EP0840834B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and process for drilling and completing multiple wells
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
•
Filing: 1996-06-03
•
Granted: 2005-03-23
•
Expires: 2016-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A subterranean well system and a process for drilling and completing such a system from a first subterranean well bore which extends to the surface of the earth. A second well bore may be drilled from the first well bore and a first tubular of a multiple well drilling template can be positioned within the first well bore while a second tubular of the template can be positioned within both the first and second well bores. Additionally, a third well bore can be drilled from the first well bore and the first tubular can be further positioned therein. The first and second well bores can penetrate subterranean formation(s) or additional well bore(s) can be drilled from the first, second and/or third well bores so as to penetrate subterranean formations. A second multiple well drilling template may be utilized to drill such additional well bore(s) from the second or third well bores. Fluid is produced from subterranean formation(s) to the surface via said first, second, third and/or additional well bores and/or through production casing and/or tubing positioned therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary J. Collins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:24
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B23/00; E21B23/004; E21B23/006; E21B23/08; E21B23/12; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/04; E21B33/047; E21B43/00; E21B43/14; E21B43/30; E21B43/305; E21B7/00; E21B7/04; E21B7/043; E21B7/06; E21B7/061; E21B7/068; E21B43/01; E21B43/017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A subterranean well system comprising: a first subterranean well bore [54; 60; 307] extending to the surface of the earth
[51; 305]; a second subterranean well bore [55; 70; 308] drilled from the first well bore; and a first tubular [104; 330; 430] of a drilling and completion template [10, 100; 334]
which is positioned within said first well bore; and a second tubular [104; 334; 434] of said template which is positioned within both
said first and said second well bores.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first tubular is in fluid communication with a
first formation to convey fluids from said first formation to the surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising: a first length of production casing [76; 350] extending from the surface of the earth
into said first tubular and for conveying fluid produced from said first formation through
said first tubular to the surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 3 further comprising: production tubing [370] positioned within said first tubular and said first length of
production casing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said second tubular is in fluid communication with
a second subterranean formation to convey fluids from said second formation to the
surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 5 further comprising: a second length of production casing [66; 356] extending from the surface of the
earth into said second tubular and for conveying fluid produced from said second
formation through said second tubular to the surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 6 further comprising: production tubing [376] positioned within said second tubular and said second length
of production casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a third subterranean well bore [60; 346] drilled from said second well bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said first well bore penetrates a first subterranean
formation and said third well bore penetrates a second subterranean formation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 9 further comprising: a third length of production casing [62] extending from said second tubular and into
said third well bore so as to establish fluid communication with said second formation
for conveying fluid produced from said second formation to the surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 10 further comprising: a fourth length of production casing extending from the surface of the earth into said
third length of production casing for conveying fluid produced from said second
formation to the surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 11 further comprising: production tubing positioned within said third and said fourth lengths of production
casing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a fourth subterranean well bore [70] drilled from said first well bore.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 13 further wherein said fourth well bore penetrates a first
subterranean formation and said second well bore penetrates a second subterranean
formation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 14 further comprising: a fifth length of production casing [72] extending from said first tubular and into said
fourth well bore so as to establish fluid communication with said first formation for
conveying fluid produced from said first formation to the surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 15 further comprising: a sixth length of production casing extending from the surface of the earth into said
fifth length of production casing for conveying fluid produced from said first formation
to the surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 16 further comprising: production tubing positioned within said fifth and said sixth lengths of production
casing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first well bore is generally vertical.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first well bore is deviated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said second and third well bores are deviated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said fourth well bore is deviated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first well bore penetrates a first subterranean
formation and said second well bore penetrates a second subterranean formation, said
first and said second subterranean formations being the same formation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first well bore penetrates a first subterranean
formation and said second well bore penetrates a second subterranean formation, said
first subterranean formation being distinct from said second subterranean formation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said template is secured to said first well bore at the
surface of the earth.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said template is secured within said first well bore at
a subterranean location.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a third subterranean well bore [307] drilled from the first well bore[309], said first tubular [330] of said template being positioned within both said first and said
third well bores.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 26 wherein said first tubular is in fluid communication with said
first formation to convey fluid from said first formation to the surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 27 further comprising: production casing [350] positioned within said first tubular for conveying fluid from
said first formation to the surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 26 further comprising: a fourth subterranean well bore [346] drilled from said second well bore [308] so as
to penetrate a first subterranean formation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 29 further comprising: a first length of production casing [356] extending from the surface of the earth
through said second tubular and into said fourth well bore for conveying fluid produced
from said first formation to the surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 26 further comprising: a fourth subterranean well bore [60] drilled from said second well bore [55] so as to
penetrate a first subterranean formation; and a first length of production casing [62] extending from said second tubular and into
said fourth well bore for conveying fluid produced from said first formation to said first
well bore.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 30 further comprising: production tubing positioned within said first length of production casing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 27 wherein said second tubular is in fluid communication
with said second subterranean formation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 27 further comprising: production tubing [376] positioned within said second tubular for conveying fluid
from said second formation to the surface.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 29 further comprising: a fifth subterranean well bore [344] drilled from said third well bore [307] so as to
penetrate a second subterranean formation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 35 further comprising: a second length of production casing [350] extending from the surface of the earth
through said first tubular and into said fifth well bore for conveying fluid produced from
said second formation to the surface.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 29 further comprising: a fifth subterranean well bore drilled from said third well bore so as to penetrate a
second subterranean formation; and a second length of production casing extending from said first tubular and into
said fifth well bore for conveying fluid produced from said second formation to said first
well bore.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 36 further comprising: production tubing [370] positioned within said second length of production
casing.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 26 wherein said template is secured to said first well bore at
the surface of the earth.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a third subterranean well bore [307] drilled from the first well bore [309]; a fourth subterranean well bore [346] drilled from said second well bore [308];
and a fifth subterranean well bore [344] drilled from said third well bore, said first tubular [334] of said template being positioned within both said first and said
third well bores.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 40 wherein said fourth well bore penetrates a first
subterranean formation and said fifth well bore penetrates a second subterranean
formation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 41 further comprising: a first length of production casing extending from said second tubular and into
said fourth well bore for conveying fluid produced from said first formation to the
surface; and a second length of production casing extending from said first tubular and into
said fifth well bore for conveying fluid produced from said second formation to the
surface.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 41 further comprising: a first length of production casing [356] extending from the surface of the earth
through said second tubular and into said fourth well bore for conveying fluid produced
from said first formation to the surface; and a second length of production casing [350] extending from the surface of the
earth through said first tubular and into said fifth well bore for conveying fluid produced
from said second formation to the surface.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 43 further comprising: first production tubing [370] positioned within said second length of production
casing for conveying fluid produced from said first formation to the surface; and second production tubing [376] positioned within said first length of production
casing for conveying fluid produced from said second formation to the surface.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 40 wherein said first well bore is generally vertical.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 40 wherein said first well bore is deviated.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 40 wherein said second and third well bores are deviated.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 40 wherein said first and said second subterranean
formations are the same formation.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 40 wherein said template is secured to said first well bore at
the surface of the earth.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 40 wherein said template is secured within said first well
bore at a subterranean location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.