Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface and tools therefor
AssigneeVitruvian Exploration, LLC
InventorJoseph A. Zupanick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to one embodiment, a system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes a well bore extending from the surface to the subterranean zone, and a well bore pattern connected to the junction and operable to drain fluid from a region of the subterranean zone to the junction.
Claims58
A method for drilling a well in a coal seam, comprising:
- pumping a drilling fluid comprising a liquid down a drill string to a bit drilling a substantially horizontal well bore in a coal seam;
- pumping the drilling fluid down the drill string during drilling a plurality of lateral well bores in the coal seam off of the substantially horizontal well bore;
- and
- reducing downhole pressure exerted by the drilling fluid by reducing a weight of drilling fluid in the well bore.
A method of forming a well in a coal seam, comprising:
- drilling a well including a horizontal bore and a horizontal drainage pattern extending from the horizontal bore in a coal seam using a drilling fluid comprising liquid;
- and
- reducing the down-hole pressure sufficiently that drilling conditions are not over balanced for drilling of the horizontal bore by reducing a weight of drilling fluid in the well.
A method for producing gas from a coal seam, comprising:
- drilling, using a drilling fluid comprising liquid with drilling conditions that are not over balanced, a horizontal drainage pattern extending from a horizontal well bore in a coal seam;
- and
- producing gas collected by the horizontal well bore to the surface.
A method for accessing a coal seam from the surface, comprising:
- drilling a well bore in a coal seam;
- and
- during drilling, pumping drilling fluid comprising liquid and cuttings from the well bore to the surface;
- wherein drilling the well bore comprises drilling a main horizontal bore and a plurality of lateral bores extending from the main horizontal bore.
A method for underbalanced drilling of a coal seam, comprising:
- drilling a substantially horizontal well bore in the coal seam;
- during drilling of the substantially horizontal well bore in the coal formation, pumping drilling fluid comprising liquid and cuttings from the substantially horizontal well bore to the surface;
- drilling a plurality of lateral well bores extending from the substantially horizontal well bore;
- and
- during drilling of the plurality of lateral well bores, pumping drilling fluid comprising liquid and cuttings from the substantially horizontal well bore to the surface.
A method for accessing a subterranean coal formation from the surface, comprising:
- drilling a substantially horizontal well bore in the coal formation;
- during drilling of the substantially horizontal well bore in the coal formation, reducing the weight of drilling fluids, the drilling fluids comprising liquid;
- drilling a plurality of lateral well bores from the substantially horizontal well bore;
- and
- during drilling of the plurality of lateral well bores, lightening hydrostatic pressure exerted by drilling fluids on the coal formation.
A method for accessing a subterranean coal formation from the surface, comprising:
- drilling through a well bore having a radiused portion a substantially horizontal well bore in a coal formation;
- drilling through the well bore having a radiused portion and the substantially horizontal well bore a plurality of lateral well bores in the coal formation;
- and
- during drilling of the substantially horizontal well bore in the coal formation and the plurality of lateral well bores, using a drilling fluid comprising foam.
A method for drilling a well in a coal seam, comprising:
- drilling a substantially horizontal bore in a coal seam using a drilling fluid;
- drilling through the substantially horizontal well bore a plurality of lateral well bores in the coal formation;
- and
- lifting drilling fluid to the surface using a pump system having an inlet downhole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.