System and methods for constructing and fracture stimulating multiple ultra-short radius laterals from a parent well

A method of drilling multiple lateral wellbores extending outwardly from a parent wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

• drilling one of the lateral wellbores by diverting a drilling assembly from the parent wellbore outward through one of multiple azimuthally spaced openings formed through a sidewall of a valve interconnected in a casing string in the parent wellbore;
• and
• drilling successive ones of the lateral wellbores by performing the following steps for each of the successive lateral wellbores:
• a) azimuthally displacing the drilling tool into alignment with a respective one of the valve openings;
• and
• b) diverting the drilling assembly through the respective one of the openings to thereby drill the lateral wellbore.

A method of drilling multiple lateral wellbores extending outwardly from a parent wellbore, the method comprising:

• for each of the lateral wellbores, performing the following steps during a single trip of a drill string into the parent wellbore:
• a) drilling the lateral wellbore by displacing the drill string into a formation surrounding the parent wellbore;
• and
• b) stimulating the formation by flowing a stimulation fluid through the drill string and outward into the formation.

A method of drilling one or more lateral wellbores extending outwardly from a parent wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

• engaging a cutting assembly with an orienting device corresponding to a casing section in the parent wellbore, such engagement achieving a predetermined azimuthal and longitudinal position of the cutting assembly relative to a first desired location for drilling a first one of the lateral wellbores through the casing section;
• cutting a first opening through the casing section at the first desired location using the cutting assembly;
• and
• then engaging a drilling assembly with the orienting device, thereby azimuthally and longitudinally aligning the drilling assembly with the first opening.