Patent · US Expired

Method for forming boreholes

US4605076A · kind A · utility

83Cited by
13References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 1984
Grant dateAug 12, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 3, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B7/061
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method for forming as by drilling multiple boreholes into a shallow hydrocarbon pay zone from a single central vertical borehole is disclosed. A single large diameter vertical hole is first provided between the pay zone to a depth greater than a predetermined distance. Using special drilling equipment, one or more directional wells are then drilled starting at locations below the pay zone and proceeding in an upwardly and outwardly direction from the vertical hole. By selecting the predetermined starting depth and angle of direction for the upward and outward drilling phase of the method, great range of horizontal penetration may be obtained with respect to the central borehole thereby facilitating the efficient production of a shallow pay zone from a single drilling platform.

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