Slot cavity
First Claim
1. A method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:
- drilling a substantially vertical well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone;
forming a slot cavity in the substantially vertical well bore proximate to the subterranean zone, wherein the slot cavity comprises a substantially non-cylindrical shape; and
drilling an articulated well bore to the subterranean zone horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore and intersecting the slot cavity of the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate to the subterranean zone and extending beyond the slot cavity.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone and forming a slot cavity in the substantially vertical well bore proximate to the subterranean zone. The slot cavity comprises a substantially non-cylindrical shape. The method also includes 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 to the subterranean zone. The method may include drilling the articulated well bore to intersect the slot cavity of the substantially vertical well bore and drilling a substantially horizontal drainage pattern from the slot cavity into the subterranean zone. The subterranean zone may comprise a coal seam.
403 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:
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drilling a substantially vertical well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone; forming a slot cavity in the substantially vertical well bore proximate to the subterranean zone, wherein the slot cavity comprises a substantially non-cylindrical shape; and drilling an articulated well bore to the subterranean zone horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore and intersecting the slot cavity of the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate to the subterranean zone and extending beyond the slot cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:
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a substantially vertical well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone; a slot cavity formed in the substantially vertical well bore proximate to the subterranean zone, wherein the slot cavity comprises a substantially non-cylindrical shape; and an articulated well bore extending to the subterranean zone, the articulated well bore horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore and intercepting the slot cavity at a junction proximate to the subterranean zone and extending beyond the slot cavity. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for preparing a subterranean zone for mining, comprising:
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drilling a substantially vertical well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone; forming a slot cavity in the substantially vertical well bore, the slot cavity comprising a substantially non-cylindrical shape; drilling an articulated well bore to the subterranean zone to intersect the slot cavity at a junction proximate to the subterranean zone and extend beyond the slot cavity; drilling a substantially horizontal drainage pattern from the junction into the subterranean zone; draining water from the subterranean zone through the drainage pattern into the junction; pumping the water from the junction to the surface through the substantially vertical well bore; and producing gas from the subterranean zone through at least one of the substantially vertical and articulated well bores. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for accessing a subterranean zone, comprising:
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drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to the subterranean zone; and forming a slot cavity in the substantially vertical well bore at least partially within the subterranean zone for collecting fluid drained from the subterranean zone, the slot cavity intersecting at least one preexisting fracture of the subterranean zone, wherein the slot cavity comprises a substantially non-cylindrical shape. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for retrieval of subsurface fluid, comprising:
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drilling one or more substantially vertical driver well bores from the surface into an underground material, wherein the underground material includes a fluid; drilling one or more substantially vertical collector well bores from the surface into the underground material; forming one or more slot cavities in the one or more substantially vertical collector well bores for collecting fluid drained from the subterranean zone, wherein the one or more slot cavities comprise a substantially noncylindrical shape; providing a solution into the one or more substantially vertical driver well bores to drive the fluid through the material and into the one or more slot cavities; and retrieving the fluid from the one or more slot cavities. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A system for retrieval of subsurface fluid, comprising:
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one or more substantially vertical driver well bores extending from the surface into an underground material, wherein the underground material includes a fluid; one or more substantially vertical collector well bores extending from the surface into the underground material; one or more slot cavities formed in the one or more substantially vertical collector well bores for collecting fluid drained from the subterranean zone, wherein the one or more slot cavities comprise a substantially non-cylindrical shape; and wherein the one or more substantially vertical driver well bores include a solution provided to drive the fluid through the material and into the one or more slot cavities. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification