US2017022761A1PendingUtilityA1

Hydrocarbon extraction well and a method of construction thereof

Assignee: GEN ELECTRICPriority: Jul 23, 2015Filed: Dec 14, 2015Published: Jan 26, 2017
Est. expiryJul 23, 2035(~9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
E21B 43/14E21B 7/06E21B 33/13E21B 33/12E21B 43/128E21B 43/38
34
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Claims

Abstract

A method for forming a leg junction in a well is provided. The method includes drilling a vertical leg upto a first predetermined depth to form a well bore. The method also includes underreaming the vertical leg at a junction location in the vertical leg to form a first junction section. The method further includes infusing a binding material in the first junction section. The method also includes drilling a lateral leg upto a first predetermined distance through a sidewall of the first junction section. The method further includes underreaming the lateral leg through the sidewall of the first junction section to form a second junction section. The method also includes infusing the binding material in the first junction section and the second junction section to form the leg junction between the vertical leg and the lateral leg.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method comprising:
 drilling a vertical leg upto a first predetermined depth to form a well bore;   underreaming the vertical leg at a junction location in the vertical leg to form a first junction section;   infusing a binding material in the first junction section;   drilling a lateral leg upto a first predetermined distance through a sidewall of the first junction section;   underreaming the lateral leg through the sidewall of the first junction section to form a second junction section; and   infusing the binding material in the first junction section and the second junction section to form a leg junction between the vertical leg and the lateral leg.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising drilling the vertical leg to a second predetermined depth through the first junction section at the junction location, prior to drilling the lateral leg. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing a directional device in the first junction section at the junction location in the vertical leg prior to drilling the lateral leg. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising removing the directional device from the first junction section at the junction location and installing a retrievable bridge plug in the first junction section prior to infusing the binding material in the first junction section and the second junction section. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising removing the retrievable bridge plug and drilling the vertical leg to a second predetermined depth through the first junction section. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising drilling the lateral leg upto a second predetermined distance through the second junction section after infusing the binding material in the first junction section and the second junction section. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising installing a liner from the second junction section in the lateral leg. 
     
     
         8 . A well comprising:
 a vertical leg;   one or more lateral legs in fluid communication with the vertical leg; and   one or more leg junctions formed using a binding material, wherein the one or more lateral legs are connected to the vertical leg at one or more leg junctions.   
     
     
         9 . The well of  claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more leg junctions comprise a first junction section and a second junction section. 
     
     
         10 . The well of  claim 9 , wherein the first junction section is formed along the vertical leg and the second junction section is formed along the lateral leg. 
     
     
         11 . The well of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more lateral legs, is a production leg. 
     
     
         12 . The well of  claim 11 , wherein the vertical leg is a disposal leg coupled to a subterranean water disposal zone. 
     
     
         13 . The well of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more lateral legs is a disposal leg. 
     
     
         14 . The well of  claim 8 , further comprising a liner disposed extending from a second junction section of the leg junction within the lateral leg. 
     
     
         15 . The well of  claim 8 , further comprising a casing installed within the vertical leg. 
     
     
         16 . The well of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more downhole separators disposed in the one or more leg junctions. 
     
     
         17 . The well of  claim 8 , further comprising a first isolation packer disposed at a first end and a second isolation packer disposed at a second end of each of the leg junctions in the vertical leg. 
     
     
         18 . The well of  claim 17 , further comprising an electrical submersible pump provided above the first isolation packer, in the vertical leg.

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