# US 8,464,784 B2 · Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface and tools therefor

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- Number: US 8,464,784 B2
- Document ID: US8464784B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/981,971
- Filed: 2007-10-31
- Published: 2008-03-13
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 1998-11-20
- Assignees: Vitruvian Exploration, LLC
- Applicants: Joseph Alan Zupanich
- Inventors: Joseph Alan Zupanich
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464784B2

## CPC

- E21B 43/30: Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
- B65G 5/00: Storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth
- E21B 7/046: {horizontal drilling (drilling with mechanical conveying means E21B7/003)}
- E21B 41/0035: {Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches}
- E21B 41/0057: {Disposal of a fluid by injection into a subterranean formation}
- E21B 43/00: Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells (applicable only to water E03B)
- E21B 43/006: {Production of coal-bed methane (E21B43/243 takes precedence)}
- E21B 43/13: {specially adapted to dewatering of wells of gas producing reservoirs, e.g. methane producing coal beds}
- E21B 43/14: Obtaining from a multiple-zone well
- E21B 43/305: {comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well}
- E21B 44/005: {Below-ground automatic control systems}
- E21B 47/026: of penetrated ground layers
- E21B 47/09: Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells {, e.g. the position of an extending arm}; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
- E21F 7/00: Methods or devices for drawing- off gases with or without subsequent use of the gas for any purpose
- G01V 1/48: Processing data
- E21B 21/085: {Underbalanced techniques, i.e. where borehole fluid pressure is below formation pressure}
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- E21F: SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for accessing a first and a second subterranean zones from the surface, comprising:
forming a first well bore extending into the first subterranean zone;
forming a second well bore intersecting the first well bore at a junction proximate the first subterranean zone, at least a portion of the second well bore horizontally offset from the first well bore between the surface and the junction;
forming a first drainage well bore coupled to the first well bore and extending into the first subterranean zone; and
forming a second drainage well bore coupled to the first well bore and extending into the second subterranean zone.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein forming the second well bore further comprises forming a first branch intersecting the first well bore at a first junction proximate the first subterranean zone and a second branch intersecting the first well bore at a second junction proximate the second subterranean zone.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein forming the first drainage well bore further comprises forming the first drainage well bore extending from the first junction into the first subterranean zone; and
wherein forming the second drainage well bore further comprises forming the second drainage well bore extending from the second junction into the second subterranean zone.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein forming the second drainage well bore comprises forming the second drainage well bore extending from the junction proximate the first subterranean zone.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a first drainage pattern coupled to the first well bore and extending into the first subterranean zone and forming a second drainage pattern coupled to the first well bore and extending into the second subterranean zone.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein forming the second well bore comprises forming the second well bore spaced apart from the first well bore at the surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein forming the first well bore comprises forming a substantially vertical well bore.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a plurality of laterals coupled to the junction in the first subterranean zone.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising conducting fluids from the second subterranean zone to the first subterranean zone.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an enlarged cavity proximate the first subterranean zone.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an entry well bore from the surface and wherein forming the first well bore comprises forming the first well bore from the entry well bore and forming the second well bore comprises forming the second well bore from the entry well bore.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first subterranean zone comprises a coal seam.

### Claim 13

A system for accessing a first and a second subterranean zones from the surface comprising:
a first well bore extending into the first subterranean zone;
a second well bore intersecting the first well bore at a junction proximate the first subterranean zone, at least a portion of the second well bore horizontally offset from the first well bore between the surface and the junction;
a first drainage well bore coupled to the first well bore and extending into the first subterranean zone; and
a second drainage well bore coupled to the first well bore and extending into the second subterranean zone.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the second well bore further comprises a first branch intersecting the first well bore at a first junction proximate the first subterranean zone and a second branch intersecting the first well bore at a second junction proximate the second subterranean zone.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the first drainage well bore extends from the first junction into the first subterranean zone; and
wherein the second drainage well bore extends from the second junction into the second subterranean zone.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the second drainage well bore extends from the junction proximate the first subterranean zone.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising a first drainage pattern coupled to the first well bore and extending into the first subterranean zone and a second drainage pattern coupled to the first well bore and extending into the second subterranean zone.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the second well bore is spaced apart from the first well bore at the surface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the first well bore comprises a substantially vertical well bore.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of laterals coupled to the junction in the first subterranean zone.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the second drainage well bore is configured to conduct fluids from the second subterranean zone to the first subterranean zone.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising an enlarged cavity proximate the first subterranean zone.

### Claim 23 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising an entry well bore from the surface, and wherein the first well bore extends from the entry well bore and the second well bore extends from the entry well bore.

### Claim 24 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the first subterranean zone comprises a coal seam.

### Claim 25 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, further comprising a fluid collection area about the junction.