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

• US 8,479,812 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• 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:
  US11/982,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,078 Days
• Field of Search: 166/50, 166/245, 166/52, 175/62, 175/65
• US Class Current: 166/245
• 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 system for surface production of gas from a coal seam, comprising:

an articulated well bore extending from the surface to a coal seam;

a substantially horizontal well bore coupled to the articulated well bore;

a plurality of laterals coupled to the substantially horizontal well bore, the substantially horizontal well bore and plurality of laterals operable to conduct fluids from the coal seam to a well bore junction;

the well bore junction coupled to a fluid collection area at least partially disposed below the substantially horizontal well bore, the fluid collection area operable to collect fluids from the substantially horizontal well bore for production to the surface; and

wherein gas may be produced from the coal seam to the surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the laterals on at least one side of the substantially horizontal well bore progressively shorten in a direction away from the articulated well bore.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising four or more laterals coupled to the substantially horizontal well bore.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vertical well bore extending from the surface to the coal seam, the vertical well bore intercepting the articulated well bore at the junction.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising the plurality of laterals extending from the substantially horizontal well bore.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of laterals extending from at least one of the lateral extending from the substantially horizontal well bore.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the coal seam is a low permeability coal seam.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the substantially horizontal well bore and plurality of laterals comprise a half pinnate pattern.

9. A method for surface production of gas from a coal seam, comprising:

drilling an articulated well bore extending from the surface to a coal seam;

drilling underbalanced a substantially horizontal well bore coupled to the articulated well bore;

drilling underbalanced a plurality of laterals coupled to the substantially horizontal well bore;

conducting fluids from the coal seam through the substantially horizontal well bore and the plurality of laterals to a well bore junction;

coupled to a fluid collection area at least partially disposed below the substantially horizontal well bore;

collecting fluids at the fluid collection area from the substantially horizontal well bore and plurality of laterals for production to the surface; and

producing gas from the coal seam to the surface.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising drilling the laterals on at least one side of the substantially horizontal well bore progressively shorter in a direction away from the articulated well bore.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising drilling four or more laterals coupled to the substantially horizontal well bore.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising drilling a vertical well bore extending from the surface to the coal seam, the vertical well bore intercepting the articulated well bore at the junction.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising drilling the plurality of laterals extending from the substantially horizontal well bore.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising drilling a plurality of laterals extending from at least one of the lateral extending from the substantially horizontal well bore.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the coal seam is a low permeability coal seam.