The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 28, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 08, 1997
Joseph F. Donovan, Spring, TX (US);
Roger P. Herbert, Spring, TX (US);
Christopher L. Gann, The Woodlands, TX (US);
Michael H. Johnson, Flower Mound, TX (US);
Baker Hughes Incorporated, Houston, TX (US);
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 surface for storing apparatus that is used to monitor and/or control the operation of devises in the production wellbores during the various stages in the life of such wellbores. Some of the equipment deployed in the main wellbore is prefabricated and may be retrieved. selective redundant equipment is provided to allow uninterrupted production from the various wellbores.