Method and system for circulating fluid in a well system
First Claim
1. A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system, comprising:
- drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone;
drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone using a drill string, the articulated well bore horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;
drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone;
pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore, the drilling fluid exiting the drill string proximate a drill bit of the drill string;
providing fluid down the substantially vertical well bore through a tubing, the tubing having an opening at the junction such that the fluid exits the tubing at the junction; and
wherein a fluid mixture returns up the substantially vertical well bore outside of the tubing, the fluid mixture comprising the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone and drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone. The articulated well bore is horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersects the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone. The method includes drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone and pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore. The method also includes providing fluid down the substantially vertical well bore through a tubing. A fluid mixture returns up the substantially vertical well bore outside of the tubing. The fluid mixture comprises the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string.
326 Citations
63 Claims
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1. A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system, comprising:
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drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone;
drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone using a drill string, the articulated well bore horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;
drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone;
pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore, the drilling fluid exiting the drill string proximate a drill bit of the drill string;
providing fluid down the substantially vertical well bore through a tubing, the tubing having an opening at the junction such that the fluid exits the tubing at the junction; and
wherein a fluid mixture returns up the substantially vertical well bore outside of the tubing, the fluid mixture comprising the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system, comprising:
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drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone;
drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone using a drill string, the articulated well bore horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;
drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone;
pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore, the drilling fluid exiting the drill swing proximate a drill bit of the drill string;
providing fluid down the substantially vertical well bore outside of a tubing disposed in the substantially vertical well bore, the tubing having an opening at the junction; and
wherein a fluid mixture enters the opening of the tubing at the junction and returns up the substantially vertical well bore through the tubing, the fluid mixture comprising the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for circulating fluid in a well system, comprising:
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pumping a first fluid through an articulated well bore, the articulated well bore horizontally offset from a substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate a subterranean zone;
providing a second fluid down the substantially vertical well bore through a tubing, the tubing having an opening at the junction such that the second fluid exits the tubing at the junction;
wherein a fluid mixture returns up the substantially vertical well bore outside of the tubing, the fluid mixture comprising the first fluid. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for circulating fluid in a well system, comprising:
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pumping a first fluid through an articulated well bore, the articulated well bore horizontally offset from a substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate a subterranean zone;
providing a second fluid down the substantially vertical well bore outside of a tubing disposed in the substantially vertical well bore, the tubing having an opening at the junction;
wherein a fluid mixture enters the opening of the tubing at the junction and returns up the substantially vertical well bore through the tubing, the fluid mixture comprising the first fluid. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system, comprising:
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drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone;
drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone using a drill string, the articulated well bore horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;
drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone;
pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore, the drilling fluid exiting the drill string proximate a drill bit of the drill string;
providing a pump string down the substantially vertical well bore, the pump string comprising a pump inlet proximate the junction; and
pumping a fluid mixture up the substantially vertical well bore through the pump string, the fluid mixture entering the pump string at the pump inlet. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method for circulating fluid in a well system, comprising:
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pumping a fluid through an articulated well bore, the articulated well bore horizontally offset from a substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate a subterranean zone;
providing a pump string down the substantially vertical well bore, the pump string comprising a pump inlet proximate the junction; and
pumping a fluid mixture up the substantially vertical well bore through the pump string, the fluid mixture entering the pump string at the pump inlet. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system, comprising:
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drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone;
drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone using a drill string, the articulated well bore horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;
drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone;
pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore, the drilling fluid exiting the drill string proximate a drill bit of the drill string; and
providing fluid to at least one of the well bores to vary a bottom hole pressure of the system. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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Specification