced at an approximate desired distance from the first opening.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for forming one or more openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method may include forming or providing a first opening in the formation. A plurality of magnets may be provided into the first opening. The plurality of magnets may be positioned along a portion of the first opening. The plurality of magnets may produce a series of magnetic fields along the portion of the first opening. A second opening in the formation may be formed using magnetic tracking of the series of magnetic fields. The second opening may be spaced a desired distance from the first opening. Alternate embodiments include use of an energized conduit to create a magnetic field. Such energized conduit can be used alone or with the plurality of magnets.
1072 Citations
90 Claims
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1. A method for forming openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
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forming a first opening in the formation;
providing a plurality of magnets to the first opening, wherein the plurality of magnets is positioned along at least a portion of the first opening, and wherein the plurality of magnets produces a series of magnetic fields along at least the portion of the first opening; and
forming a second opening in the formation using one or more of the series of magnetic fields such that the second opening is spaced at an approximate desired distance from the first opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for forming openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
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forming a first opening in the formation;
providing a magnetic string to the first opening, wherein the magnetic string is positioned along at least a portion of the first opening, wherein the magnetic string produces two or more magnetic fields, wherein the magnetic string comprises two or more magnetic segments, and wherein at least two magnetic segments are positioned such that opposing poles from each magnetic segment are adjacent to each other, thereby forming a junction of opposing poles; and
forming a second opening in the formation using one or more of the magnetic fields such that the second opening is spaced at an approximate desired distance from the first opening. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A method for forming more than one wellbore in a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising:
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forming a first wellbore in a formation;
placing a magnetic string in the first wellbore, wherein the magnetic string produces two or more magnetic fields in a portion of the formation;
forming a first set of one or more wellbores proximate to the first wellbore using, at least in part, one or more magnetic fields produced by the magnetic string;
moving the magnetic string from the first wellbore to a wellbore in the first set of one or more wellbores; and
forming a second set of one or more wellbores proximate to the wellbore with the magnetic string. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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70. A method for forming one or more openings below the earth'"'"'s surface, comprising:
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forming a first opening in the earth'"'"'s surface;
providing two or more movable permanent longitudinal magnets in the first opening, wherein each movable permanent longitudinal magnet has a north pole and a south pole, and wherein a longitudinal axis of each magnet is substantially parallel or coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the portion of the first opening that is proximate to the movable permanent longitudinal magnets; and
forming a second opening in the formation using information obtained by detection of one or more magnetic fields produced by the magnet such that the second opening is spaced at an approximate desired distance from the first opening. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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71. A method for forming one or more openings below the earth'"'"'s surface, comprising:
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forming a first opening below the earth'"'"'s surface;
providing a conduit in the first opening, wherein the conduit is positioned along at least a portion of the first opening;
providing an electric current to the conduit to produce a magnetic field along at least a portion of the conduit;
adjusting the amount of electrical current provided to the conduit to alter the strength of the magnetic field; and
forming a second opening below the earth'"'"'s surface using the magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field is used such that the second opening is spaced at an approximate desired distance from the first opening. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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Specification