Processes Patents

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USP 7,207,395

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TESTING A PARTIALLY FORMED HYDROCARBON WELL FOR EVALUATION AND WELL PLANNING REFINEMENT

A method and system for testing a partially formed well includes forming a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation. The first well bore includes a portion of a planned well having a first configuration. A production characteristic of the subterranean formation is tested through the first well bore in the first configuration. The first well bore is reconfigured to a second configuration different from the first configuration. The production characteristic of the subterranean formation is re-tested through the first well bore in the second configuration. Further formation of the planned well is planned based on testing of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first and second configurations.

USP 7,163,063

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EXTRACTION OF RESOURCES FROM A SUBTERRANEAN WELL BORE

A method for stimulating production of resources from a coal seam includes forming a drainage well bore in the coal bed that has a first end coupled to a ground surface and a second end in the coal seam. The method further includes inserting a liner into the well bore. The liner has a wall including a number of apertures and a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter of the drainage well bore such that a gap is formed between the wall of the liner and the well bore. The method also includes collapsing the drainage well bore around the liner to relieve stress in the coal steam proximate to the liner.

USP 7,134,494

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECIRCULATING FLUID IN A WELL SYSTEM

A method for recalculating fluid in a well system includes drilling a first well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone, and drilling an articulated well bore that is horizontally offset from the first well bore at the surface and that intersects the first well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone. The method also includes drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone, and receiving gas, water, and particles are received from the junction at the surface, and the water is separated from the gas and the particles. The method also includes determining an amount of water to circulate, and recirculating a portion of the separated water according to this determination.

USP 7,073,595

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING PRESSURE IN A DUAL WELL SYSTEM

A method for controlling pressure of a dual well system includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone and drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone using a drill string. The articulated well bore is horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersects the substantially vertical well bore. The method includes drilling a drainage bore into the subterranean zone. The method includes pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore. The method includes pumping a pressure fluid down the substantially vertical well bore when drilling the drainage bore. The pressure fluid mixes with the drilling fluid to form a fluid mixture returning up the articulated well bore which forms a frictional pressure that resists fluid flow from the subterranean zone.

USP 7,025,154

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CIRCULATING FLUID IN A WELL SYSTEM

A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone and drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone. The articulated well bore is horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersects the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone. The method includes drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone and pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore. The method also includes providing fluid down the substantially vertical well bore through a tubing. A fluid mixture returns up the substantially vertical well bore outside of the tubing. The fluid mixture comprises the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string.

USP 6,991,048

WELLBORE PLUG SYSTEM AND METHOD

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for drilling wellbores includes drilling a main wellbore, disposing a casing string having a deflecting member at a lower end thereof in the main wellbore, disposing a drill string having a drill bit at a lower end thereof in the casing string, and drilling, with the drill bit, a first lateral wellbore at a first depth in the main wellbore. The method further includes transferring the casing string to a second depth in the main wellbore that is less than the first depth, disposing a first temporary plug in the main wellbore at the second depth to prevent gas from flowing up the main wellbore past the second depth, transferring the casing string to a third depth in the main wellbore that is less than the second depth, and drilling, with the drill bit, a second lateral wellbore at the third depth.

USP 6,991,047

WELLBORE SEALING SYSTEM AND METHOD

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for drilling wellbores includes drilling a main wellbore and disposing a casing string in the main wellbore. The casing string has a deflecting member and a sealing member coupled thereto. The method further includes disposing a drill string having a drill bit coupled at a lower end thereof in the casing string and drilling, from the main wellbore, a first lateral wellbore at a first depth with the drill bit. The method further includes removing the drill bit from the first lateral wellbore, transferring the casing string and the drill bit to a second depth that is higher than the first depth, drilling, from the main wellbore, a second lateral wellbore at the second depth with the drill bit, and preventing, using the sealing member, a fluid from the first lateral wellbore from flowing above approximately the second depth while drilling the second lateral wellbore.

USP 6,681,855

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGEMENT OF BY-PRODUCTS FROM SUBTERRANEAN ZONES

An improved method for management of by-products from subterranean zones, comprising drilling a first well system into a subterranean zone, wherein the first well system comprises a first drainage pattern. By-product and gas from a first volume of the subterranean zone is removed via the first well system. A second well system is drilled into the subterranean zone, wherein the second well system comprises a second drainage pattern, and by-product is moved from a second volume of the subterranean zone to the first volume of the subterranean zone. Gas is then produced from the second volume of the subterranean zone. Subsequent drainage patterns repeat the process.

USP 6,604,580

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ACCESSING SUBTERRANEAN ZONES FROM A LIMITED SURFACE AREA

A method and system for accessing subterranean zones from the surface includes a substantially vertical well bore extending from the surface to a target zone, and an articulated well bore extending from the substantially vertical well bore to the target zone. The articulated well bore diverges from the substantially vertical well bore between the surface and the target zone. The system also includes a well bore pattern extending from the articulated well bore in the target zone operable to collect resources from the target zone. The system also includes a subsurface channel operable to communicate resources from the well bore pattern to the substantially vertical well bore. The system further includes a vertical pump disposed in the substantially vertical well bore and operable to lift resources collected in the substantially vertical well bore to the surface.

USP 6,598,686

METHOD ANS SYSTEM FOR ENHANCED ACCESS TO A SUBTERRANEAN ZONE

A system for enhanced access to subterranean zone from the surface includes a well bore pattern having a first well bore extending from a surface well bore substantially defining a first end of the area in the subterranean zone to a distant end of the area. The pattern also includes a plurality of lateral well bores extending outwardly from the first well bore. The distance from an end of a lateral well bore to the surface well bore may be configured to be substantially equal for each of the lateral well bores to facilitate forming the lateral well bores. The system and method may also include nesting two or more well bore patterns within the subterranean zone to provide uniform coverage of the zone. Additionally, the system and method may include multiple well bore patterns in communication with a common surface well bore to reduce the surface area required for accessing the subterranean zone.

USP 6,561,288

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ACCESSING SUBTERRANEAN DEPOSITS FROM THE SURFACE

Improved method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface that substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with previous systems and methods. In particular, the present invention provides an articulated well with a drainage pattern that intersects a horizontal cavity well. The drainage patterns provide access to a large subterranean area from the surface while the vertical cavity well allows entrained water, hydrocarbons, and other deposits to be efficiently removed and/or produced.

USP 6,280,000

METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS FROM A COAL SEAM USING INTERSECTING WELL BORES

A method for removing water and producing methane from a subterranean coal seam. The method includes drilling a first substantially vertical well bore to the depth of the target coal seam, enlarging the bore of the vertical well at the depth of a target coal seam to provide an enlarged cavity, drilling an offset well intersecting the cavity substantially horizontally and then drilling through the cavity in order to drill substantially horizontal drainage well bores in the coal seam. The method may be used as a pre-mining step in conjunction with subterranean mining of the coal seam in order to remove methane and other dangerous gases and excess water from the coal seam in advance of mining operations.