Deeply buried transmission line

Abstract

A deeply buried transmission line and a method for installing same wherein the majority of the line is buried at depth (e.g. up to 5000 feet or more) well below conventionally buried lines. This provide much greater security from either accidental or intentional damage to the line. The line is initiated by drilling a wellbore in a downward vertical direction to a first depth (e.g. about 500 feet) from spaced surface points before the respective wellbores are curved into in a horizontal direction towards each other at a second depth (e.g. about 5000 feet) where they ultimately intersect. By drilling a wellbore downward from small, spaced surface plots at either end of the line, only a small surface area is affected during the installation of the line.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for installing a deeply buried transmission line between a first point and a second point which are spaced on the surface of the earth, said method comprising: 
 drilling a first wellbore downward in a substantially vertical direction from said first point to a first depth and then diverting said first wellbore through a curved section and into a substantially horizontal section which extends towards said second point at a second depth;    ceasing the drilling of said first wellbore before it reaches said second point;    drilling a second wellbore downward in a substantially vertical direction from said second point to a first depth and then diverting said second wellbore through a curved section and into a substantially horizontal section which extends towards said first wellbore at a second depth; and    ceasing the drilling of said second wellbore after it intersects said first wellbore whereby the interconnected said first and said second wellbores form said transmission line between said first and said second points.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first depth of said first wellbore is at least about 500 feet and said first depth of said second wellbore is at least about 500 feet.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said second depth of said first wellbore is at least about 5000 feet and said second depth of said second wellbore is at least about 5000 feet.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said first point on the surface is spaced from about 3000 feet to about 7000 feet from said second point.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said first point is located within a first plot having a surface area of ±2 acres and said second point is located within a second plot having a surface area of ±2 acres.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  including: 
 casing said first wellbore and said second wellbores with conduit to provide a continuous cased passage between said first point and said second point.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein casing said first wellbore and said second wellbores comprises: 
 casing said first wellbore throughout said substantially vertical direction with one or more strings of casing;  
 casing said second wellbore throughout its said substantially vertical direction with one or more strings of casing; and  
 running a liner between said casing in said first wellbore and said casing in said second wellbore.  
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  including: 
 cementing said casing in said first and said second wellbores; and  
 cementing said liner to thereby provided a sealed passage between said first point and said second point.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said sealed passage provides a flowpath for fluids.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  including: 
 extending a transmission cable between said first point and said second point through said sealed passage.  
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  including: 
 drilling a second first wellbore for a second deeply buried transmission line downward within said second plot from which said second wellbore of said deeply buried transmission line is drilled; and  
 connecting said second wellbore to said second first wellbore within said second plot.  
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said second wellbore and said second first wellbore are spaced on the surface from each other at a distance of about 20 feet.  
     
     
         13 . A deeply buried transmission line extending between a first point and a second point space on the surface of the earth, said transmission line comprising: 
 a first wellbore extending downward from said first point in a substantially vertical direction to a first depth and then in a substantially horizontal direction towards said second point at a second depth; and    a second wellbore extending downward from said second point in a substantially vertical direction to a first depth and then in a substantially horizontal direction towards said first wellbore at a second depth until said second wellbore intersects said first wellbore whereby the intersected said first and second wellbores form said deeply buried transmission line.    
     
     
         14 . The deeply buried transmission line of  claim 13  wherein said first depth of said first wellbore is at least about 500 feet and said first depth of said second wellbore is at least about 500 feet.  
     
     
         15 . The deeply buried transmission line of  claim 14  wherein said second depth of said first wellbore is at least about 5000 feet and said second depth of said second wellbore is at least about 5000 feet.  
     
     
         16 . The deeply buried transmission line of  claim 15  wherein said first point on said surface is spaced from about 3000 feet to about 7000 feet from said second point on said surface.  
     
     
         17 . The deeply buried transmission line of  claim 16  wherein said first point is located within a plot having a surface area of ±2 acres and said second point is located within a plot having a surface area of ±2 acres.  
     
     
         18 . The deeply buried transmission line of  claim 13  including: 
 at least one string of casing in said first wellbore and extending substantially throughout said vertical direction of said first wellbore;  
 at least one string of casing in said second wellbore and extending substantially throughout said vertical direction of said second wellbore; and  
 a liner connecting said at least one string of casing in said first wellbore and said at least one string of casing in said second wellbore.  
 
     
     
         19 . The deeply buried transmission line of  claim 18  wherein said transmission line is used to transport fluids.  
     
     
         20 . The deeply buried transmission line of  claim 18  including: 
 a transmission cable extending from said first point to said second point through said at least one string of casing in said first wellbore, said liner, and said at least one string of casing in said second wellbore.