WELLS WITH LATERAL CONDUITS

According to the invention, a process and system are disclosed for conditioning an oil or gas formation and the application of the various stimulating fluids to the oil or gas formation. The method consists of drilling from a vertical well hole a horizontal spiralling hole which spirals out into the...     

A system for the mining of geothermal energy in which a plurality of geothermal wells radiate from a single surface site into a subsurface geothermal reservoir. The wells can be drilled by conventional slant drilling techniques and each may contain a closed end heat exchanger which receives water and...     

This invention relates to an improved in situ combustion method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean earth formations containing carbonaceous material. The method is practiced by penetrating the subterranean earth formation with a borehole projecting into the coal bed along a horizontal...     

A process and apparatus is described for use in the recovery of oil from natural oil-bearing formations such as tar sands by means of thermal energy causing the oil to gravity in the formation into an oil-receiving duct. Oil recovery in relation to installation and operating costs is improved by releasing...     

The method for thermoshaft oil production comprises the provision of a combination of mining holes above an oil-bearing bed which are inclined at from 1.degree. to 3.degree. to the horizon. Then injection holes are drilled from these mining openings for feeding a heating medium into the bed. After that,...     

Compaction of friable or unconsolidated strata containing petroleum substance is obtained by increasing the mass of material above the reservoir, vibrating various earth strata and alternately raising and lowering the fluid pressure in the reservoir to yield a maximum reduction in porosity of the reservoir...     

This specification discloses a technique of providing a wellbore that extends from a surface location to a subsurface location in a mineral bearing formation which subsurface location is spaced a great lateral distance from the surface location. The wellbore is provided to have a first portion that extends...     

An improved method of in situ mining of a mineral bearing stratum. The method comprises drilling alternating rows of vertical injection and recovery wells to the depth of an aquiferrous mineral bearing stratum. Two horizontal branches are drilled at the bottom of each injection and recovery well. The...     

In situ shale oil recovery from oil shale deposits using radio frequency energy as a heat generator is facilitated by rubblizing the shale oil deposits before application of radio frequency energy.

A thermal-mining method of oil production is effected by digging a combination of underground workings and at least one working tunnel and by drilling injection and producing wells from said working tunnel. Then a heat carrier is forced into the oil-bearing bed for heating it to a temperature sufficient...     

Mineable coal seams which are in proximity to an overlying or underlying coal seam are degasified in advance of and during mining by drilling a generally horizontal borehole in the overlying or underlying coal seam and producing gas therefrom.

Useful product is recovered from an underground coal seam by drilling a passage extending from the surface to a cavity formed in the floor rock below the coal seam, drilling one or more upwardly radially extending channels from the cavity forming an injection manifold-like system which extends to the...     

A wireline apparatus and method has features that prevent the wireline from moving with respect to the drill string due to drill string movement or wave action on the drill rig. The apparatus includes a frame having a wireline pressure sealing device. The pressure sealing device is mounted to the top...     

A method for enhancing the recovery of liquid products from a wellbore having at least one laterally extending drain hole wellbore extending therefrom, wherein a portion of the primary wellbore near the drain hole wellbore and a portion of the drain hole wellbore itself are completely filled with a hardenable...     

A method of preparing an underground bed for treatment. A channel is formed in the bed extending from the ground down through the bed and up to the ground. A cutting device is inserted into the channel operated to form a pathway in a substantially vertical plane.

A method of collecting landfill gas from a landfill comprising providing a porous collector in the landfill having a relatively broad collection zone in the path of migrating landfill gas, controlling the pressure in the collector to induce the landfill gas near the collector to flow into the collector,...     

A method for enhancing the recovery of liquid products from a wellbore having at least one laterally extending drain hole wellbore extending therefrom wherein a portion of the earth around the primary wellbore and a part of the drain hole wellbore is treated to render same essentially gas impermeable...     

A method is disclosed for producing viscous petroleum from subsurface deposits. The method employs a vertical well and a horizontal well through the petroleum deposit. A combination of injection procedures through the horizontal and vertical well heat the viscous petroleum in the annulus around the horizontal...     

A process for in situ recovery of a tar sand deposit located beneath the earth's surface. A number of boreholes are drilled laterally from subsurface tunnels into the lower portion of the tar sands formation. Initially as a displacing means such as steam is injected into the boreholes, the tar sands...     

A subterranean, viscous oil-containing formation is penetrated by at least one injection well which extends downwardly from the earth's surface to the formation and then extends a predetermined distance through the formation in a generally horizontal direction. The horizontal section of the injection...     

A method for mining high grade ore from an ore body uses a near horizontal hole. The horizontal hole is bored into the ore body through as many of the high grade portions as possible. A jet mining tool is inserted into the hole to the high grade portion farthest from the tool insertion location and that...     

A silane propane burner for an underground coal gasification process which is used to ignite the coal and to controllably retract the injection point by cutting the injection pipe. A narrow tube with a burner tip is positioned in the injection pipe through which an oxidant (oxygen or air) is flowed....     

A well completion, having an injection end and a recovery end, and method for recovering heavy hydrocarbons or bitumen from a subterranean formation. The completion includes a well liner which lies in a generally horizontal disposition within a hydrocarbon holding substrate. Means for carrying a stream...     

A method for drilling a well in the earth for the production of minerals therefrom wherein a primary wellbore is first drilled into the earth, the primary wellbore being a deviated wellbore having a radius of curvature in the range of from about 2.5 to about 6 degrees per 100 feet of primary wellbore...     

A waveguide structure is emplanted in the earth to bound a particular volume of an earth formation with a waveguide structure formed of respective rows of discrete elongated electrodes wherein the spacing between rows is greater than the distance between electrodes in a respective row and in the case...     

Method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation in which a well completion, including a well liner, lies in a generally horizontal disposition within the hydrocarbon productive substrate. The liner encloses conductor means for delivering a stream of a hot stimulating agent...     

A well device comprising a vertially installed suction pipe and a plurality of horizontal water collecting pipes horizontally provided in a water layer, the horizontal water collecting pipes being provided with a number of water collecting holes. With this construction, a sufficiently large area of water...     

A method for forming as by drilling multiple boreholes into a shallow hydrocarbon pay zone from a single central vertical borehole is disclosed. A single large diameter vertical hole is first provided between the pay zone to a depth greater than a predetermined distance. Using special drilling equipment,...     

A method for collecting methane gas from subterranean formations having a plurality of spaced-apart coal seams containing methane gas includes the steps of drilling a shaft from the earth's surface to a depth sufficient to intersect a plurality of seams containing gas to be collected, excavating a cruciform...     

A method for drilling a plurality of wellbores for producing an oil and/or gas field to the maximum extent with the least number of wellbores wherein at least two longitudinally extending drilling zones are established spaced apart and essentially parallel to one another and drilling alternate longitudinally...     

The present invention is an improvement on the method of recovering viscous petroleum from a petroleum-containing formation by providing a steam injection well from the earth's surface through the formation, extending at least one lateral hole from the vicinity of the steam injection well through at...     

The disclosed invention is a method of recovering hydrocarbons through parallel horizontal wells by use of steam and water injection. Steam is injected into two parallel horizontal wells to stimulate the formation and then the second horizontal well is converted to a production well. About the time of...     

Heavy oil is recovered from deep reservoirs by injection of a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen, steam and in some cases oil soluble gases and/or vapors. This mixture is produced by a reversible exothermic catalytic reaction in a down-hole reactor and injected into a well drilled, preferably horizontally,...     

A method for completing a drainhole wellbore with casing but without conventional cementing of the casing wherein in the drainhole portion of the wellbore a casing string composed of alternating casing subs and external casing packer subs is employed, the external casing packer subs carrying an elastic...     

A sour natural gas is produced via a well system comprising a vertical well section and a horizontal drainhole section extending through the reservoir formation. Formation plugging due to in-situ precipitation of sulphur during production operations is avoided by adequately sizing the horizontal drainhole...     

A method for selectively producing oil from a reservoir containing both oil and gas. A lateral or horizontal wellbore is drilled within the reservoir below the gas-oil interface, and the wellbore has an inverted producing interval that is upwardly inclining toward the tail of the well. The inverted wellbore...     

A well is completed by cementing a casing string in place in the well. A jetting tool assembly is run into the casing string on a tubing string. The jetting tool assembly engages a sliding sleeve of a casing valve and slides the sliding sleeve to an open position uncovering a plurality of housing ports...     

An enhanced oil recovery process is described wherein oil is recovered from a depleted water-wet formation by the application of a gas to the formation. The flow of gas through the formation causes oil droplets to spontaneously form an oil film on connate water, which is extruded and discharged from...     

A method of forming fractures from a highly deviated or horizontal well bore penetrating a subterranean formulation. A well bore is drilled horizontally into a formation and the deviation in the direction of the well bore from the direction of the least principal horizontal stress is determined. Perforations...     

A system for recovering methane gas from a coal seam and rock strata and other coal seams above a coal seam being mined or as has been previously mined. The system involves directionally drilling one or more degas holes from a surface location that curve to extend above and essentially parallel, near...     

