Drilling tool for drilling web of channels for hydrocarbon recovery

Abstract

Hydrocarbons can be recovered from a subterranean reservoir by drilling an injection well bore having an outlet in the reservoir and drilling a production well bore spaced apart from the injection well bore and having an inlet in the reservoir. A drilling tool is capable of being inserted into a well bore to drill a web of channels to form a permeable zone in the reservoir. The drilling tool comprises a drill head adapted to drill a web of channels that radiate out from the well bore to form the permeable zone, and a power source to supply power to the drill head.

1 . A drilling tool capable of being inserted into a well bore to drill a web of channels to form a permeable zone in a subterranean reservoir, the drilling tool comprising: 
 (a) a drill head adapted to drill a web of channels that radiate out from the well bore to form a permeable zone; and    (b) a power source to supply power to the drill head.    
   
   
       2 . A tool according to  claim 1  wherein the drill head is adapted to drill a permeable zone that fans out from the well bore at a horizontal angle of from about 0° to about 90°.  
   
   
       3 . A tool according to  claim 2  wherein the drill head is adapted to drill a permeable zone that fans out from the well bore at a horizontal angle of from about 30° to about 60°.  
   
   
       4 . A tool according to  claim 1  wherein the drill head is adapted to drill a permeable zone that is angled upwardly or downwardly at an angle of at least about 5°.  
   
   
       5 . A tool according to  claim 1  wherein the drill head is adapted to drill channels having a thickness of from about 1 to about 12 inches.  
   
   
       6 . A tool according to  claim 4  wherein the drill head is adapted to drill channels having a thickness of from about 2 to about 6 inches.  
   
   
       7 . A tool according to  claim 1  wherein the drill head comprises rotating drill bits.  
   
   
       8 . A tool according to  claim 1  wherein the drill head comprises a plurality of rotating drilling bits that are adapted to simultaneously drill multiple channels along an arc of a wall of the bore well.  
   
   
       9 . A tool according to  claim 1  wherein the drill head comprises a high pressure water jet.  
   
   
       10 . A tool according to  claim 1  wherein the drill head comprises multiple high-pressure water jet nozzles that are positioned to simultaneously drill multiple channels along a predetermined arc of a wall of the bore well.  
   
   
       11 . A tool according to  claim 1  wherein the drill head comprises a microwave antenna.  
   
   
       12 . A tool according to  claim 1  wherein the drill head comprises a laser drill.  
   
   
       13 . A drilling tool capable of being inserted into a well bore to drill a web of channels in a subterranean reservoir, the drilling tool comprising: 
 (a) a drill head adapted to drill a web of channels that radiate out from the well bore such that the horizontal angle formed between outermost channels is from about 0° to about 90°, and the web of channels is at an upward or downward angle of from 0° degree to about 30°; and    (b) a power source to supply power to the drill head.    
   
   
       14 . A tool according to  claim 13  wherein the drill head is adapted to drill a permeable zone that is angled upwardly or downwardly at an angle of at least about 5°.  
   
   
       15 . A tool according to  claim 13  wherein the drill head is adapted to drill channels having a thickness of from about 1 to about 12 inches.  
   
   
       16 . A tool according to  claim 13  wherein the drill head comprises a plurality of rotating drilling bits that are adapted to simultaneously drill multiple channels along an arc of a wall of the bore well.  
   
   
       17 . A tool according to  claim 13  wherein the drill head comprises a high pressure water jet.  
   
   
       18 . A tool according to  claim 13  wherein the drill head comprises multiple high-pressure water jet nozzles that are positioned to simultaneously drill multiple channels along a predetermined arc of a wall of the bore well.  
   
   
       19 . A tool according to  claim 13  wherein the drill head comprises a microwave antenna.  
   
   
       20 . A tool according to  claim 13  wherein the drill head comprises a laser drill.