Abstract: A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes an entry well bore extending down from the surface. A plurality of slanted well bores extend from the entry well bore to the subterranean zone. Drainage patterns extend from the slanted well bores into the subterranean zone.

Abstract: Improved method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface that substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with previous systems and methods. In particular, the present invention provides an articulated well with a drainage pattern that intersects a horizontal cavity well. The drainage patterns provide access to a large subterranean area from the surface while the vertical cavity well allows entrained water, hydrocarbons, and other deposits to be efficiently removed and/or produced.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing subterranean resources from a limited surface area includes a first well bore extending from the surface to the target zone. The first well bore includes an angled portion disposed between the target zone and the surface to provide an offset between a surface location of the first well bore and an intersection of the first well bore with the subterranean resource. The system also includes an articulated well bore extending from the surface to the target zone. The articulated well bore is offset from the first well bore at the surface and intersects the first well bore proximate the target zone. The system further includes a well bore pattern extending from the intersection of the first well bore and the articulated well bore in the target zone to provide access to the target zone.

Abstract: A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone and drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone. The articulated well bore is horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersects the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone. The method includes drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone and pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore. The method also includes providing fluid down the substantially vertical well bore through a tubing. A fluid mixture returns up the substantially vertical well bore outside of the tubing. The fluid mixture comprises the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string.

Abstract: A drainage system for accessing multiple subterranean zones from the surface includes an entry well extending from the surface. The system also includes two or more exterior drainage wells extending from the entry well through the subterranean zones. The exterior drainage wells each extend outwardly and downwardly from the entry well for a first selected distance and then extend downwardly in a substantially vertical orientation for a second selected distance.

Abstract: A cavity positioning tool includes a housing adapted to be coupled to a downhole string. The cavity positioning tool includes at least one blunt arm pivotally coupled to the housing. Each blunt arm is configured to contact a surface of the cavity to position the tool in the cavity. The cavity positioning tool also includes a piston slidably disposed within the housing. The piston is operable to engage each blunt arm. The piston is also operable to receive an axial force operable to slide the piston relative to the housing. The sliding of the piston extends each blunt arm radially outward relative to the housing from a retracted position.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for drilling wellbores includes drilling a main wellbore, disposing a casing string having a deflecting member at a lower end thereof in the main wellbore, disposing a drill string having a drill bit at a lower end thereof in the casing string, and drilling, with the drill bit, a first lateral wellbore at a first depth in the main wellbore. The method further includes transferring the casing string to a second depth in the main wellbore that is less than the first depth, disposing a first temporary plug in the main wellbore at the second depth to prevent gas from flowing up the main wellbore past the second depth, transferring the casing string to a third depth in the main wellbore that is less than the second depth, and drilling, with the drill bit, a second lateral wellbore at the third depth.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for drilling wellbores includes drilling a main wellbore and disposing a casing string in the main wellbore. The casing string has a deflecting member and a sealing member coupled thereto. The method further includes disposing a drill string having a drill bit coupled at a lower end thereof in the casing string and drilling, from the main wellbore, a first lateral wellbore at a first depth with the drill bit. The method further includes removing the drill bit from the first lateral wellbore, transferring the casing string and the drill bit to a second depth that is higher than the first depth, drilling, from the main wellbore, a second lateral wellbore at the second depth with the drill bit, and preventing, using the sealing member, a fluid from the first lateral wellbore from flowing above approximately the second depth while drilling the second lateral wellbore.

Abstract: A method for removing fluid from a subterranean zone includes drilling a well bore from a surface to the subterranean zone and forming an enlarged cavity in the well bore such that the enlarged cavity acts as a chamber to separate liquid from gas flowing from the subterranean zone through the well bore. The method includes positioning a pump inlet within the enlarged cavity and operating a pumping unit to produce the liquid through the pump inlet. The well bore may comprise an articulated well bore.

Abstract: An acoustic position measurement system and method includes an acoustic transmitter operable to transmit a sound wave into an underground well bore in a target formation. The sound wave is configured to reflect from a boundary formation proximate the target formation. The system includes an acoustic receiver operable to receive a reflected sound wave. The reflected sound wave comprises a reflection of the sound wave from the boundary formation. The system also includes an electronics portion electrically coupled to the acoustic receiver. The electronics portion is operable to process the reflected sound wave and produce, based upon a characteristic of the reflected sound wave, data output indicative of a position of the acoustic position measurement system in the target formation.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing subterranean resources from a limited surface area includes a first well bore extending from the surface to the target zone. The first well bore includes an angled portion disposed between the target zone and the surface to provide an offset between a surface location of the first well bore and an intersection of the first well bore with the subterranean resource. The system also includes an articulated well bore extending from the surface to the target zone. The articulated well bore is offset from the first well bore at the surface and intersects the first well bore proximate the target zone. The system further includes a well bore pattern extending from the intersection of the first well bore and the articulated well bore in the target zone to provide access to the target zone.

