Method and system for accessing subterranean zones from a limited surface area

A method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:

• forming a first well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone;
• forming an enlarged cavity in the first well bore proximate to the subterranean zone;
• forming a second well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, the second well bore intersecting the enlarged cavity;
• and
• forming a well bore pattern extending from the enlarged cavity into the subterranean zone.

A method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:

• forming a first well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone;
• forming a second well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, the second well bore intersecting the first well bore at a junction proximate to the subterranean zone;
• and
• forming a well bore pattern from the junction into the subterranean zone, the well bore pattern comprising:
• a third well bore extending from the junction into the subterranean zone;
• and
• a plurality of lateral well bores extending outwardly from opposite sides of the third well bore.

A method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:

• forming a first well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone;
• forming a second well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, the second well bore intersecting the first well bore at a junction proximate to the subterranean zone;
• and
• forming, through the second well bore, a well bore pattern from the junction into the subterranean zone, wherein forming the well bore pattern comprises:
• forming the well bore pattern using an articulated drill string extending through the second well bore and the junction;
• supplying drilling fluid through the articulated drill string to remove cuttings generated by the drill string;
• and
• pumping the drilling fluid with the cuttings to the surface through the first well bore to minimize hydrostatic pressure on the subterranean zone during drilling of the drainage pattern.

A method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:

• forming a first well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone;
• forming a second well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, the second well bore intersecting the first well bore at a junction proximate to the subterranean zone;
• and
• forming a pinnate well bore pattern from the junction into the subterranean zone.

A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:

• a first well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone;
• a second well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, the second well bore intersecting the first well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;
• and
• a pinnate well bore pattern extending from the junction into the subterranean zone.

A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:

• a first well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone;
• a second well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, the second well bore intersecting the first well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;
• and
• a well bore pattern extending from the junction into the subterranean zone, the well bore pattern comprising:
• a third well bore extending from the junction into the subterranean zone;
• and
• a plurality of lateral well bores extending outwardly from opposite sides of the third well bore, wherein a length of each of the lateral well bores decreases as a distance from a respective lateral well bore to the junction increases.

A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface, comprising:

• a first well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone;
• a second well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, the second well bore intersecting the first well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone;
• an enlarged cavity formed at the junction proximate the subterranean zone;
• and
• a well bore pattern extending from the junction into the subterranean zone.