Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface and tools therefor

• US 8,316,966 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Effective Exploration LLC
• Original Assignee: Vitruvian Exploration, LLC (Vitruvian Exploration II Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Zupanick, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRECK, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US11/982,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20080060807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,854 Days
• Field of Search: 166/50, 166/313, 175/205
• US Class Current: 175/205
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 5/00 Storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/085 Underbalanced techniques, i.e. where borehole fluid pressure is below formation pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0035 Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0057 Disposal of a fluid by injection into a subterranean formation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/00 Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells applicable only to water E03B
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/006 Production of coal-bed methane E21B43/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/13 specially adapted to dewatering of wells of gas producing reservoirs, e.g. methane producing coal beds
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/14 Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/30 Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/305 comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/005 Below-ground automatic control systems
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/026 of penetrated ground layers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/09 Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells , e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/046 horizontal drilling drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 7/00 Methods or devices for drawing- off gases with or without subsequent use of the gas for any purpose
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/48 Processing data

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.

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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the drill string extends through the second well bore while drilling the drainage well bore.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second well bore comprises an articulated well bore.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second well bore comprises a substantially vertical well bore.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the drainage 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.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the drainage 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.

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

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

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

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

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising returning cuttings from the drilling through the second well bore.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a drilling fluid through a drill string while drilling a substantially horizontal drainage pattern.

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.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the drill string extends from the surface through the second well bore.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the second well bore comprises an articulated well bore.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the drainage 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.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the drainage 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.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the drainage 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.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the pressure fluid comprises compressed gas.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the subterranean zone comprises a coal seam.

21. The system of claim 13, further comprising a pump operable to provide the pressure fluid down the first well bore and to vary the flow rate of the pressure fluid to vary the frictional pressure the drainage well bore is being drilled.

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.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first well bore comprises a substantially vertical well bore and the second well bore comprises an articulated well bore.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a drilling fluid through a drill string while drilling a substantially horizontal drainage pattern.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming an enlarged cavity through the first well bore and proximate the subterranean zone.