Abstract: An underreamer for forming a cavity from within a well bore includes a housing adapted to be disposed within the well bore. The underreamer includes an actuator partially slidably positioned in the housing. The actuator comprises a first portion and a second portion. A cross-sectional area of the second portion is larger than a cross-sectional area of the first portion. The underreamer includes at least one cutter set, wherein each cutter set has a first end and a second end. The first end of each cutter set is pivotally coupled to the housing. The second end of each cutter set is pivotally coupled to a connector. An axial force applied to the actuator is operable to slide the actuator relative to the housing causing the second portion of the actuator to contact each cutter set and extend each cutter set radially outward relative to the housing from a retracted position to a first position. The actuator may also include a stop member proximate an end of the actuator.

Abstract: Improved An improved method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface that substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with previous systems and methods. In particular, the present invention provides an articulated well with a drainage pattern that intersects a horizontal cavity well. The drainage patterns provide access to a large subterranean area from the surface while the vertical cavity well allows entrained water, hydrocarbons, and other deposits to be efficiently removed and/or produced.

Abstract: A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone and drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone. The articulated well bore is horizontally offset from the substantially vertical well bore at the surface and intersects the substantially vertical well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone. The method includes drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone and pumping a drilling fluid through the drill string when drilling the drainage bore. The method also includes providing fluid down the substantially vertical well bore through a tubing. A fluid mixture returns up the substantially vertical well bore outside of the tubing. The fluid mixture comprises the drilling fluid after the drilling fluid exits the drill string.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for drilling a lateral wellbore from a slant well includes drilling the slant well below the surface of the earth such that the slant well is angled toward a first horizontal direction that coincides with a desired drilling direction for the lateral wellbore. The slant well has a borehole wall that includes a high side portion closest to the surface, a low side portion farthest from the surface, and two side portions between the high side portion and the low side portion. The method further includes disposing a casing string in the slant well, disposing a drill string having a bent sub, a mud motor, and a drill bit coupled at a lower end thereof in the casing string, and positioning the drill bit adjacent either one of the side portions or the low side portion.

Abstract: An improved method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with previous systems and methods. In particular, the present invention provides an articulated well with a drainage pattern that interests a vertical cavity well. The drainage patterns provide access to a large subterranean area from the surface while the vertical cavity well allows entrained water, hydrocarbons, and other deposits to be efficiently removed and/or produced.

Abstract: An underreamer for forming a cavity from within a well bore includes a housing adapted to be disposed within the well bore. The underreamer includes at least one cutter, wherein each cutter has a first end and a second end. The first end of each cutter is pivotally coupled to the housing. The underreamer also includes an actuator slidably positioned in the housing, wherein the actuator has a first end and a second end. The underreamer includes an enlarged portion of the actuator proximate the second end of the actuator. A first axial force applied to the actuator is operable to slide the actuator relative to the housing causing the enlarged portion to contact each cutter and extend the second end of each cutter radially outward relative to the housing from a retracted position to a first position. A second axial force applied to the underreamer may be operable to further extend the second end of each cutter radially outward relative to the housing from the first position to a second position.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the production rate of fluid from a subterranean zone includes monitoring a production stream from the subsurface zone for an amount of particulate matter. The rate of the production stream from the subterranean zone is automatically controlled based on the amount of particulate matter in the production stream.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for directional drilling within a wellbore includes a drill string having an upper portion, a lower portion, a bent motor coupled to the lower portion, and a drill bit coupled to bent motor, and a clutch assembly disposed between the upper and lower portions. The clutch assembly is operable to disengage the upper and lower portions of the drill string and allow the upper portion to rotate while the lower portion does not rotate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for controlling drill motor rotational speed includes a downhole motor disposed in a drill string and having a rotor operable to be rotated by a flow of drilling fluid through the motor. The system also includes one or more by-pass ports operable to allow a portion of the drilling fluid to exit the drill string into a well bore and a governor coupled to the rotor and comprising a valve operable to move in response to the rotational speed of the rotor. The valve movement controls the amount of drilling fluid allowed to flow through the by-pass ports and exit the drill string into the well bore. The valve also directly controls the flow of the drilling fluid into the motor based on the amount of drilling fluid allowed to flow through the by-pass ports, thereby controlling the rotational speed of the rotor.