Hyper-branched stimulation by combining reservoir tunneling with extended needles

Abstract

A system includes a wellbore, a primary tunnel. a jetting sub, a jetting needle, and a secondary tunnel. The wellbore is drilled into a formation. The primary tunnel is formed from the wellbore. The jetting sub is disposed within the primary tunnel. The jetting needle is connected to the jetting sub. The jetting needle is configured to jut out from the jetting sub to penetrate the formation when exposed to a pressure differential. The secondary tunnel is formed from the primary tunnel by a high-pressure jet of fluid exiting the jetting needle into the formation.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a wellbore drilled into a formation;   a primary tunnel formed from the wellbore;   a jetting sub disposed within the primary tunnel;   a jetting needle connected to the jetting sub, wherein the jetting needle is configured to jut out from the jetting sub to penetrate the formation when exposed to a pressure differential; and   a secondary tunnel formed from the primary tunnel by a high-pressure jet of fluid exiting the jetting needle into the formation.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the jetting needle further comprises a mechanical joint configured to change a direction of the jetting needle and the secondary tunnel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the jetting needle is expandable to a set length away from the jetting sub. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the jetting sub is permanently installed in the primary tunnel on production tubing. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the jetting sub is configured to produce production fluids from the formation. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the jetting sub is temporarily located in the primary tunnel using a conveyance device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary tunnel is formed from the wellbore using a radial drilling system or a radial jetting system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising fluid tracers mixed with the fluid and configured to mark and identify the secondary tunnel. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a wellbore drilled into a formation;   a primary tunnel formed from the wellbore;   a drilling sub disposed within the primary tunnel;   a drilling needle having a drill bit and connected to the drilling sub, wherein the drill bit juts out from the drilling sub when a pressure differential is seen on the drilling needle;   a turbine located within the drilling needle, wherein the turbine rotates the drill bit using fluid pressure; and   a secondary tunnel drilled from the primary tunnel using the rotation of the drill bit.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the drilling needle is expandable to a set length away from the drilling sub. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the drilling sub is permanently installed in the primary tunnel on production tubing. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the drilling sub is configured to produce production fluids from the formation. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the drilling sub is temporarily located in the primary tunnel using a conveyance device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the primary tunnel is formed from the wellbore using a radial drilling system or a radial jetting system. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising fluid tracers mixed with the fluid and configured to mark and identify the secondary tunnel. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 drilling a wellbore into a formation;   forming a primary tunnel from the wellbore;   disposing a sub into the primary tunnel;   extending a needle from the sub into the formation; and   forming a secondary tunnel, from the primary tunnel, using the needle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sub further comprises a jetting sub and the needle further comprises a jetting needle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein forming the secondary tunnel further comprises emitting a high-pressure jet of fluid from the jetting sub and out of the jetting needle into the formation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sub further comprises a drilling sub and the needle further comprises a drilling needle having a drill bit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein forming the secondary tunnel further comprises drilling the secondary tunnel using the drill bit rotated by a turbine located in the drilling needle.