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

• US 8,813,840 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Effective Exploration LLC
• Original Assignee: Efective Exploration LLC
• Inventors: Zupanick, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRECK, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US13/965,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20130340997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 166/50, 166/52, 166/245
• 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 accessing a subterranean zone of shale, the system comprising:

a drilling pad at a surface;

a first wellbore extending from the surface con g a first substantially vertical portion extending into a subterranean zone and a first substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the first substantially vertical portion and proximate to the subterranean zone;

a second wellbore extending from the surface compromising a second substantially vertical portion extending into the subterranean zone and a second substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the second substantially vertical portion and proximate to the subterranean zone, wherein the first and second substantially horizontal drainage bores extend in the subterranean zone in different directions from each other;

a third wellbore extending from the surface comprising a third substantially vertical portion extending into the subterranean zone and a third substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the third substantially vertical portion and proximate to the subterranean zone;

a fourth wellbore extending from the surface comprising a fourth substantially vertical portion extending into the subterranean zone and a fourth substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the fourth substantially vertical portion and proximate to the subterranean zone, wherein the third and fourth substantially horizontal drainage bores extend in the subterranean zone in different directions from each other;

the first, second, third and fourth wellbores each extending from non-common surface locations on the drilling pad at the surface, the surface locations closely spaced to each other on the drilling pad;

wherein the subterranean zone is shale; and

,

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth wellbores each produce a fluid extracted from the subterranean zone through the substantially horizontal drainage bores.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each surface location, is located within 100 to 300 feet from another surface location.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the surface locations are in-line with each other on the drilling pad.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, each surface location is located within 2-100 feet from another surface location.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one cavity coupled to each substantially horizontal drainage bore proximate to the subterranean zone, the at least one cavity formed by fracing.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second substantially horizontal drainage bores extend in substantially opposite directions.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the third and fourth substantially horizontal drainage bores extend in substantially opposite directions.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth wellbores are located within two acres on the drilling pad.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second substantially horizontal drainage bores are located in a first subterranean zone of shale, and the third and fourth substantially horizontal drainage bores are located in a second subterranean zone of shale.

10. A method for accessing subterranean zone of shale, the method comprising:

forming a first wellbore comprising a first substantially vertical portion extending in a subterranean zone of shale from a drilling pad at a surface, and a first substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the first substantially vertical portion into the subterranean zone;

forming a second wellbore comprising a second substantially vertical portion extending in the subterranean zone from the drilling pad at the surface, and a second substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the second substantially vertical portion into the subterranean zone such that the first and second substantially horizontal drainage bores extend the subterranean zone in different directions;

forming a third wellbore comprising a third substantially vertical portion extending in the subterranean zone from the drilling pad at the surface, and a third substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the third substantially vertical portion into the subterranean zone;

forming a fourth wellbore comprising a fourth substantially vertical portion extending in the subterranean zone from the drilling pad at the surface, and a fourth substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the fourth substantially vertical portion into the subterranean zone such that the third and fourth substantially horizontal drainage bores extend in the subterranean zone in different directions;

the first, second, third, and fourth wellbores producing a fluid extracted from the subterranean zone of shale; and

,

wherein the first, second, third and fourth wellbores each have a non-common surface location on the drilling pad at the surface, the surface locations closely spaced to each other on the drilling pad.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming the first, second, third, and fourth substantially vertical portions such that each surface location is located with 100 to 300 feet from another surface location.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming the wellbores such that the surface locations are in-line with each other on the drilling pad.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming the wellbores such that each surface location is located within 2-100 feet from another surface location.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming at least one cavity coupled to each substantially horizontal drainage bore, the at least one cavity formed by fracing.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming the first and second substantially horizontal drainage bores such that the first and second substantially horizontal drainage bores extend in substantially opposite directions.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising forming the third and fourth substantially horizontal drainage bores such that the third and fourth substantially horizontal drainage bores extend in substantially opposite directions.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second substantially horizontal drainage bores are located in a first subterranean zone of shale, and the third and fourth substantially horizontal drainage bores are located in a second subterranean of shale.

18. A system for accessing a shale subterranean zone, the system comprising:

a drilling pad at a surface, which is land;

a first well comprising a first wellbore with a first substantially vertical portion extending into a shale subterranean zone, and a first substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the first substantially vertical portion;

a second well comprising a second wellbore with a second substantially vertical portion extending into the shale subterranean zone, and a second substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the second substantially vertical portion, wherein the first and second substantially horizontal drainage bores extend in the shale subterranean zone in substantially opposite directions;

a third well comprising a third wellbore with a third substantially vertical portion extending into the shale subterranean zone, and a third substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the third substantially vertical portion;

a fourth well comprising a fourth wellbore with a fourth substantially vertical portion extending into the shale subterranean zone, and a fourth substantially horizontal drainage bore extending from the fourth substantially vertical portion, wherein the third and fourth substantially horizontal drainage bores extend in the shale subterranean zone in substantially opposite directions;

the first, second, third and fourth wellbores each having a non-common surface location on the drilling pad at the surface, the surface locations closely spaced to each other on the drilling pad;

wherein each wellbore is coupled to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth substantially horizontal drainage bores at a junction proximate to the shale subterranean zone; and

,

wherein each wellbore produces a fluid originating from the shale subterranean zone.