System and method for multiple wells from a common surface location

• US 7,222,670 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• 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:
  US10/788,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 168/245, 168/52, 168/50, 168/313, 168/369, 175/61, 175/62, 166/245, 166/52, 166/50, 166/313, 166/369
• US Class Current: 166/245
• 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 system for accessing a subterranean zone from an entry well including an entry well extending from the surface. The entry well has a substantially vertical portion. A one or more drainage wells extend from the entry well to a subterranean zone. A one or more articulated wells extend from the entry well to the subterranean zone. At least one of the articulated wells intersects at least one of the one or more drainage wells at a junction proximate the subterranean zone. A drainage pattern is formed coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluids from the subterranean zone to the junction.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a subterranean zone, comprising:

forming an entry well from the surface, the entry well having a substantially vertical portion;

forming a drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone, the drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

forming an articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;

forming a drainage pattern through the articulated well, the drainage pattern coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluid from the subterranean zone to the junction; and

forming a second drainage well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

forming a second articulated well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second articulated well intersecting the second drainage well at a second junction proximate the subterranean zone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an enlarged cavity in the drainage well proximate the subterranean zone.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a guide tube bundle into the entry well and forming one or more of the drainage well or the articulated well using the guide tube bundle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the drainage pattern comprises forming a main well bore and a plurality of lateral well bores extending from the main well bore.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the lateral wells are configured to drain an area of the subterranean zone of at least 640 acres.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing resources from the subterranean zone through the drainage pattern to the surface.

7. A method for accessing a subterranean zone, comprising:

forming an entry well from the surface, the entry well having a substantially vertical portion;

forming a drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone, the drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

forming an articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;

forming a drainage pattern through the articulated well, the drainage pattern coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluid from the subterranean zone to the junction;

forming a second drainage well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion; and

forming a second articulated well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second articulated well intersecting the second drainage well at a second junction proximate the subterranean zone,

wherein the drainage wells are radially spaced approximately equally around the entry well.

8. A method for accessing a subterranean zone, comprising:

forming an entry well from the surface, the entry well having a substantially vertical portion;

forming a drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone, the drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

forming an articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;

forming a drainage pattern through the articulated well, the drainage pattern coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluid from the subterranean zone to the junction;

forming a second drainage well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion; and

forming a second articulated well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second articulated well intersecting the second drainage well at a second junction proximate the subterranean zone,

wherein the articulated wells are radially spaced approximately equally around the entry well.

9. A method for accessing a subterranean zone, comprising:

forming an entry well from the surface, the entry well having a substantially vertical portion;

forming a drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone, the drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

forming an articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;

forming a drainage pattern through the articulated well, the drainage pattern coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluid from the subterranean zone to the junction;

forming a second drainage well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second drainage well comprising at least one slated portion;

forming a second articulated well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second articulated well intersecting the second drainage well at a second junction proximate the subterranean zone;

forming a third drainage well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the third drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

forming a third articulated well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the third articulated well intersecting the third drainage well at a third junction proximate the subterranean zone.

10. A system for accessing a subterranean zone from an entry well, comprising:

an entry well extending from the surface, the entry well having a substantially vertical portion;

a drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone, the drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

an articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;

an inlet of a downhole pumping unit residing in the junction;

a drainage pattern coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluid from the subterranean zone to the junction;

a second drainage well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion; and

a second articulated well intersecting the drainage well at a second junction proximate the subterranean zone.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an enlarged cavity formed in the drainage well proximate the subterranean zone.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a guide tube bundle inserted into the entry well for forming one or more of the drainage well or the articulated well.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the drainage pattern comprises a main well bore and a plurality of lateral well bores extending from the main well bore.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the lateral wells are configured to drain an area of the subterranean zone of at least 640 acres.

15. A system for accessing a subterranean zone from an entry well, comprising:

an entry well extending from the surface, the entry well having a substantially vertical portion;

a drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone, the drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

an articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;

an inlet of a downhole pumping unit residing in the junction; and

a drainage pattern coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluid from the subterranean zone to the junction;

a second drainage well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion; and

a second articulated well intersecting the drainage well at a second junction proximate the subterranean zone,

wherein the drainage wells are radially spaced approximately equally around the entry well.

16. A system for accessing a subterranean zone from an entry well, comprising:

an entry well extending from the surface, the entry well having a substantially vertical portion;

a drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone, the drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

an articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;

an inlet of a downhole pumping unit residing in the junction; and

a drainage pattern coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluid from the subterranean zone to the junction;

a second drainage well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion; and

a second articulated well intersecting the drainage well at a second junction proximate the subterranean zone,

wherein the articulated wells are radially spaced approximately equally around the entry well.

17. A system for accessing a subterranean zone from an entry well, comprising:

an entry well extending from the surface, the entry well having a substantially vertical portion;

a drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone, the drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

an articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;

an inlet of a downhole pumping unit residing in the junction; and

a drainage pattern coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluid from the subterranean zone to the junction;

a second drainage well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

a second articulated well intersecting the drainage well at a second junction proximate the subterranean zone;

a third drainage well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the third drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

a third articulated well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the third articulated well intersecting the third drainage well at a third junction proximate the subterranean zone.

18. A method for accessing a subterranean zone from an entry well, comprising:

forming an entry well from the surface, the entry well having a substantially vertical portion;

forming a drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone, the drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion;

forming an enlarged cavity in the drainage well proximate the subterranean zone;

forming an articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the enlarged cavity of the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;

forming a drainage pattern through the articulated well, the drainage pattern coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluid from the subterranean zone to the junction, the drainage pattern extending from the junction into the target zone and comprises a set of lateral wells extending from a main well bore;

forming a second drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone, the drainage well comprising at least one slanted portion; and

forming a second articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the enlarged cavity of the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone.

19. A method for accessing a subterranean zone, comprising:

forming an entry well from the surface;

forming a drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone;

forming an articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;

forming a drainage bore through the articulated well, the drainage bore coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluid from the subterranean zone to the junction;

forming a second drainage well from the entry well to the subterranean zone; and

forming a second articulated well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second articulated well intersecting the second drainage well at a second junction proximate the subterranean zone.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising forming an enlarged cavity in the drainage well proximate the subterranean zone.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising removing resources from the subterranean zone through the drainage pattern to the surface.

22. A method for accessing a subterranean zone, comprising:

forming an entry well from the surface;

forming a drainage well extending from the entry well to a subterranean zone;

forming an articulated well extending from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the articulated well extending from the entry well to intersect the drainage well at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;

forming a drainage bore through the articulated well, the drainage bore coupled to the junction and operable to conduct fluid from the subterranean zone to the junction;

forming a second drainage well from the entry well to the subterranean zone; and

forming a second articulated well from the entry well to the subterranean zone, the second articulated well intersecting the second drainage well at a second junction proximate the subterranean zone,

wherein the drainage wells are radially spaced approximately equally around the entry well.