Recovery of Hydrocarbons Using Horizontal Wells

Abstract

A method of drilling a wellbore useful for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subsurface reservoir, penetrated by one or more wellbores previously injected with steam, comprises drilling a wellbore having a substantially horizontal productive portion lying within the subsurface reservoir.

1 . A method of drilling a wellbore useful for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subsurface reservoir the method comprising:
 drilling a wellbore comprising a substantially horizontal productive portion lying within the subsurface reservoir;   wherein the subsurface reservoir is penetrated by one or more wellbores previously injected with steam.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising producing hydrocarbons from the wellbore. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subsurface reservoir has achieved a threshold thermal maturity from the steam previously injected therein. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subsurface reservoir is penetrated by one or more wellbores previously injected with at least 50,000 cumulative barrels of steam. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subsurface reservoir is penetrated by one or more wellbores previously injected with at least 150,000 cumulative barrels of steam. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subsurface reservoir is penetrated by one or more substantially vertical wellbores previously injected with steam. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising positioning the substantially horizontal productive portion of the wellbore within a lateral range of approximately 100 feet of one or more of the substantially vertical wellbores. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising positioning the substantially horizontal productive portion of the wellbore at a depth defined by top-most and bottom-most perforations of one or more of the substantially vertical wellbores. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising positioning the substantially horizontal productive portion of the wellbore within a depth range defined by an upper depth limit of approximately 200 feet TVDSS above a top-most perforation of one or more of the substantially vertical wellbores and a lower depth limit of approximately 50 feet TVDSS beneath a bottom-most perforation of one or more of the substantially vertical wellbores. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising positioning the substantially horizontal productive portion of the wellbore a depth range defined by an upper depth limit of approximately 160 feet TVDSS above a top-most perforation of one or more of the substantially vertical wellbores and a lower depth limit no lower than a bottom-most perforation of one or more of the substantially vertical wellbores. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subsurface reservoir is a heavy oil reservoir. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subsurface reservoir is a diatomite reservoir. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising planning a path of the substantially horizontal productive portion of the wellbore to be within a lateral range of approximately 100 feet of one or more of the wellbores previously injected with steam. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising planning a path of the substantially horizontal productive portion of the wellbore to be within a lateral range of approximately 50 feet of one or more of the wellbores previously injected with steam. 
   
   
       15 . A drilled wellbore comprising:
 a substantially horizontal productive portion lying within a subsurface reservoir, wherein the subsurface reservoir is penetrated by one or more substantially vertical wellbores, the substantially horizontal productive portion located;   within a depth range defined by an upper depth limit of approximately 200 feet TVDSS above a top-most perforation of one or more of the substantially vertical wellbores and a lower depth limit of approximately 50 feet TVDSS beneath a bottom-most perforation of one or more of the substantially vertical wellbores; and   within a lateral range of approximately 100 feet of one or more of the wellbores previously injected with steam.   
   
   
       16 . A method of drilling a wellbore useful for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subsurface reservoir, the method comprising:
 drilling a wellbore comprising a substantially horizontal productive portion lying within the subsurface reservoir;   drilling one or more substantially vertical wellbores; and   perforating the one or more substantially vertical wellbores according to a depth of the substantially horizontal productive portion of the wellbore.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising producing hydrocarbons from the wellbore. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a top-most perforation of the one or more substantially vertical wellbores occurs not lower than approximately 200 feet TVDSS beneath the substantially horizontal productive portion of the wellbore and a bottom-most perforation of the one or more substantially vertical wellbores occurs not more than approximately 50 feet TVDSS above the substantially horizontal productive portion of the wellbore. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the subsurface reservoir is penetrated by one or more wellbores previously injected with at least 50,000 cumulative barrels of steam. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising planning a path of the substantially horizontal productive portion of the wellbore to be within a lateral range of approximately 100 feet of one or more of the wellbores previously injected with steam.