Cdx Gas, Inc.

Vitruvian Exploration, LLC

Monty H Rial

Joseph A Zupanick

Lawrence W Diamond

Harold E Payne

Robert Michael Lockerd, Sr

A method and system for surface production of gas from a subterranean zone includes forming a drainage pattern in a subsurface zone. The drainage pattern includes a plurality of cooperating bores and has a coverage area extending between the cooperating bores. Water pressure is lowered throughout the coverage area of the subsurface zone without significant subsurface drainage by producing water through the cooperating bores of the drainage pattern to the surface. Gas is produced from the coverage area of the subsurface zone with at least some of the water.

Method and system for surface production of gas from a subterranean zone

A method and system for surface production of gas from a subterranean zone includes lowering reservoir pressure in an area of a subterranean zone having a medium to low effective permeability through a multi-branching well bore pattern. At least twenty-five percent of the total gas in the area of the subterranean zone is produced within three years of the start of production.

Accelerated production of gas from a subterranean zone

A method for underground treatment of subsurface materials comprises providing an injection pattern and a recovery pattern, the injection pattern and the recovery pattern located proximate to a subsurface treatment zone and at least one of the injection pattern and the recovery pattern comprising a plurality of lateral bores extending from a main bore. A treatment solution is injected through the injection pattern and recovered through the recovery pattern.

Method and system for underground treatment of materials

A method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone and forming a slot cavity in the substantially vertical well bore proximate to the subterranean zone. The slot cavity comprises a substantially non-cylindrical shape. The method also includes drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone. The articulated well bore is horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersects the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate to the subterranean zone. The method may include drilling the articulated well bore to intersect the slot cavity of the substantially vertical well bore and drilling a substantially horizontal drainage pattern from the slot cavity into the subterranean zone. The subterranean zone may comprise a coal seam.

Slot cavity

A method for recirculating fluid in a well system includes drilling a first well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone, and drilling an articulated well bore that is horizontally offset from the first well bore at the surface and that intersects the first well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone. The method also includes drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone, and receiving gas, water and particles produced from the subterranean zone at the junction via the drainage bore. The gas, water, and particles are received from the junction at the surface, and the water is separated from the gas and the particles. The method also includes determining an amount of water to circulate, and recirculating a portion of the separated water according to this determination.

Method and system for recirculating fluid in a well system

In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided for clearing the inside of a wellbore including inserting a wellbore clearing system into the wellbore. The wellbore clearing system includes an anchor adapted to be positioned within the wellbore, an agitator operable to be moved relative to the interior surface of the wellbore, and a linkage coupling the agitator to the anchor. The method further includes securing the anchor within the wellbore and moving the agitator relative to the interior surface of the wellbore. The movement of the agitator is operable to at least partially eliminate a restriction to a flow of minerals or other resources in the wellbore.

System and method for wellbore clearing

A method and system for accessing subterranean resources from a limited surface area includes a first well bore extending from the surface to the target zone. The first well bore includes an angled portion disposed between the target zone and the surface to provide an offset between a surface location of the first well bore and an intersection of the first well bore with the subterranean resource. The system also includes an articulated well bore extending from the surface to the target zone. The articulated well bore is offset from the first well bore at the surface and intersects the first well bore proximate the target zone. The system further includes a well bore pattern extending from the intersection of the first well bore and the articulated well bore in the target zone to provide access to the target zone.

Method and system for accessing a subterranean zone from a limited surface area

An acoustic position measurement system and method includes an acoustic transmitter operable to transmit a sound wave into an underground well bore in a target formation. The sound wave is configured to reflect from a boundary formation proximate the target formation. The system includes an acoustic receiver operable to receive a reflected sound wave. The reflected sound wave comprises a reflection of the sound wave from the boundary formation. The system also includes an electronics portion electrically coupled to the acoustic receiver. The electronics portion is operable to process the reflected sound wave and produce, based upon a characteristic of the reflected sound wave, data output indicative of a position of the acoustic position measurement system in the target formation.

Acoustic position measurement system for well bore formation

An underreamer for forming a cavity from within a well bore includes a housing adapted to be disposed within the well bore. The underreamer includes an actuator partially slidably positioned in the housing. The actuator comprises a first portion and a second portion. A cross-sectional area of the second portion is larger than a cross-sectional area of the first portion. The underreamer includes at least one cutter set, wherein each cutter set has a first end and a second end. The first end of each cutter set is pivotally coupled to the housing. The second end of each cutter set is pivotally coupled to a connector. An axial force applied to the actuator is operable to slide the actuator relative to the housing causing the second portion of the actuator to contact each cutter set and extend each cutter set radially outward relative to the housing from a retracted position to a first position. The actuator may also include a stop member proximate an end of the actuator. The stop member may be operable to force the connector to slide relative to the housing during the application of the axial force, causing each cutter set to further extend radially outward relative to the housing from the first position to a second position.

Actuator underreamer

A system and method for controlling the production rate of fluid from a subterranean zone includes monitoring a production stream from the subsurface zone for an amount of particulate matter. The rate of the production stream from the subterranean zone is automatically controlled based on the amount of particulate matter in the production stream.

Method and system for controlling the production rate of fluid from a subterranean zone to maintain production bore stability in the zone

A fluid level controlled pumping system includes a pumping unit disposed within a fluid cavity. The pumping unit includes an inlet operable to receive a fluid to be pumped from the fluid cavity. The system also includes a valve slidably coupled to the pumping unit. The valve includes a passage for receiving pumped fluid from an outlet of the pumping unit. In response to a decreasing fluid level within the fluid cavity, movement of the valve relative to the pumping unit aligns the passage with a port of the pumping unit to recirculate the pumped fluid from the outlet to the inlet.

Fluid controlled pumping system and method

An underreamer for forming a cavity within a well bore includes a housing adapted to be rotatably disposed within the well bore and a piston slidably coupled to the housing. The underreamer also includes a first cutter having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first cutter is pivotally coupled to the housing. The underreamer further includes a second cutter having a first end and a second end. The first end of the second cutter is coupled to the piston. The second end of the first cutter is coupled to the second cutter such that an axial force applied to the piston is operable to slide the piston relative to the housing and extend the second end of the second cutter radially outward relative to the housing from a retracted position to form the cavity when the housing is rotated relative to the well bore.

Pantograph underreamer

An improved method for management of by-products from subterranean zones, comprising drilling a first well system into a subterranean zone, wherein the first well system comprises a first drainage pattern. By-product and gas from a first volume of the subterranean zone is removed via the first well system. A second well system is drilled into the subterranean zone, wherein the second well system comprises a second drainage pattern, and by-product is moved from a second volume of the subterranean zone to the first volume of the subterranean zone. Gas is then produced from the second volume of the subterranean zone. Subsequent drainage patterns repeat the process.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Monty H Rial