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WO1998050679A1 - Reseau de puits horizontaux communiquants - Google Patents

Reseau de puits horizontaux communiquants Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1998050679A1
WO1998050679A1 PCT/US1997/007368 US9707368W WO9850679A1 WO 1998050679 A1 WO1998050679 A1 WO 1998050679A1 US 9707368 W US9707368 W US 9707368W WO 9850679 A1 WO9850679 A1 WO 9850679A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
well
formation
bore
bores
horizontal section
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US1997/007368
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David J. Hassan
Michael D. Chernichen
Earl M. Jensen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BP Corp North America Inc
Original Assignee
BP Corp North America Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BP Corp North America Inc filed Critical BP Corp North America Inc
Priority to US09/403,350 priority Critical patent/US6729394B1/en
Priority to PCT/US1997/007368 priority patent/WO1998050679A1/fr
Priority to CA002287944A priority patent/CA2287944C/fr
Publication of WO1998050679A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998050679A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/30—Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
    • E21B43/305—Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/16—Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the general subject of methods and devices for recovering fluids from subterranean formations, and, in particular, to processes and apparatus for recovering bitumen, heavy crude oil and other hydrocarbons by means of horizontal wells drilled from surface locations.
  • a horizontal well is a well that is formed with a section of the well being oriented relatively or approximately in a geometric plane that is parallel to the surface of the earth beneath which such section is located.
  • a single horizontal well can expose and access as much of the mineral bearing rock in a subterranean formation as several vertical wells.
  • a vertical well is a well which is not comprised in whole or in part of a horizontal section as described above, and includes a deviated or slant hole well formed or drilled from the surface of the earth.
  • a hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formation is usually developed and produced through wells formed from locations on the surface of the earth overlying such formation It is well known that the use of horizontal wells can reduce the number of wells required to accomplish such development and production which in turn, can correspondingly reduce the number and areal extent of well sites and access roads required to form and support such wells As a result the cost and environmental impact of developing and producing a hydrocarbon bearing subterranean formation can be reduced
  • each well drilled from the pad is characterized by having its own vertical, build and horizontal sections
  • the vertical section lies approximately perpendicular to the surface of the earth from which the well is formed
  • the horizontal section lies approximately parallel to the surface of the earth
  • the build section is the portion of the well-bore which connects the horizontal section and the vertical section
  • the size of the well site required to support multiple horizontal well-bores formed and operated in this fashion may be smaller than the well site required to form and operate a similar number of horizontal well-bores formed from individual vertical sections . See:
  • Wolcott does not teach any method of reducing the cost and environmental impact of producing fluids from a reservoir through a network of wells Wolcott does not prescribe using less than all wells in the network to produce fluids from the reservoir Wolcott refers to the application of methods known in the art to accomplish such production of fluids
  • conduits can extend the area of the formation affected by an individual well By conduit, it is meant that a channel or passage is created within and relatively free of the solid material which comprises the subterranean formation See
  • conduits formed in the manner described in the foregoing art are unreliable, as the direction, extent and stability of such conduits cannot be controlled or maintained
  • the uncontrollable nature of such naturally formed conduits can be detrimental to the production of hydrocarbons from a reservoir
  • loss of circulation This occurs when large volumes of drilling fluid escape into the formation being penetrated by the drill string.
  • a method and apparatus for producing fluids from a large area of a subterranean formation through a network of individual horizontal well-bores without:
  • the method comprises the steps of: (i) forming a main well-bore having a horizontal section that is located within the formation; (ii) completing and equipping the main well-bore to produce fluids from the formation; (ii) forming one or more additional and separate horizontal well-bores such that the horizontal section of each such additional well-bore is in fluid communication with the horizontal section of the main well-bore without intersecting or connecting with such main well.
  • Only the main well-bore is initially completed and equipped to produce fluids.
  • the additional well-bores may be completed to the extent required by government regulation, the art and conditions within the formation. Initially, the additional well-bores are not equipped.
  • fluids it is meant to include gaseous or liquid substances contained or introduced into a subterranean reservoir or substances contained in the reservoir which can be rendered into a gaseous or liquid phase in-situ within the reservoir, including bitumen, crude oil, heavy crude oil or natural gas.
  • one or more of the additional well-bores may be equipped to produce substances from the formation, in such event the additional well-bore so equipped replaces the main well-bore in function and apparatus. It is also possible that in certain applications of the foregoing described process and apparatus, that more than one but not all wells comprising the network, may be completed, equipped and operated in the production of substances from the subterranean formation.
