Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface and tools therefor
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:
- a substantially vertical well bore extending from the surface to the 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 intercepting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate to the subterranean zone;
a substantially horizontal drainage pattern extending from the junction into the subterranean zone; and
the subterranean zone comprising shale.
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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.
398 Citations
28 Claims
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1. 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; 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 intercepting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate to the subterranean zone; a substantially horizontal drainage pattern extending from the junction into the subterranean zone; and the subterranean zone comprising shale. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for accessing a shale subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:
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a first well bore extending from the surface to the shale subterranean zone; a second well bore extending from the surface to the shale subterranean zone; the first and second well bores coupled to each other at a junction proximate the shale subterranean zone; and a substantially horizontal drainage well bore coupled to the junction in the shale subterranean zone. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for accessing a subterranean shale zone from the surface, comprising:
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drilling a substantially vertical well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean shale zone; drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean shale zone, the articulated well bore intercepting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate to the subterranean shale zone; and drilling a substantially horizontal drainage pattern extending from the junction into the subterranean shale zone. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. 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; 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 intercepting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate to the subterranean zone; a substantially horizontal drainage pattern extending from the junction into the subterranean zone; and the subterranean zone comprising a low permeability zone. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:
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a first well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone; a second well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone; the first and second well bores coupled to each other at a junction proximate the subterranean zone; a substantially horizontal drainage pattern coupled to the junction in the subterranean zone, the substantially horizontal drainage pattern comprising a plurality of well bores; and the subterranean zone comprising shale.
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27. A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:
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a first well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone; a second well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone; the first and second well bores coupled to each other at a junction proximate the subterranean zone; a substantially horizontal drainage pattern coupled to the junction in the subterranean zone, the substantially horizontal drainage pattern comprising a main well bore coupled to the junction and a plurality of well bores extending from each side of the main well bore; and the subterranean zone comprising shale.
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28. A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:
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a first well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone; a second well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone; the first and second well bores coupled to each other at a junction proximate the subterranean zone; a substantially horizontal drainage pattern coupled to the junction in the subterranean zone, the substantially horizontal drainage pattern comprises; a substantially horizontal diagonal well bore coupled to the junction defining a first end of an area in the subterranean zone to a distant end of the area; a first set of substantially horizontal lateral well bores in spaced relation to each other extending from the diagonal well bore to the periphery of the area on a first side of a diagonal well bore; and a second set of substantially horizontal lateral well bores in spaced relation to each other extending from the diagonal well bore to the periphery of the area on a second, opposite side of the diagonal well bore; and the subterranean zone comprising shale.
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Specification