Patent · US Expired

Method of forming and servicing wellbores from a main wellbore

US6279658A · kind A · utility

62Cited by
5References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 8, 1997
Grant dateAug 28, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 8, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B43/40
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for forming multiple wellbores from a single location. A relatively large diameter main wellbore is drilled to a known depth. A plurality of spaced apart wellbores are formed from the bottom of the main wellbore, wherein at least one such wellbore is a production wellbore for producing hydrocarbons from subsurface formations. Wellhead equipment for each production wellbore is installed at main wellbore bottom. Additional devices or equipment are also placed in the main wellbore, preferably near the bottom. Such equipment may include a fluid processing apparatus, chemical injection equipment for injecting chemicals or additives into the wellbores, compressors for injecting compressed gas into one or more of the production wellbores or for transporting a gas to the surface, robotics devices for placing and/or removing devices or materials from the wellbores, a control unit for monitoring and controlling apparatus and devices in the main wellbore and the production wellbore, and any other desired equipment for performing a useful function relating any of the wellbores. A secondary access wellbore may be formed from the main wellbore or the surfac…

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