Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface and tools therefor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- providing a drilling fluid through a drill string while drilling a substantially horizontal drainage well bore extending from a junction into a subterranean zone, the drilling fluid exiting the drill string about a drill bit of the drill string,the junction being between a first well bore extending into the subterranean zone and a second well bore extending into the subterranean zone; and
providing a pressure fluid down the first well bore when drilling the drainage well bore, the pressure fluid mixing with the drilling fluid to form a fluid mixture returning up the second well bore.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to one embodiment, a system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes a well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, and a well bore pattern connected to the junction and operable to drain fluid from a region of the subterranean zone to the junction.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
providing a drilling fluid through a drill string while drilling a substantially horizontal drainage well bore extending from a junction into a subterranean zone, the drilling fluid exiting the drill string about a drill bit of the drill string, the junction being between a first well bore extending into the subterranean zone and a second well bore extending into the subterranean zone; and providing a pressure fluid down the first well bore when drilling the drainage well bore, the pressure fluid mixing with the drilling fluid to form a fluid mixture returning up the second well bore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A well system, comprising:
-
a first well bore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone; a second well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, the first and second well bores intersecting at a junction proximate the subterranean zone; a drainage well bore extending from the junction into the subterranean zone; a drill string disposed within the drainage well bore and operating in drilling the drainage well bore; a drilling fluid provided through the drill string and exiting the drill string proximate a drill bit of the drill string; and a pressure fluid provided down the first well bore, the pressure fluid mixing with the drilling fluid to form a fluid mixture returning up the second well bore. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method, comprising:
-
drilling a first well bore from a terranean surface to a subterranean zone; drilling a second well bore from the terranean surface to the subterranean zone, the second well bore communicating with the first well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone; providing a drilling fluid through a drill string while drilling a substantially horizontal drainage well bore extending from the junction proximate the subterranean zone; and providing a fluid down the first well bore when drilling the drainage well bore, the pressure fluid mixing with the drilling fluid to form a fluid mixture returning up the second well bore. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
-
Specification