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

A method for extracting resources from a subsurface formation, comprising:

• forming a plurality of well bores, each well bore extending from one of a plurality of surface locations to a target zone, the plurality of surface locations disposed substantially linearly relative to each other;
• forming a plurality of articulated well bores extending from a single articulated well bore surface location to the target zone, the articulated well bore surface location offset from the plurality of surface locations, each articulated well bore intersecting at least one of the plurality of well bores at a junction proximate the target zone;
• forming a plurality of well bore patterns, each well bore pattern extending from a junction of one of the articulated well bores and one of the plurality of well bores into the target zone;
• and
• removing resources from the target zone through each of the plurality of well bores.

A method for accessing a subsurface formation from a limited surface area, comprising:

• forming a plurality of first well bores, each of the first well bores extending from one of a plurality of first well bore surface locations to a target zone, at least one of the first well bores having an angled portion disposed between the target zone and the surface;
• forming a plurality of second well bores extending from a second well bore surface location to the target zone, the second well bore surface location offset from each of the first well bore surface locations, each of the second well bores intersecting at least one of the first well bores at a junction proximate the target zone;
• and
• forming a well bore pattern extending from each of the respective junctions into the target zone.

A system for accessing a subsurface formation from a limited surface area, comprising:

• a plurality of first well bores, each of the first well bores extending from one of a plurality of first well bore surface locations to a target zone, at least one of the first well bores having an angled portion disposed between the target zone and the surface;
• a plurality of second well bores extending from a second well bore surface location to the target zone, the second well bore offset from each of the first well bore surface locations, each of the second well bores intersecting at least one of the first well bores at a junction proximate the target zone;
• and
• a well bore pattern extending from each of the respective junctions into the target zone.

A system for accessing a subsurface formation from a limited surface area, comprising:

• a plurality of angled well bores, each well bore extending from one of a plurality of angled well bore surface locations to a target zone, the plurality of angled well bore surface locations disposed substantially linearly relative to each other;
• a plurality of articulated well bores extending from a single articulated well bore surface location to the target zone, the articulated well bore surface location offset from the plurality of angled well bore surface locations, each articulated well bore intersecting at least one of the angled well bores at a junction proximate the target zone;
• and
• a plurality of well bore patterns, each well bore pattern extending from a junction of one of the articulated well bores and one of the angled well bores into the target zone;
• wherein a first area bounded by the angled well bore surface locations is smaller than a second area bounded by the junctions of each articulated well bore and each angled well bore, and wherein the second area is smaller then a third area containing the well bore patterns.

A method for accessing a subsurface formation from a limited surface area, comprising:

• forming a plurality of angled well bores, each well bore extending from one of a plurality of angled well bore surface locations to a target zone, the plurality of angled well bore surface locations disposed substantially linearly relative to each other;
• forming a plurality of articulated well bores extending from a single articulated well bore surface location to the target zone, the articulated well bore surface location offset from the plurality of angled well bore surface locations, each articulated well bore intersecting at least one of the angled well bores at a junction proximate the target zone;
• and
• forming a plurality of well bore patterns, each well bore pattern extending from a junction of one of the articulated well bores and one of the angled well bores into the target zone;
• wherein a first area bounded by the angled well bore surface locations is smaller than a second area bounded by the junctions of each articulated well bore and each angled well bore, and wherein the second area is smaller then a third area containing the well bore patterns.

A system for accessing a subsurface formation from a limited surface area, comprising:

• a plurality of first well bores, each of the first well bores extending from one of a plurality of first well bore surface locations to a target zone, at least one of the first well bores having an angled portion disposed between the target zone and the surface;
• a plurality of second well bores extending from a second well bore surface location to the target zone, the second well bore surface location offset from each of the first well bore surface locations, each of the second well bores intersecting at least one of the first well bores at a junction proximate the target zone;
• and
• a well bore pattern extending from each of the respective junctions into the target zone;
• wherein a first area bounded by the plurality of first well bore surface locations is smaller than a second area bounded by the junctions of each first well bore and each second well bore, and wherein the second area is smaller then a third area containing the well bore patterns.

A method for accessing a subsurface formation from a limited surface area, comprising:

• forming a plurality of first well bores, each of the first well bores extending from one of a plurality of first well bore surface locations to a target zone, at least one of the first well bores having an angled portion disposed between the target zone and the surface;
• forming a plurality of second well bores extending from a second well bore surface location to the target zone, the second well bore surface location offset from each of the first well bore surface locations, each of the second well bores intersecting at least one of the first well bores at a junction proximate the target zone;
• and
• forming a well bore pattern extending from each of the respective junctions into the target zone;
• wherein a first area bounded by the plurality of first well bore surface locations is smaller than a second area bounded by the junctions of each first well bore and each second well bore, and wherein the second area is smaller then a third area containing the well bore patterns.