Wellbore System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018087366-A1
Application number	US-201615279150-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 28, 2016
Priority date	Sep 28, 2016
Publication date	Mar 29, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method of producing a deposit of gas and liquid hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, where a pressure of the gas hydrocarbons is regulated. Strategically regulating a pressure of the gas hydrocarbons prevents the gas hydrocarbons from expanding into a path of the liquid hydrocarbons flowing to a wellbore. The liquid hydrocarbons are produced through a production well that is drilled from surface and into a zone within the subterranean formation containing the deposit. A gas expansion circuit is also drilled through the formation, and has a portion that terminates proximate an interface between the gas and liquid hydrocarbons. Thus as the gas hydrocarbons expand into spaces left empty by draining the liquid hydrocarbons, the expanding gas is diverted into the gas expansion circuit rather than into the path of liquid hydrocarbons still in the zone. The gas expansion circuit can have a “fish-bone” configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for producing from a subterranean formation comprising:
a production wellbore that intersects a zone in the subterranean formation that contains a deposit of gas and liquid hydrocarbons; and a gas expansion circuit that is in selective pressure communication with the deposit, so that when the liquid hydrocarbons flow into the production wellbore and the gas hydrocarbons expand, at least some of the expanding gas hydrocarbons flow into the gas expansion circuit.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the gas expansion circuit comprises a motherbore, a deviated portion extending from the motherbore, and lateral wells that project from sides of the deviated portion.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein when the lateral wells are formed, ends of the lateral wells terminate at a depth that is deeper than a depth of an interface between the gas and liquid hydrocarbons.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein at a time after liquid hydrocarbons are being produced from the subterranean formation, the interface between the gas and liquid hydrocarbons moves to a depth away from terminal ends of the lateral wells so that terminal ends of the lateral wells are in communication with the gas hydrocarbons.

5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the lateral wells and deviated portion comprise a fishbone gas conduit.

6 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the deviated portion is oriented generally oblique with the interface.

7 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the deviated portion is oriented generally parallel with the interface.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the zone comprises a gas cap, and wherein the gas expansion circuit comprises a plurality of motherbores that have ends at surface, and opposing ends disposed in flank sections of the zone.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the ends in the flank sections of the zone are oriented generally parallel with a contour of a periphery of the zone proximate the ends.

10 . A method of producing hydrocarbons from a zone in a subterranean formation comprising:
directing a liquid hydrocarbon, that is disposed in the zone, into a wellbore that intersects the subterranean formation; and diverting gas hydrocarbon, that is also disposed in the zone, away from the wellbore by venting at least some of the gas hydrocarbon from the zone.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbon and the gas hydrocarbon define a deposit in the zone.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein gas hydrocarbon is vented from the zone through a gas control well that intersects the zone.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the gas control well comprises a motherbore, and lateral wells that project radially outward from the motherbore and into the zone.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the lateral wells comprise fishbone wells.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Al-Muraikhi Ahmad J
• Wang Yanhui A
• Ramirez Ivan G

Classifications

• E21B43/32

  Preventing gas- or water-coning phenomena, i.e. the formation of a conical column of gas or water around wells · CPC title

• E21B43/14

  Obtaining from a multiple-zone well · CPC title

• E21B43/16

  Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons · CPC title

• E21B43/305 Primary

  comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well · CPC title

• E21B43/18 Primary

  Repressuring or vacuum methods · CPC title