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

• US 8,464,784 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• 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: Zupanich, Joseph Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): KRECK, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US11/981,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20080060799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,057 Days
• Field of Search: 166/50
• US Class Current: 166/50
• 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 for accessing a first and a second subterranean zones from the surface, comprising:

forming a first well bore extending into the first subterranean zone;

forming a second well bore intersecting the first well bore at a junction proximate the first subterranean zone, at least a portion of the second well bore horizontally offset from the first well bore between the surface and the junction;

forming a first drainage well bore coupled to the first well bore and extending into the first subterranean zone; and

forming a second drainage well bore coupled to the first well bore and extending into the second subterranean zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the second well bore further comprises forming a first branch intersecting the first well bore at a first junction proximate the first subterranean zone and a second branch intersecting the first well bore at a second junction proximate the second subterranean zone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein forming the first drainage well bore further comprises forming the first drainage well bore extending from the first junction into the first subterranean zone;

and

wherein forming the second drainage well bore further comprises forming the second drainage well bore extending from the second junction into the second subterranean zone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the second drainage well bore comprises forming the second drainage well bore extending from the junction proximate the first subterranean zone.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a first drainage pattern coupled to the first well bore and extending into the first subterranean zone and forming a second drainage pattern coupled to the first well bore and extending into the second subterranean zone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the second well bore comprises forming the second well bore spaced apart from the first well bore at the surface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the first well bore comprises forming a substantially vertical well bore.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a plurality of laterals coupled to the junction in the first subterranean zone.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising conducting fluids from the second subterranean zone to the first subterranean zone.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an enlarged cavity proximate the first subterranean zone.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an entry well bore from the surface and wherein forming the first well bore comprises forming the first well bore from the entry well bore and forming the second well bore comprises forming the second well bore from the entry well bore.

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

13. A system for accessing a first and a second subterranean zones from the surface comprising:

a first well bore extending into the first subterranean zone;

a second well bore intersecting the first well bore at a junction proximate the first subterranean zone, at least a portion of the second well bore horizontally offset from the first well bore between the surface and the junction;

a first drainage well bore coupled to the first well bore and extending into the first subterranean zone; and

a second drainage well bore coupled to the first well bore and extending into the second subterranean zone.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second well bore further comprises a first branch intersecting the first well bore at a first junction proximate the first subterranean zone and a second branch intersecting the first well bore at a second junction proximate the second subterranean zone.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first drainage well bore extends from the first junction into the first subterranean zone;

and

wherein the second drainage well bore extends from the second junction into the second subterranean zone.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the second drainage well bore extends from the junction proximate the first subterranean zone.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a first drainage pattern coupled to the first well bore and extending into the first subterranean zone and a second drainage pattern coupled to the first well bore and extending into the second subterranean zone.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the second well bore is spaced apart from the first well bore at the surface.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the first well bore comprises a substantially vertical well bore.

20. The system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of laterals coupled to the junction in the first subterranean zone.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the second drainage well bore is configured to conduct fluids from the second subterranean zone to the first subterranean zone.

22. The system of claim 13, further comprising an enlarged cavity proximate the first subterranean zone.

23. The system of claim 13, further comprising an entry well bore from the surface, and wherein the first well bore extends from the entry well bore and the second well bore extends from the entry well bore.

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

25. The system of claim 13, further comprising a fluid collection area about the junction.