  • each additional well-bore is formed such that the horizontal section of such additional well- bore is formed towards or in the direction of the horizontal well-bore of the main well-bore or the horizontal section of an existing additional well-bore which is already in fluid communication with the main well-bore.
  • production of fluids from the formation through main well-bore commences and continues. Fluid communication with the main well-bore is determined when drilling fluid being used to form the additional well-bore appears in the fluid being produced from the main well-bore. When this happens loss of circulation in the additional well-bore has or is occurring and further construction of the additional well-bore ceases.
  • the drilling of the additional well-bore should continue until the horizontal section of the additional well-bore, overlaps or crosses over the horizontal section of the main well-bore or the horizontal section of any existing additional well-bore which is already in fluid communication with the main well-bore.
  • crosses over it is meant that the well-bore of the additional well crosses through the vertical plane in which the horizontal section of the main well approximately lies, without intersecting the horizontal section of the main well.
  • overlaps it is meant that the well-bore of the additional well lies approximately in the vertical plane in which the horizontal section of the main well approximately lies, without intersecting the horizontal section of the main well.
  • a large area of the formation may be accessed and produced through a single horizontal well-bore, in communication with a network of horizontal wells, which can be expanded over time or created at once in a shorter period of time.
  • a network of communicating horizontal well-bores formed in this manner may be utilized to inject solvents, heat bearing fluids, reactive fluids or leaching fluids into a formation and produce back such fluids and substances from the formation, through the main well-bore.
  • the main well-bore is completed and equipped to both inject and produce fluids from the formation, although in some applications it may not be desirable or necessary to complete and equip such well-bore to inject fluids.
  • the additional well-bores when formed are initially completed and equipped to inject fluids only.
  • Conduct of the fluid injection process can proceed simultaneously through all well-bores or sequentially depending on the nature of the injection fluid and desired result of the fluid injection.
  • the conduct of the injection/production process is continuous until the economic limit for production of fluids from the reservoir is reached.
  • the additional well-bores are not initially equipped for the production of substances from the formation, only a small permanent well site may be required at the surface location of each additional well-bore.
  • Additional green house gas reductions can be achieved, where fluids produced from the reservoir and collected on the surface, such as heavy crude oil or bitumen, must be transported by truck from the point of production, to a remote facility for further processing or sale. Utilizing a single well to produce and collect fluids from a network of communicating wells reduces the distance and trucking time required to gather and transport fluids produced from the network
  • the application of this invention enables a large area of a subterranean formation to be accessed and produced at reduced capital, operating and environmental costs.
  • FIG. 1 shows, by side view, the approximate geometry of a simple horizontal well network formed in accordance with the present invention, where the two horizontal well-bores do not overlap;
  • FIG. 2 shows, by side view, the approximate geometry of a simple horizontal well network formed in accordance with the present invention, where the two horizontal well-bores overlap but do not intersect;
  • FIG. 3 shows, by overhead view, the approximate geometry of a simple horizontal well network formed in accordance with the present invention, where two horizontal well-bores communicate with the main producing well-bore, but do not overlap or intersect with the main producing horizontal well-bore;
  • FIG. 4 shows, by side view and cross section, the approximate geometry of a simple horizontal well network formed in accordance with the present invention, where two horizontal well-bores cross over but do not intersect with a main producing horizontal well-bore
  • FIG. 5 shows, by overhead view, the approximate geometry of a horizontal well network formed in accordance with the present invention, where sixteen horizontal well-bores communicate with the main producing well-bore, but do not intersect with the main producing horizontal well-bore;
  • FIG. 6 shows, by side view, the approximate geometry of a simple horizontal well network formed in accordance with the present invention, where three horizontal well-bores communicate with the main producing well-bore, but do not intersect with the main producing horizontal well-bore and one of the well- bores communicates indirectly with the main producing well-bore through the other well-bore;
  • FIG. 7 shows, by overhead view, the approximate geometry of the simple horizontal well network represented in FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 shows, by side view, the approximate geometry of a simple horizontal well network formed in accordance with the present invention, where three horizontal well-bores communicate with the main producing well-bore, but do not intersect with the main producing horizontal well-bore and one of the well- bores communicates indirectly with the main producing well-bore through the other well-bore and all of the well-bores have been formed with the same approximate alignment;
  • FIG. 9 shows, by overhead view, the approximate geometry of the simple horizontal well network represented in FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 10 shows, by overhead view, the approximate geometry of a horizontal well network formed in accordance with the present invention, where one horizontal well-bore communicates directly with the main producing well-bore and three horizontal well-bores communicate indirectly with the main producing well-bore, and none of the well-bores intersect;
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated a single horizontal main well (“main well") formed in a subterranean reservoir 10 ("target reservoir").
