Template and process for drilling and completing multiple wells
AssigneeMarathon Oil Company
InventorsGary J. Collins, John L. Baugh, Wilhelm E. Benker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A template and process for drilling and completing multiple wells in a subterranean formation. A template having a plurality of axially extending, divergent bores therethrough is secured to surface or intermediate casing and a like plurality of subterranean wells are drilled through the bores and into the subterranean formation. Each well is separately cased to the well head at the surface and separate production tubing is inserted into each well. Thus, remedial operations can be carded out in one well or fluid injected into a subterranean formation via one well while fluid, such as hydrocarbons, are simultaneously produced from a subterranean formation via the other well(s).
Claims72
A template for drilling and completing multiple subterranean wells from a first casing, said template comprising:
- first means for guiding a drill string during drilling and casing during completion of multiply subterranean wells from said first casing, said first means comprising a body having a first end face and at least one second end face and a plurality of axially extending bores therethrough, each of said bores intersecting said first end face and said second end face;
- and
- second means for securing said body to said first casing.
A process for drilling and completing subterranean wells via a first casing which extends from the surface of the earth to a predetermined depth, said process comprising:
- securing a template having at least two bores therethrough to said first casing;
- drilling a first subterranean well bore through one of said bores and into a subterranean formation;
- and
- securing a first length of production casing to said template, said first length of production casing extending into said first well bore, said template supporting said first length of production casing.
A method of inserting a generally tubular riser into a plurality of bores through a template which is secured to a casing positioned within a subterranean well bore, the method comprising:
- positioning within said casing a generally tubular riser which is releasably secured to an orienting cam;
- automatically aligning said riser with one of said plurality of bores through the template;
- releasing said riser from said cam;
- and
- inserting a portion of said riser within one of said plurality of bores.
A subterranean well system comprising:
- a first well bore extending from the surface of the earth to a predetermined depth;
- a second well bore drilled from the first well bore into a first subterranean formation;
- a third well bore drilled from the first well bore into a second subterranean formation;
- a first length of production casing extending from the surface of the earth, through said first well bore and into said second well bore so as to establish fluid communication between said first subterranean formation and the surface;
- and
- a second length of production casing extending from the surface of the earth through said first well bore, and into said third well bore so as to establish fluid communication between said second subterranean formation and the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.