A method and apparatus for gravel-packing a formation which is especially useful in completing long production or injection zones and zones lying in deviated or horizontal boreholes wherein a gravel-pack tool is lowered to position a perforated liner adjacent the formation thereby forming an annulus...     

A method of cementing in a wellbore penetrating subterranean formations characterized by employing a graded density spacer fluid intermediate a displacing fluid and a displaced fluid. This is particularly advantageous where a cement slurry is employed as displacing fluid to displace drilling fluid employed...     

A method for selectively producing oil from a reservoir containing both oil and gas. A lateral or horizontal wellbore is drilled within the reservoir below the gas-oil interface, and the wellbore has an inverted producing interval that is upwardly inclining towards the tail of the well. The inverted...     

The present invention relates to a novel horizontal well bore system. More particularly, the invention relates to the setting of a conductor casing, drilling a well bore to a horizontal position, drilling and screening the horizontal/lateral section of the well, filter packing the well screen, and installing...     

Recovery of viscous petroleum such as from tar sands is assisted using a controlled flow of hot fluid and hydrogen-containing gas in a flow path within the formation; thus a solid-wall hollow tubular member in the formation is used for conducting hot fluid to promote hydrogenation in conjunction with...     

A method is provided for maintaining threaded joints of a tool string to prevent jamming of the threads by rotation of a tool string required during movement of the tool string through a generally horizontal production portion and a curved bore portion of the well. Each thread joint is formed by use...     

A positioning tool is combined with a completion tool, for example a sand screen, for positioning the completion tool substantially within the lower half of a horizontal well casing member, and for automatically orienting the working face of the completion tool with respect to a predetermined sidewall...     

A well tool includes a whipstock in conjunction with an inflatable packer for use in the open hole. A pivotal joint between the whipstock and packer allows the whipstock to pivot relative to the packer and springs bias the whipstock into an angled relation relative to the packer. A setting tool connects...     

A wireline delivery tool for an underground well having a pipe, a surface seal for the pipe, and a wireline extending from the surface into the pipe. The wireline delivery tool includes a body having a diameter less than the interior diameter of the pipe and a cup extending from the body to create a...     

A self-propelled powered apparatus for traveling along a tubular member includes power driven wheels for propelling the apparatus, a biasing means for biasing the driven wheels into contact with the inner surface of the tubular member, and a retracting means for retracting the driven wheels from the...     

A well tool having an anchor device, straddle packers above and below a port and an internal valve which are operated by longitudinal motion in an inflatable packer device. The well tool anchor is armed by a hydraulic operated plug and set upon downward motion in a locating profile groove in a well bore....     

What is disclosed is a method of cementing in which a plurality of cement slurries are employed in a well penetrating subterranean formations and having a deviated section of more than 55 degrees angle of inclination, the improvement comprising emplacing at a desired depth in the well a plurality of...     

Methods are provided for isolating segments of a horizontal wellbore drilled through an unconsolidated formation and treating the well to control rates of fluid flow into selected segments of the wellbore. The methods include screen segments separated by blank pipe segments to provide isolation outside...     

Methods of completing a well bore having a conduit disposed therein where portions of the well bore and conduit are positioned substantially horizontally in a subterranean producing formation are provided. A hardenable resin composition coated particulate solid material is placed in the annulus between...     

This specification relates to the control of earth fines that are produced with hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation into a well that penetrates the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. More particularly this specification relates the control of fines from a heavy-oil reservoir that is stimulated...     

A method of completing a horizontal well in an incompetent formation includes running a pipe string into the horizontal well bore, pumping a hardenable permeable material into the horizontal well bore, allowing the hardenable material to set up and then drilling up at least part of the pipe string. The...     

A horizontal well completion apparatus and method for heavy, viscous oil in a producing zone (14) are disclosed using a single well. Hot injection fluid is injected into an injection string (20), reduced to a lower pressure by passing the injection fluid through a choke (22). A packer (26) separates...     

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, an irrigation, commercial or municipal utility district high flow capacity water well is completed in a manner such that water is produced from a substantially horizontal lower portion of the well bore that is located in the lower...     

A method for treating a formation having zones of varying permeabilities to improve the sweep efficiency of a drive fluid through the formation. At least one radial, relative horizontal bore is formed from a relative vertical wellbore and extends outward into a high-permeability zone of said formation....     

A method of treating a downhole formation in a wellbore having multiple zones of porosity by circulating a carrier fluid downhole to the lowermost zone of porosity, and then flowing an acid soluble blocking agent into the wellbore. The blocking agent is translocated to a location where it is free to...     

An everting membrane assembly defines a constant volume for traveling along a generally horizontal borehole, pipe, or the like, having two accessible ends, for sampling within the borehole on a continuous basis. A first everting membrane carries an extraction tube through the borehole. A second everting...     

In a wellbore having at least one lateral or branch wellbore extending therefrom, a selective re-entry tool is presented for running on a completion string to enable an operator to select the branch desired so as to enter such desired branch with a coil tubing workstring (or the like) and perform an...     

A method for enhancing the productive capacity of a primary wellbore containing a conduit string such as casing involving removing at least a partial radial section of the casing to provide an aperture therein, setting tubing carrying a guide surface in the vicinity of the aperture and drilling a lateral...     

A novel lateral connector receptacle or LCR is provided which functions to (1) provide means for running a lower completion into a well; (2) provide means for orienting a retrievable whipstock assembly and/or scoophead diverter; and (3) provides means for attaching an upper completion to a lower completion....     

A scoophead/diverter assembly functions to orient and anchor multiple tubing strings at the Y-juncture in an oil or gas well with multiple lateral wellbores. An important advantage of this arrangement is to provide communication to multiple reservoirs or tap different locations within the same reservoir,...     

A method for fracturing formations near a shallow horizontal well notches a wellbore at orientations such that later applied hydraulic pressure generates fractures only in preferred directions.

Method of hydraulic fracturing of a subterranean formation comprising drilling a deviated wellbore in a direction parallel to a desired fracture direction, and supplying fracturing fluid through the wellbore to the formation. The average net pressure on the fluid is maximized in a fracture formed in...     

Method and apparatus for recovering and utilizing thermal energy from subterranean hot rock by means of a self-powered closed system which transfers heat from the hot rock to a relatively cool liquid, e.g. water, flowing in a heat-conducting pipe that extends in a loop descending from the earth's surface...     

The retrieving tool includes a first mandrel having an upper end adapted for attachment to a running string, and a lower end. A second mandrel is positioned below the lower end of the first mandrel. The second mandrel and first mandrel are interconnected by a cam/grip link mechanism. An external actuator...     

The apparatus is a chamber within a ground excavation filled with porous material, with multiple angled well shafts projecting outward and down from the chamber. A pump located within the chamber pumps ground water from the several well shafts to a collector above ground, while a second pump in a sump...     

A down-hole gas separator for a pump provides for the pumping of liquids from the lower portion of an inclined or horizontal passageway. The separator includes a nozzle for connecting to a pump inlet. The nozzle has an inlet and an outlet. The nozzle outlet is connected to the pump inlet. The separator...     

The invention involves an assembly, specifically beneficial in deviated well-bores, which allows running into the wellbore with the complete completion assembly. The completion assembly includes one or more screens which may be pre-packed. Initially, a material which sets to form a permeable mass is...     

A horizontal well completion apparatus and method for heavy, viscous oil in a producing zone (114) are disclosed using a single well. Hot injection fluid is injected into an injection string (120), and emitted through steam distribution holes (133) in the lower portion (120) of the injection string into...     

A well arrangement is used wherein the production wells are generally horizontal, positioned low in the reservoir and arranged generally perpendicularly to a laterally extending combustion front. The combustion front is propagated by a row of vertical air injection wells completed high in the reservoir....     

A soil remediation system (10) for removing contaminants (11) from a contaminated area (12) located in the vadose zone (13) of the earth and comprising multiplicity of stratigraphic zones, contaminants and compositions (26, 28), is disclosed. The system (10) comprises a first circulator (32) for circulating...     

A mill starting device for use in a pipestring in a wellbore which provides an inclined wall for guiding the mill to a shoulder stop so that when the mill is operated it preferentially bites into the shoulder stop and a method for using the device together with coiled tubing for forming a window in a...     

Methods of fracturing subterranean formations are provided. The methods basically comprise positioning a hydrajetting tool having at least one fluid jet forming nozzle in the well bore adjacent the formation to be fractured and jetting fluid through the nozzle against the formation at a pressure sufficient...     

A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprising the steps of: forming a well having a horizontal section located between the midpoint and the bottom of the formation and having a raised end; and continuously injecting a fluid through said raised end to induce hydrocarbons...     

A downhole multilateral completion tool is disclosed which includes a premachined window joint and a production tube adapted to be moved downhole through the window joint and kicked off into the pre-drilled lateral. A flange and seal form a part of the uphole end of the production tube and provide a...     

A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The method includes the steps of: building an array of at least three horizontal wells; establishing injectivity in the formation; establishing communication between adjacent horizontal sections of wells in the array; injecting a fluid...     

A method for milling an opening in a tubular in a wellbore, the method comprising installing a mill guide in the tubular at a desired milling location, inserting milling apparatus through the tubular and through the mill guide so that the milling apparatus contacts the tubular at the desired milling...     

A slidably sealing isolator and method for using the isolator in a wellbore tubular to control the injection and production of fluids to individual formation zones, the isolator having 1) a sliding band seal which does not need to be actuated or set in order to restrict fluid flow into a wellbore zone...     

A method for recompleting a wellbore containing a casing and a tubing string extending from a surface through the casing to a zone of interest by through-tubing rotary drilling by forming an opening through the casing at a selected point, passing a rotatable drill string including a drill bit through...     

The invention comprises a casing tool having a lateral root premachined therein and plugged with cement. A wear bushing is also positioned within the entrance to the root from the uphole side of the tool to prevent distortion or even destruction of the root while the lateral is being drilled. Subsequent...     

Wellbore operations (e.g. for milling and/or drilling) are disclosed which require a reduced number of tool trips into a wellbore to create a cut-out pocket, opening, or window in a tubular such as casing in the wellbore; and, in some aspects, to continue into a formation adjacent a main wellbore forming...     

The present invention relates to improved methods of forming spaced fractures in a subterranean zone penetrated by a horizontal well bore. The methods include the steps of placing an open ended solid liner in the horizontal well bore, pumping a fracturing fluid through the open end of the liner to create...     

For combination with a tubular casing, the casing having a bore and a side wall through port, the improvement comprises, in combination, an assembly to be lowered in the casing to establish water flow upwardly in the casing, and then out the side port, the assembly comprises a hollow body sized to travel...     

A method and apparatus for propelling a tool having a body within a passage. The tool includes a gripper including at least a gripper portion which can assume a first position that engages an inner surface of the passage and limits relative movement of the gripper portion relative to the inner surface....     

An assembly for formation and completion of deviated wellbores is disclosed which includes a toolguide and a casing section which can be used together or separately. The toolguide includes a lower orienting section and an upper section having a sloping face, commonly known as the directional portion...     

A system for in-situ production of bitumen comprises a steam injection well system which comprises a number of lateral sections that traverse the bitumen bearing formation partly above a basal water transition and/or thief zone such that a tip of each lateral section protrudes from the bitumen bearing...     

Wellbore liner apparatus has been invented which, in one aspect, includes at least one tubular member for lining at least part of a lateral wellbore extending from a primary wellbore in the earth, at least one coupling bushing connected to the at least one tubular member and disposed in the primary wellbore,...     

A method for fracturing a horizontal well at a plurality of locations along the length of the horizontal portion of the well by plugging previously fractured downstream fracture zones with a mixture of a proppant and a slump-inhibiting material.

Apparatus and methods are provided for achieving a lateral wellbore connection in a subterranean well. In one described embodiment, a deflection device is rotatably attached to one orienting member and conveyed into a cementing shoe positioned in a parent wellbore of the well, wherein the orienting member...     

The invention relates to a tieback hanger for connecting the liner of a lateral well bore to the parent well bore. The tieback hanger includes a spring which maintains a constant force on the tieback hanger to prevent it from protruding into the parent well bore.

The milling and whipstock assembly includes a whipstock having a ramp portion for directing the milling assembly to cut a secondary borehole in an existing cased borehole. The milling assembly includes a shaft having rigid and flexible portions and an under gauge cutting tool disposed on the lower end...     

The invention relates to a method of operating a logging tool in a wellbore, the wellbore formed in an earth formation, which wellbore is to be provided with a wellbore component, the method including the steps of: arranging the logging tool in a selected relationship relative to the component so that...     

A method of forming and lining a branch borehole includes installing a packer in a main borehole, installing a whipstock on the packer, milling a window in the main borehole casing using the whipstock, recovering the whipstock, and then installing a deflector (20) to deflect a lining into the lateral....     

Methods and apparatus are provided for use in conjunction with subterranean well operations. In a described embodiment, an expandable wellbore connector is utilized in interconnecting multiple wellbores in the well. The wellbore connector is expanded into a cavity formed in one wellbore, and then another...     

The invention provides a selective system of placing a guide stock into a wellbore by braided line, coil tubing or drill pipe. The device facilitates selective intervention by providing a selective orientation key an angular relationship to the lateral through a system of selective keys and dogs allowing...     

In an underground oil reservoir, an injection well is completed low in the reservoir and a production well is provided having a horizontal leg completed relatively high in the reservoir and a vertical leg completed low in the reservoir. Water is injected with the vertical leg open and the horizontal...