  • the target reservoir is bounded by relatively impermeable upper and lower boundaries 7 and 9 and is composed of permeable materials containing hydrocarbons.
  • the target reservoir shown is exemplary for this process. Not all reservoirs will have this exact structure.
  • reservoirs containing hydrocarbons can vary significantly in depth, location, nature, composition and structure. Neither is this invention limited to producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir.
  • this invention could be applied to produce a variety of fluids contained in a subterranean reservoir. Also this invention could be applied to produce solid subterranean occurring minerals which can be dissolved in a solvent or carried in suspension in a fluid, or rendered capable of flowing by the application of heat.
  • the main well is formed from the surface 8 using means known in the art.
  • the vertical depth and horizontal length of the well is dependent upon the depth, location, composition and nature of the target reservoir.
  • the vertical depth of the main well should be sufficient to allow for placement of the approximately horizontal portion of the well-bore 3 as described hereafter.
  • the main well is formed so that the approximately horizontal section of the main well is located above the base 9 of the target reservoir.
  • the exact location of the horizontal section of the main well within the target reservoir will depend on the nature, depth and composition of the target reservoir, the type of hydrocarbons contained in the target reservoir, and the type of production process to be used to extract such hydrocarbons from such reservoir.
  • the main well is completed and equipped using means known in the art to produce fluids from target reservoir.
  • the main well may be formed specifically for the implementation of the process and apparatus described herein.
  • the main well may also be an existing well which was initially formed and used for other purposes.
  • the main well must be completed and equipped to produce fluids from target reservoir, in order to implement the process and apparatus taught herein.
  • the manner and type of completion and equipping will depend on the nature, depth and composition of the target reservoir, type of hydrocarbons contained in the target reservoir, and the type of production process to be used to extract such hydrocarbons from such reservoir.
  • the main well is completed to produce fluids by means of production tubing 5 and pump 6. Other methods and forms of completion and equipping are possible in the practice of this invention.
  • conduit well (“conduit well") is formed through means known in the art.
  • the conduit well is formed from the surface 8.
  • the conduit well has an approximately horizontal section
  • the vertical depth and horizontal length of the well is dependent upon the depth, location, composition and nature of the target reservoir. However, a horizontal length in excess of 300 feet is preferred.
  • the vertical depth of the conduit well should be sufficient to allow for placement of the approximately horizontal portion of the well-bore 4 as described hereafter.
  • the conduit well is formed so that the approximately horizontal section 4 of the conduit well is located above the base 9 of the target reservoir.
  • the approximately horizontal section 4 within the target reservoir will depend on the nature, depth and composition of the target reservoir, the hydrocarbons contained in the target reservoir, and the production process being used to extract such hydrocarbons from such reservoir.
  • the approximately horizontal section of the conduit well is formed in a direction and depth such that it is oriented towards the approximately horizontal section 3 of the main well.
  • the approximately horizontal section of the conduit well does not physically come into contact with or intersect the approximately horizontal section of the main well. While the intersection of the approximately horizontal sections of each well does not occur, it is desirable that the distance between the approximately horizontal section of the main well and the approximately horizontal section of the conduit well, be as small as possible. The greater the distance between the approximately horizontal well-bores, the greater the difficulty of establishing and maintaining fluid communication between the wells. In actual practice, the maximum acceptable distance will depend on the nature, depth and composition of the target reservoir, the type of hydrocarbons contained in the target reservoir, the conduit substances, if any, associated with such hydrocarbons in the target reservoir, the prior production history of such reservoir and the type of production practices to be employed in producing hydrocarbons using the process and apparatus taught herein.
  • the production of fluids from the target reservoir through the main well commences and continues.
  • the forming of the approximately horizontal section 4 continues until circulation of drilling fluid is lost and drilling fluid used to form the conduit well is produced through the main well, or it is determined that the horizontal section 4 overlaps or has crossed the horizontal section 3 of the main well. It is preferred that the communication of fluids from the conduit well to the main well be confirmed by a portion of the drilling fluid used to form the conduit well, being produced through the main well. In many subterranean reservoirs, fluid communication will occur as a result of the natural permeability of the reservoir.
  • a target reservoir comprised of unconsolidated materials in order to establish and maintain substantial fluid communication between the main well and the conduit well, it is recommended, that fluids from the target reservoir be produced through the main well, for a period of time before the forming of the conduit well commences.
  • fluid communication is not established through the production of drilling fluids through the main well, during the forming of the conduit well, such fluid communication may occur over time by producing fluids through the main well. In such event the communication of fluids between the main well and the conduit well can be determined and confirmed by careful monitoring of fluid production volumes and rates from the main well. Fluid communication between the main well and the conduit well should be detected as an increase in the volume of fluid produced from the main well, beyond that which normally occur by the production of fluids from the main well alone, prior to the formation of the conduit well.
  • an appropriate tracer fluid such as a fluorescent dye or fluid containing a mild radioactive source, may also be placed in the well-bore of the conduit well, thereby confirming fluid communication between the main well and the conduit well when the tracer fluid is produced though the main well.
  • the length of time required to establish fluid communication in this manner will vary, depending upon the nature, depth and composition of the target reservoir, the type of hydrocarbons contained in the target reservoir, and the additional substances, if any, associated with such hydrocarbons in the target reservoir, the prior production history of such reservoir and the type of production practices employed in producing hydrocarbons using the process and apparatus taught herein.
  • the approximately horizontal section 4 of the conduit well be formed so that it overlaps or crosses the approximately horizontal section 3 of the main well. If difficulty is encountered in obtaining fluid communication between the approximately horizontal section 3 of main well and the approximately horizontal section 4 of the conduit well, means known in the art may be employed to facilitate fluid communication between the two well by fracturing, displacing or removing a portion of the solid material which comprises the target reservoir and lies between the approximately horizontal sections of the two wells. This could include the use of techniques such as hydraulic fracturing, perforation or jet washing.
  • the production of fluids from the target reservoir through the main well commence before attempting to form the conduit well, and should continue throughout the formation of such well.
  • the length of time that the main well should be produced before attempting to form the conduit well depends upon the nature, depth and composition of the target reservoir, the type of hydrocarbons contained in the target reservoir, and the additional substances, if any, associated with such hydrocarbons in the target reservoir, the prior production history of such reservoir and the type of production practices employed in producing hydrocarbons using the process and apparatus taught herein.
  • the approximately horizontal section 4 of the conduit well acts as a conduit, thereby extending the area of the target reservoir which may be affected and produced from and through the main well. Therefore, the conduit well is not initially completed and equipped to produce substances from target reservoir. Only minimal completion work should be performed on the conduit well, to comply with good production practice and government regulation, and to prevent the well-bore from collapsing. However, fluids contained in the target reservoir must be able to flow or drain into the entire length of the approximately horizontal section of the conduit well. Therefore if possible, this section of the conduit well should either be left as "open hole” with no liner or completed with a perforated liner or other method of completion which allows fluids from the target reservoir to flow or drain into the entire length of such section 4.
  • the conduit well is completed by the placement of a wellhead 11 at the surface outlet of the well.
  • conduit well is formed in the manner described above and the build and vertical sections of the conduit well are not abandoned, should at a later point in time, it become desirable to convert the conduit well into either a production of injection well, the well may be re-entered and the necessary equipment and tubing installed. In the practice of this invention, this should not be required except as specifically stated herein, or where the main well becomes unable to produce fluids from the target reservoir.
  • this method is utilized to construct a network of several communicating horizontal wells, those skilled in the art will realize that this method and apparatus may be practiced by completing and equipping more than one but less than all of the wells in the network to produce or inject substances from or into the target reservoir.
  • main well and the conduit well are in fluid communication, without the approximately horizontal section 3 of main well crossing over or overlapping the approximately horizontal section 4 of the conduit well.
  • main well 1 and the conduit well 2 are in fluid communication, with the approximately horizontal section 3 of the main well crossing over or overlapping the approximately horizontal section 4 of the conduit well.
  • the orientation of the approximately horizontal section of the main well to the approximately horizontal section of the conduit well as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is an exemplification only. In the practice of this invention, the actual orientation will vary according the limitations and requirements imposed or dictated by surface access for drilling locations; the nature, location and characteristics of the target reservoir; the equipment and methods employed to form each well; prior production methods and apparatus used to produce substances from the target reservoir; and the type of production processes to be employed using the network formed by the main well and the conduit well. Furthermore it is not required that communication between the approximately horizontal section of the main well to the approximately horizontal section of the conduit well occur at the terminal ends of such horizontal sections, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Such illustrations are an exemplification only. Neither is the apparatus comprising this invention limited to only two wells.
  • a network comprising 3 wells, with the main well, well 2 and well 3 ("the conduit wells"), each being formed from the surface of the earth, and comprised of a vertical and curved build angle section 5a and 5b, respectively and an approximately horizontal section 6a and 6b, respectively.
  • the approximately horizontal section of each of the three wells in the network is located within the target reservoir.
  • the main well is completed and equipped for the production of substances from the target reservoir.
  • the conduit wells are completed only to the extent required by government regulation and good production practice.
  • the conduit wells are not equipped for the injection or production of substances into or from the target reservoir.
  • the approximately horizontal sections of the conduit wells act as conduits, thereby extending the area of the reservoir which may be affected and produced from and through the main well.
  • a permanent well site 7 is constructed and maintained at the surface outlet of the main well. Only a small permanent well site 4 is required for the conduit wells, which pierce the surface of the earth at the same approximate location. As stated previously, it may also be possible to avoid constructing or maintaining a permanent well site for the conduit wells.
  • the conduit wells were formed subsequent to the formation, completion and equipping of the main well. Prior to and during the formation of the conduit wells, fluids are produced from the reservoir through the main well. The formation of the approximately horizontal section of each of the conduit wells ceases when drilling fluid used to form each such approximately horizontal section is produced through the main well, or such approximately horizontal section crosses over or overlaps the approximately horizontal section 6 of the main well, which ever event first occurs.
  • the conduit wells may be formed from a single well site and may be formed sequentially in any order, with one well being formed through conventional means immediately upon completion of work to form the first well in the pair. However the additional wells, may be formed from separate well sites. It is recommended that such wells be formed sequentially. This will help facilitate the confirmation of fluid communication between each of the conduit wells and the main well. Those skilled in the art will realize that it may be possible to form more than two conduit wells from the same well-site.
  • the approximately horizontal sections of the wells do not overlap or cross.
  • the approximately horizontal sections 6a and 6b of the conduit wells 2 and 3 cross over but do not intersect with the approximately horizontal section 6 of the main well.
  • the approximately horizontal sections of all three wells lie within the target reservoir.
  • the approximately horizontal section 6a of conduit well 2 has been formed between the top 7 of the target reservoir and the approximately horizontal section 6 of the main well.
  • the approximately horizontal section 6b of the conduit well 3 has been formed between the bottom 8 of the target reservoir and the approximately horizontal section of the main well.
  • the approximately horizontal sections of the conduit wells cross over the approximately horizontal section of the main well, at approximately right angles.
  • the pattern illustrated in FIG. 3. could be extended to form a network of conduits constructed around the main well, with multiple conduit wells formed from small well sites 4 ("the small well-sites"), with each such conduit well consisting of vertical and curved build angle section 5, and an approximately horizontal section 6.
  • the approximately horizontal sections of all wells shown in FIG. 5 lie substantially in the target reservoir.
  • the approximately horizontal sections of the conduit wells are in fluid communication with the approximately horizontal section 6a of the main well. However while the approximately horizontal sections of the conduit wells may cross over or overlap the approximately horizontal section of the main well, they do not physically intersect or connect with the approximately horizontal section of the main well.
  • the conduit wells are formed in sequence after the formation of the main well. Prior to and during the forming of the conduit wells substances are produced from the target reservoir though main well.
  • All of the conduit wells may be formed immediately in sequence or over a period of time.
  • the sequence and timing for forming each such conduit well will vary according to the limitations and requirements imposed or dictated by: (i) surface access for drilling locations; (ii) the nature, location and characteristics of the target reservoir; (iii) the equipment and methods employed to form each well; (iv) the prior production methods and the apparatus previously used to produce substances from the target reservoir; and (v) the production processes to be employed using the network formed by the main well and the conduit wells. It is recommended that the conduit wells, be formed in order of the proximity that the approximately horizontal section 6 of each of the conduit wells will have to the vertical section/build angle section of the main well, with those wells in closest proximity thereto being formed first.
  • a large permanent well site 7 is constructed and maintained for the main well. Permanent access is also constructed to this well site .
  • the small well sites may be smaller than well site 7, as the conduit wells, are not initially equipped for the production of substances from the target reservoir.
  • each of the conduit wells acts only as conduit in the reservoir facilitating the flow of fluids contained in the reservoir to the well-bore of the main well.
  • the approximately horizontal sections of the conduit wells are in fluid communication with the approximately horizontal section 6a of the main well, they extend the area of the reservoir accessed and affected by the main well.
  • FIG.'s 1 through to 5 illustrate a network of 2 or more wells where the approximately horizontal section of the main well communicates directly with the approximately horizontal section of every other well in the network.
  • the main well thus utilizes the approximately horizontal sections of all other wells in the network as conduits, to access and affect a larger portion of the target reservoir.
  • FIG.'s 6 and 7 illustrate a network consisting of 3 horizontal wells, with the main well 1, being formed first, from well site 4, and consisting of a vertical section/build angle section 7 and an approximately horizontal section 10 located substantially in the target reservoir.
  • the main well is completed and equipped for the removal of substances from the target reservoir. Except as stated below, the main well is placed on production for a period of time prior to and at substantially all times during the forming of the other wells in the network.
  • Conduit well 2 is formed after the main well, from well site 6, and consists of a vertical section/build angle section 9 and an approximately horizontal section 11 located substantially in the target reservoir.
  • the well network comprised of the main well and conduit well 2 looks approximately as illustrated by FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, depending on whether the approximately horizontal sections of these wells overlap.
  • Conduit well 3 is formed after conduit well 2, from well site 5, and consists of a vertical section/build angle section 8 and an approximately horizontal section 12 located substantially in the target reservoir. The forming of conduit well 3 should not commence until fluid communication between the approximately horizontal sections of the main well and conduit well 2, has been establish.
  • the approximately horizontal section of conduit well 3 When formed, the approximately horizontal section of conduit well 3 is not in direct fluid communication with the approximately horizontal section of the main well. Fluid contained in the target reservoir which enters the approximately horizontal section of conduit well 3, passes through the approximately horizontal section of conduit well 2 to reach the approximately horizontal section of the main well. Therefore the approximately horizontal section of conduit well 3, is formed such that it is in fluid communication with the approximately horizontal section of conduit well 2.
  • conduit well 3 if fluid communication with conduit well 2 occurs during the forming of conduit well 3 through the loss of drilling fluid circulation and the production of such fluid through the main well, production of fluid from the reservoir through main well must immediately cease, to allow the forming of conduit well 3 to continue until the approximately horizontal section of conduit well 3 is formed to the length desired. Once the formation of conduit well 3 is complete, production of fluids through the main well recommences.
  • the three well network represented in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, could also be constructed as illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, with conduit well 3 formed and oriented in the approximate same direction as conduit well 2. If the network is constructed to reflect the illustration in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, conduit well 3 would be formed as prescribed for the network illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, save and except that the production of substances from the reservoir through the main well does not cease if drilling fluid used to form conduit well 3 is communicated to and is produced through the main well, and the forming of conduit well 3 ceases when such communication occurs.
  • conduit well 2 and conduit well 3 are not equipped to produce substances from the target reservoir.
  • these wells act only as conduits allowing a larger portion of the target reservoir to be accessed and affected by the main well.
  • the conduit wells are completed to the extent required by government regulation, the art and good production practice.
  • it may be possible to avoid constructing or maintaining permanent well sites for the conduit wells if it is not necessary or desirable to re-enter or access the well- bores of the conduit wells subsequent to the forming and completion of such well-bores.
  • the network of wells represented by the illustrated in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 can be further extended subsequent to the forming of conduit well 3, by the forming of additional wells in the manner of conduit well 3, with each additional well indirectly communicating with the main well, through the approximately horizontal sections of the wells in the network formed previously.
  • the extension of the network in this manner can take a variety of forms. Illustrated in FIG. 10 is one hypothetical network of wells formed in this manner.
  • the main well 1 is formed from permanent well site 6 and is equipped to produce substances from the target reservoir.
  • Conduit wells 2, 3, 4 and 5 are formed from well sites 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively.
  • the conduit wells are not initially equipped to produce substances from the target reservoir.
  • the approximately horizontal section 12 of conduit well 2 is in fluid communication with the approximately horizontal section 11 of the main well.
  • the approximately horizontal section 13 of conduit well 3 is in fluid communication with the approximately horizontal section of conduit well 2, and therefore in indirect fluid communication with the approximately horizontal section of the main well.
  • the approximately horizontal section 14 of conduit well 4 is in fluid communication with the approximately horizontal section of conduit well 3, and therefore in indirect fluid communication with the approximately horizontal section of the main well through the approximately horizontal sections of conduit wells 2 and 3 respectively.
  • the approximately horizontal section 15 of conduit well 5 is in fluid communication with the approximately horizontal section of conduit well 4, and therefore in indirect fluid communication with the approximately horizontal section of the main well through the approximately horizontal sections of conduit wells 2, 3 and 4 respectively.
  • a network of communicating wells constructed in the fashion described herein may be used to apply a variety of production processes known in the art.
  • the main well is the only well in the network which is equipped with artificial lift equipment.
  • This invention may also be practiced by equipping and operating more than one, but less than all wells in the network.
  • the main well may be completed and equipped to both inject and produce substances from the target reservoir.
  • all wells in the network other than main well act merely conduits to extend the area of the reservoir affected and accessed by the main well.
  • One of the unique advantages of this invention is the production of a large area of a target reservoir, using a number of horizontal wells simultaneously as a network of communicating well-bores, without the necessity equipping each well to produce substances from the reservoir. This can reduce the cost of producing substances from the target reservoir. Further cost savings can be achieved in applications where it is not necessary or desirable to access the approximately horizontal section of a conduit well subsequent to the forming of such well. In these situations it may be possible to complete the approximately horizontal section of such conduit well and abandon the build and vertical section of such well. This would eliminate the need to construct or maintain a permanent well site for such conduit well.
  • one of the conduit wells in the network could be equipped to replace the main well as the well used to inject or produce substances to or from the reservoir.
  • a network of communicating horizontal wells formed in the manner described above it is possible to employ a network of communicating horizontal wells formed in the manner described above, to produce substances from a target reservoir using any process that involves the injection of fluids into the reservoir, and the production of fluids from the reservoir, in a cyclic fashion.
  • the first well formed is completed and equipped as taught above, to both inject substances into and produce substances from the target reservoir.
  • Additional wells formed as part of the network are not initially equipped to produce substances from the reservoir. However the additional wells could also be equipped as injection wells as they are formed. This would allow the injection a larger amount of fluid into the reservoir over a larger area of the reservoir, than could be accessed by a single injection well.
  • the network would be constructed in the manner described above, with the additional steps of: (i) equipping the main well to both inject substances into and produce substances from the target reservoir; and (ii) equipping the conduit wells to inject substances into the target reservoir.
  • steam would be injected through all wells in the network simultaneously using means known in the art, without any production of fluids from the reservoir occurring during such injection phase.
  • all wells in the network would be shut in for a period of time to allow heat from the injected steam to be distributed through the reservoir and the previously viscous fluids contained therein.
  • this "soak” period would be determined according the practice for this production technique, as known in the art. Upon cessation of this "soak” period, the production of fluids from the reservoir, through the main well would commence and continue until it became economically or physically impractical to continue such fluid production. This would be determined according to the practices known in the art for the conduct of cyclic steam injection processes. At this point the cycle of injection, "soak" and production would be repeated.
  • This embodiment could be practiced with more than one but less than all wells in the network being equipped and operated to produce fluids from the target reservoir. Also this embodiment could be practiced by injecting fluids other than or in addition to steam.. This could include fluids, at various temperatures, in liquid, gaseous or multiphase form, such as a hydrocarbon, a solvent, water, carbon dioxide, an acid, a base, a solution, a leaching fluid or a fluid containing a solid held in suspension, or a mixture of two or more substances from within such group.
  • the type, temperature and state of the fluid selected as the injection fluid will depend upon the nature, depth and composition of the target reservoir, and the type of substances contained in the target reservoir to be produced as a result of such fluid injection.
  • this invention comprises a method of and apparatus for producing fluids from a subterranean formation containing such fluids comprising the steps of:
  • step (a) at least completing but not equipping the at least one additional well-bore, and using such at least one additional well-bore as an conduit within the formation to allow and cause fluids contained in the formation which drain or flow into such at least one additional well-bore to flow to and be produced through the well-bore formed pursuant to step (a) above.
  • steps (b) and (c) repeating steps (b) and (c) by forming, completing and utilizing further additional well-bores as conduits within the formation to allow and cause fluids contained in the formation which drain or flow into such further additional well-bores to flow to and be produced formed the well-bore formed pursuant to step (a) above.
  • This network of communicating horizontal well-bores can be used to produce substances through a cyclic injection and production process, by including the additional step of equipping all well- bores, for the injection of fluids into the formation and utilizing said well-bores to simultaneously inject fluids into the formation, in order to mobilize fluids contained in the formation.
  • more than one, but less than all wells may be equipped to produce fluids from the reservoir.
  • the present invention could be used to produce minerals which could be extracted using horizontal wells and a wash or leaching process. Also those embodiments of the present invention which facilitate the injection of substances or include the use of any injection fluid or substance suspended in a fluid which would be desirable to use in a process to produce substances from a subterranean formation.
  • Reference to any specific application of the invention described above, is by way of example only. In applying the process of the invention, consideration must be given to: (i) the type, location and composition of the target reservoir; (ii) the type and composition the substances being sought, contained in such reservoir; (iii) any prior production methods and apparatus previously used to produce substances from the target reservoir; and (iv) the type of production processes to be employed using the network of wells.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé d'extraction de fluides provenant d'une formation souterraine (10), à travers un puits (1) unique dans un réseau de puits de forage distincts, comprenant les opérations suivantes: formation d'un puits (1) à section horizontale (3) et situé dans la formation (10), finition et équipement de ce puits (1) pour permettre l'extraction de fluides provenant de la formation (10), extraction des fluides de la formation à travers ce puits (1); formation d'au moins un puits (2) additionnel à section horizontale (4) situé dans la formation (10), de manière que ce puits (3) se trouve en communication fluidique (3) avec le premier puits (1) et ne présentant pas d'intersection avec la section horizontale du premier puits (1), sans recouper la section horizontale (3) du premier puits (1), et utilisation de ce puits (2) additionnel comme conduit à l'intérieur de la formation, pour permettre ou provoquer l'écoulement des fluides contenus dans la formation et qui drainent ou s'écoulent dans la section horizontale (4) de ce puits additionnel, en direction du premier puits (1) pour en être extraits.
PCT/US1997/007368 1997-05-01 1997-05-01 Reseau de puits horizontaux communiquants Ceased WO1998050679A1 (fr)

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US09/403,350 US6729394B1 (en) 1997-05-01 1997-05-01 Method of producing a communicating horizontal well network
PCT/US1997/007368 WO1998050679A1 (fr) 1997-05-01 1997-05-01 Reseau de puits horizontaux communiquants
CA002287944A CA2287944C (fr) 1997-05-01 1997-05-01 Reseau de puits horizontaux communiquants

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US7926561B2 (en) 2007-10-31 2011-04-19 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US8097230B2 (en) 2006-07-07 2012-01-17 Shell Oil Company Process for the manufacture of carbon disulphide and use of a liquid stream comprising carbon disulphide for enhanced oil recovery
US8136590B2 (en) 2006-05-22 2012-03-20 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US8394180B2 (en) 2007-02-16 2013-03-12 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for absorbing gases into a liquid
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US9057257B2 (en) 2007-11-19 2015-06-16 Shell Oil Company Producing oil and/or gas with emulsion comprising miscible solvent
US10012064B2 (en) 2015-04-09 2018-07-03 Highlands Natural Resources, Plc Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation
US10344204B2 (en) 2015-04-09 2019-07-09 Diversion Technologies, LLC Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation
US10982520B2 (en) 2016-04-27 2021-04-20 Highland Natural Resources, PLC Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation

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NO337671B1 (no) * 2003-07-30 2016-05-30 Saudi Arabian Oil Co Framgangsmåte for å øke produksjonen fra en brønn
US7694741B2 (en) 2004-09-07 2010-04-13 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Wellbore system and method for producing fluid
WO2006029272A1 (fr) * 2004-09-07 2006-03-16 Saudi Arabian Oil Company Systeme de forage permettant de produire un fluide
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US8459368B2 (en) 2006-04-27 2013-06-11 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US8722006B2 (en) 2006-05-16 2014-05-13 Shell Oil Company Process for the manufacture of carbon disulphide
US8136590B2 (en) 2006-05-22 2012-03-20 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US8511384B2 (en) 2006-05-22 2013-08-20 Shell Oil Company Methods for producing oil and/or gas
US8097230B2 (en) 2006-07-07 2012-01-17 Shell Oil Company Process for the manufacture of carbon disulphide and use of a liquid stream comprising carbon disulphide for enhanced oil recovery
US8136592B2 (en) 2006-08-10 2012-03-20 Shell Oil Company Methods for producing oil and/or gas
WO2008021883A1 (fr) * 2006-08-10 2008-02-21 Shell Oil Company Procédés de production de pétrole et/ou de gaz
US8596371B2 (en) 2006-08-10 2013-12-03 Shell Oil Company Methods for producing oil and/or gas
US8394180B2 (en) 2007-02-16 2013-03-12 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for absorbing gases into a liquid
US7926561B2 (en) 2007-10-31 2011-04-19 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US8869891B2 (en) 2007-11-19 2014-10-28 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US9057257B2 (en) 2007-11-19 2015-06-16 Shell Oil Company Producing oil and/or gas with emulsion comprising miscible solvent
US8656997B2 (en) 2008-04-14 2014-02-25 Shell Oil Company Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas
US10012064B2 (en) 2015-04-09 2018-07-03 Highlands Natural Resources, Plc Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation
US10344204B2 (en) 2015-04-09 2019-07-09 Diversion Technologies, LLC Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation
US10385257B2 (en) 2015-04-09 2019-08-20 Highands Natural Resources, PLC Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation
US10385258B2 (en) 2015-04-09 2019-08-20 Highlands Natural Resources, Plc Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation
US10982520B2 (en) 2016-04-27 2021-04-20 Highland Natural Resources, PLC Gas diverter for well and reservoir stimulation

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CA2287944A1 (fr) 1998-11-12

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