Patent · US Expired

Process for production of oil and gas through horizontal drainholes from underground workings

US4533182A · kind A · utility

60Cited by
14References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 1984
Grant dateAug 6, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 3, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21C41/24
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method for collecting oil from a plurality of spaced-apart oil-bearing subterranean formations includes the steps of drilling a shaft from the earth's surface to a depth sufficient to intersect a plurality of spaced-apart oil-bearing formations, excavating a working area at selected oil-bearing subterranean formations and thereafter drilling a plurality of generally horizontal boreholes from each of the working areas into the selected oil-bearing subterranean formations. Thereafter, oil collection troughs are excavated within each of the working areas to collect oil from the boreholes and conduct the collected oil into a sump from which the oil is raised to the earth's surface utilizing a single lift. During collection and raising of the oil from each of the spaced-apart oil-bearing subterranean formations, the shaft and working areas are sealed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.