# US 2018/0023375 A1 · Vertical drilling and fracturing methodology > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023375 A1 - Document ID: US20180023375A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/553,701 - Filed: 2016-02-23 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-27 - Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Applicants: Schlumberger Technology Corporation - Inventors: Dmitriy POTAPENKO; James Ernest Brown; Mathieu VANDERMOLEN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023375A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/305: {comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well} - E21B 7/04: Directional drilling - E21B 43/114: Perforators using direct fluid action {on the wall to be perforated}, e.g. abrasive jets - E21B 43/14: Obtaining from a multiple-zone well - E21B 43/17: Interconnecting two or more wells by fracturing or otherwise attacking the formation ({E21B43/2405,} E21B43/247 take precedence) - E21B 43/26: by forming crevices or fractures - E21B 33/14: for cementing casings into boreholes - E21B 43/11: Perforators; Permeators - E21B 43/267: reinforcing fractures by propping - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A method for drilling and fracturing a subterranean formation includes drilling a substantially horizontal pilot well from a previously drilled vertical pilot well. A plurality of substantially vertical sidetracks is drilled from the horizontal pilot well. Fracturing fluid is pumped into the plurality of vertical sidetracks to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for drilling and fracturing a subterranean formation, the method comprising: (a) drilling a substantially horizontal pilot well from a previously drilled vertical pilot well; (b) drilling a plurality of substantially vertical sidetracks from the horizontal pilot well; and (c) pumping fracturing fluid into the plurality of vertical sidetracks to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the horizontal pilot well has a wellbore inclination greater than about 60 degrees. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the vertical sidetracks have wellbore inclinations of less than about 30 degrees or greater than about 150 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of vertical sidetracks point upwards towards a surface location. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of vertical sidetracks point downwards away from a surface location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises drilling at least five of the substantially vertical sidetracks from the horizontal pilot well. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: (a) comprises drilling a plurality of substantially horizontal pilot wells from the previously drilled vertical pilot well; and (b) comprises drilling a plurality of substantially vertical sidetracks from each of the plurality of horizontal pilot wells. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein (a) further comprises: (i) drilling the vertical pilot well; and (ii) drilling the substantially horizontal pilot well from the vertical pilot well. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein (b) and (c) comprise at least the following sequential steps: (i) drilling a first vertical sidetrack from the horizontal pilot well; (ii) pumping fracturing fluid into the first vertical sidetrack to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation; (iii) drilling a second vertical sidetracks from the horizontal pilot well; and (iv) pumping fracturing fluid into the second vertical sidetrack to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein (b) and (c) comprise first drilling the plurality of substantially vertical sidetracks from the horizontal pilot well and then pumping fracturing fluid into the plurality of vertical sidetracks to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein (c) further comprises: (i) deploying a completion string in the horizontal pilot well; and (ii) pumping fracturing through the completion string into the plurality of vertical sidetracks to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the completion string comprises a plurality of packers for isolating the plurality of vertical sidetracks from one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the completion string comprises a plurality of corresponding fracturing sleeves deployed adjacent the plurality of vertical sidetracks. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein (i) further comprises: (ia) cementing the completion string in the horizontal pilot well; and (ib) perforating the completion string at locations adjacent the vertical sidetracks. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein (a) and (b) comprise: (i) drilling a vertical pilot well; (ii) drilling a horizontal pilot well from the vertical pilot well; (iii) steering the horizontal pilot well to form a first vertical sidetrack; (iv) extending the horizontal pilot well; (v) steering said extended horizontal pilot well to form another vertical sidetrack; and (vi) repeating (iv) and (v) to form a plurality of said vertical sidetracks; ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of vertical sections are fractured sequentially in (c). ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a subset of the plurality of vertical sections are fractured simultaneously in (c). ### Claim 18 A method for drilling and fracturing a subterranean formation, the method comprising: (a) drilling a substantially vertical pilot well; (b) drilling a plurality of deviated wells from the vertical pilot well, the deviated wells being turned to form a corresponding plurality of vertical sections; (c) pumping fracturing fluid into the plurality of vertical sections to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein: (b) further comprises drilling a plurality of sidetracks from at least one of the deviated wells, the sidetracks being turned to form a second plurality of vertical sections; and (c) further comprises pumping fracturing fluid into the second plurality of vertical sections to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation.