Method and system for circulating fluid in a well system
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a substantially vertical well bore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone;
an articulated well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;
a drainage bore extending from the junction into the subterranean zone;
a drill string disposed within the articulated well bore, the drill string extending into the drainage bore;
a drilling fluid provided through the drill string and exiting the drill string proximate a drill bit of the drill string;
a tubing disposed within the substantially vertical well bore, the tubing having an open end at the junction;
a second fluid provided down the substantially vertical well bore, the second fluid exiting the tubing at the junction; and
a fluid mixture returning up the substantially vertical well bore outside of the tubing, the fluid mixture comprising the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone and 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 the subterranean zone. The method includes drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone and pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore. The method also includes providing fluid down the substantially vertical well bore through a tubing. A fluid mixture returns up the substantially vertical well bore outside of the tubing. The fluid mixture comprises the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a substantially vertical well bore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone; an articulated well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone; a drainage bore extending from the junction into the subterranean zone; a drill string disposed within the articulated well bore, the drill string extending into the drainage bore; a drilling fluid provided through the drill string and exiting the drill string proximate a drill bit of the drill string; a tubing disposed within the substantially vertical well bore, the tubing having an open end at the junction; a second fluid provided down the substantially vertical well bore, the second fluid exiting the tubing at the junction; and a fluid mixture returning up the substantially vertical well bore outside of the tubing, the fluid mixture comprising the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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a substantially vertical well bore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone; an articulated well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone; a drainage bore extending from the junction into the subterranean zone; a drill string disposed within the articulated well bore, the drill string extending into the drainage bore; a drilling fluid provided through the drill string and exiting the drill string proximate a drill bit of the drill string; a tubing disposed within the substantially vertical well bore, the tubing having an opening at the junction; a second fluid provided down the substantially vertical well bore outside the tubing; and a fluid mixture entering the opening of the tubing at the junction and returning up the substantially vertical well bore through the tubing, the fluid mixture comprising the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a substantially vertical well bore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone; an articulated well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone and intersecting the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone; a drainage bore extending from the junction into the subterranean zone; a drill string disposed within the articulated well bore, the drill string extending into the drainage bore; a drilling fluid provided through the drill string and exiting the drill string proximate a drill bit of the drill string; a pump string disposed within the substantially vertical well bore, the pump string comprising a pump inlet proximate the junction; and a fluid mixture entering the pump string at the pump inlet and pumped up the substantially vertical well bore through the pump string. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification