Method and system for controlling pressure in a dual well system

• US 7,073,595 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Effective Exploration LLC
• Original Assignee: CDX Gas LLC (EnerVest Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zupanick, Joseph A., Merendino, Frank Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gay, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/244,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20050115709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 166/268, 166/311, 166/312, 166/313, 166/369, 166/370, 166/50, 166/250.15, 166/250.07
• US Class Current: 166/370
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/08 Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/305 comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/046 horizontal drilling drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003

Abstract

A method for controlling pressure of a dual 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 using a drill string. The articulated well bore is horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersects the substantially vertical well bore. The method includes drilling a drainage bore into the subterranean zone. The method includes pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore. The method includes pumping a pressure fluid down the substantially vertical well bore when drilling the drainage bore. The pressure fluid mixes with the drilling fluid to form a fluid mixture returning up the articulated well bore which forms a frictional pressure that resists fluid flow from the subterranean zone.

Claims

1. A method for controlling pressure of a dual 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;

pumping a pressure fluid down the substantially vertical well bore when drilling the drainage bore, the pressure fluid comprising a liquid and mixing with the drilling fluid to form a fluid mixture returning up the articulated well bore;

wherein the fluid mixture returning up the articulated well bore forms a frictional pressure that resist fluid flow from the subterranean zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure, the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is greater than a pressure from subterranean zone fluid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure, the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is less than a pressure from subterranean zone fluid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure, the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is equal to a pressure from the subterranean zone fluid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure fluid comprises compressed gas.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising varying the flow rate of the pressure fluid to vary the frictional pressure.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the composition of the pressure fluid to vary the frictional pressure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal seam.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the subterranean zone comprises an oil or gas reservoir.

10. A method for controlling pressure of a dual 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;

pumping a pressure fluid down the articulated well bore when drilling the drainage bore, the pressure fluid mixing with the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string to form a fluid mixture returning up the substantially vertical well bore;

wherein the fluid mixture returning up the substantially vertical well bore forms a frictional pressure that resist fluid flow from the subterranean zone.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure, the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is greater than a pressure from subterranean zone fluid.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure, the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is less than a pressure from subterranean zone fluid.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is equal to a pressure from subterranean zone fluid.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the pressure fluid comprises compressed gas.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising varying the flow rate of the pressure fluid to vary the frictional pressure.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising changing the composition of the pressure fluid to vary the frictional pressure.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal seam.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the subterranean zone comprises an oil or gas reservoir.

19. A dual well system for controlling pressure in the wells, comprising:

a substantially vertical well bore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone;

an articulated well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, 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;

a drainage bore extending from the junction into the subterranean zone;

a drill string disposed within the articulated well bore, the drill string used to drill the drainage bore;

a drilling fluid provided through the drill string and exiting the drill string proximate a drill bit of the drill string,

a pressure fluid provided down the substantially vertical well bore, the pressure fluid comprising a liquid and mixing with the drilling fluid to form a fluid mixture returning up the articulated well bore;

wherein the fluid mixture returning up the articulated well bore forms a frictional pressure that resist fluid flow from the subterranean zone.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure, the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is greater than a pressure from subterranean zone fluid.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure, the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is less than a pressure from subterranean zone fluid.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure, the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is equal to a pressure from subterranean zone fluid.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the pressure fluid comprises compressed gas.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal seam.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the subterranean zone comprises an oil or gas reservoir.

26. The system of claim 19, further comprising a pump operable to provide the pressure fluid down the substantially vertical well bore and to vary the flow rate of the pressure fluid to vary the frictional pressure.

27. A dual well system for controlling pressure in the wells, comprising:

a substantially vertical well bore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone;

an articulated well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, 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;

a drainage bore extending from the junction into the subterranean zone;

a drill string disposed within the articulated well bore, the drill string used to drill the drainage bore;

a drilling fluid provided through the drill string and exiting the drill string proximate a drill bit of the drill string;

a pressure fluid provided down the articulated well bore, the pressure fluid mixing with the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string to form a fluid mixture returning up the substantially vertical well bore;

wherein the fluid mixture returning up the substantially vertical well bore forms a frictional pressure that resist fluid flow from the subterranean zone.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure, the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is greater than a pressure from subterranean zone fluid.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure, the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is less than a pressure from subterranean zone fluid.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the articulated well bore has a bottom hole pressure, the bottom hole pressure comprising the frictional pressure, and wherein the bottom hole pressure is equal to a pressure from subterranean zone fluid.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the pressure fluid comprises compressed gas.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal seam.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the subterranean zone comprises an oil or gas reservoir.

34. The system of claim 27, further comprising a pump operable to provide the pressure fluid down the articulated well bore and to vary the flow rate of the pressure fluid to vary the frictional pressure.

35. A method for controlling pressure of a dual well system, comprising:

pumping a pressure fluid down a substantially vertical well bore from a surface, the substantially vertical well bore extending from the surface to a subterranean zone, the pressure fluid comprising a liquid;

pumping a drilling fluid through an articulated well bore from the surface, 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;

wherein the pressure fluid mixes with the drilling fluid to form a fluid mixture returning up the articulated well bore; and

wherein the return of the fluid mixture up the articulated well bore forms a frictional pressure that resists fluid flow from the subterranean zone.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the pressure fluid is pumped down the substantially vertical well bore while making connections to a drill string in the articulated well bore.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the pressure fluid is pumped down the substantially vertical well bore while tripping a drill string in the articulated well bore.