Horizontal Offset Wellbore Intersection for Water Well Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production rate of water wells declines over time, and existing methods are inadequate for increasing production in urban settings where space is limited and infrastructure is already established.
Innovation Solution
Drilling a secondary or offset wellbore with a horizontal section that intersects a vertical production wellbore, using coiled tubing and steerable drilling technology to extend beyond the intersection point, and employing ranging equipment for precise alignment, allowing for increased aquifer contact and water production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vertical wellbore is used for water production, then the well can be easily constructed and integrated with existing infrastructure, but the production rate declines over time and is limited by the aquifer contact length
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical wellbore configuration to a horizontal wellbore configuration, changing the spatial dimension of aquifer contact. This allows the wellbore to extend laterally through the aquifer rather than vertically, significantly increasing the contact length with the productive formation and thereby increasing water production rates while maintaining infrastructure integration.
2Productivity
If a horizontal wellbore is drilled to increase production, then aquifer contact length increases and production rate improves, but the complexity of drilling and equipment requirements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is segmented into distinct sections: a vertical section for initial aquifer entry and infrastructure connection, and a horizontal section for extended aquifer contact. This segmentation allows the use of standardized vertical well equipment for the initial phase and then transitions to horizontal drilling techniques, managing complexity through phased implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The horizontal wellbore section is nested within or adjacent to the existing vertical wellbore infrastructure. The horizontal section can be drilled from the vertical wellbore using coiled tubing, effectively nesting the horizontal component within the existing vertical structure, thereby reducing overall system complexity while achieving increased production.
3Productivity
If a horizontal offset wellbore is drilled to intersect the vertical wellbore, then production capacity increases without requiring additional surface infrastructure, but the drilling precision and alignment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Ranging equipment is used during the drilling of the horizontal offset wellbore to provide real-time feedback on the wellbore's position and orientation relative to the target vertical wellbore. This feedback mechanism enables continuous adjustment of the drilling path to achieve precise intersection alignment, ensuring proper communication between the horizontal and vertical sections.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of increasing production from at least one target wellbore can include drilling at least one offset wellbore having at least one horizontal portion in at least one aquifer, and intersecting the target wellbore with the offset wellbore. A water well system for improved production from at least one target wellbore can include at least one offset wellbore, the offset wellbore including at least one horizontal portion positioned in at least one aquifer, and at least one intersection between the offset wellbore and the target wellbore. Ranging equipment in the target and/or offset wellbore may be used to steer a coiled tubing drilling BHA in the offset wellbore toward the target wellbore.