CA3100593A1 - Closed-loop multilateral thermal capture method and system - Google Patents

Closed-loop multilateral thermal capture method and system Download PDF

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CA3100593A1
CA3100593A1 CA3100593A CA3100593A CA3100593A1 CA 3100593 A1 CA3100593 A1 CA 3100593A1 CA 3100593 A CA3100593 A CA 3100593A CA 3100593 A CA3100593 A CA 3100593A CA 3100593 A1 CA3100593 A1 CA 3100593A1
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well
horizontal
lateral
trunkline
wells
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French (fr)
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Michael John Lundin AIKMAN
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Trindade Reservoir Services Inc
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Trindade Reservoir Services Inc
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Priority to CA3100593A priority Critical patent/CA3100593A1/en
Priority to US17/390,242 priority patent/US20220034258A1/en
Priority to CA3126480A priority patent/CA3126480A1/en
Priority to PCT/CA2021/000055 priority patent/WO2022020933A1/en
Publication of CA3100593A1 publication Critical patent/CA3100593A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24TGEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
    • F24T10/00Geothermal collectors
    • F24T10/20Geothermal collectors using underground water as working fluid; using working fluid injected directly into the ground, e.g. using injection wells and recovery wells
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B41/00Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
    • E21B41/0035Apparatus or methods for multilateral well technology, e.g. for the completion of or workover on wells with one or more lateral branches
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/30Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
    • E21B43/305Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03GSPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G4/00Devices for producing mechanical power from geothermal energy
    • F03G4/023Devices for producing mechanical power from geothermal energy characterised by the geothermal collectors
    • F03G4/029Devices for producing mechanical power from geothermal energy characterised by the geothermal collectors closed loop geothermal collectors, i.e. the fluid is pumped through a closed loop in heat exchange with the geothermal source, e.g. via a heat exchanger
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24TGEOTHERMAL COLLECTORS; GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
    • F24T50/00Geothermal systems 
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/10Geothermal energy

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)

Abstract

+a Abstract >. A new design is proposed for to improve the capability of heat production from underground formations. The co new design method is termed "Closed-Loop Multilateral Thermal Capture System" or simply "Multilateral .E Thermal Capture System", "MLTCS" pronounced "mu/tics". The MLTCS method can be applied to the inventor's Clean Energy from Oil Reservoir" process or conventional geothermal energy recovery using closed loop z 8 systems. The MLTCS method allows for lower cost and risk compared to current drilling and completion e processes, high heat transfer rates, and expanded capability for the deployment of sensors and control valves 7., to optimize the overall system operation.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25

Description

I co Closed-Loop Multilateral Thermal 0 Capture Method and System CONCEPT, APPLICATIONS, ADD¨ON ENHANCEMENTS
Inventor: Dr. Michael J.L. Aikman, P.Eng.

TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 ru Motivation for Geothermal Energy:
Society is moving toward energy sources that have low (or no) greenhouse gas emission z Heat Production From Underground Formations e Geothermal processes seek to produce heat from underground systems to surface .4g> "Clean Energy from Oil Reservoirs" also produces heat from underground reservoir that is generating heat from in-situ combustion (see applicant's patent application nos. US
63/059,605 and CA 3,088,665) =_ +a VI

)' Industry's current well designs apply drilling technology that is standard in the oil and gas industry ). Includes vertical wells, horizontal wells and horizontal wells with fractures 1::
). Inherently limited for closed-loop geothermal energy: low working fluid residence time, low overall well surface area, low material conductivity (cement), high risk to execute the well as designed, high cost z ). A new method is needed that reduces risk and cost without reducing residence time, surface area, thermal conductivity TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.
2 =
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 Geothermal Electrical Generation: standard surface facilities.
4, ro Wells types used to extract heat can significantly vary 4_ . _ ......
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o Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 Geothermal engineering concepts:
.., co E Various established well designs k ,, '''-:'.

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c co 1 , c 4 f ¨Wablervaporhoor =¨ = "4.1, v _valmOuip,isciln!
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Z Source. US Dut, zu.16 o Open loop system: exchanges mass and energy with Closed loop system: no mass exchanged with the heat heat reservoir reservoir, only energy (shown is Eavor's closed loop system) https://eavor.com/about/technology TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 Well Selection for Geothermal Energy Open system wells allow direct production of the fluids in the pore space or fracture network of the thermal reservoir; many cases also have direct injection of water into the pore space or fracture co network =_ Closed system wells do not exchange mass or fluids with the thermal reservoir:
the working fluid is z confined to the wellbores; only energy is transferred into the working fluid from the thermal reservoir by heat conduction through the casing or tubing z There are limitations:
=_ Thermal gradient is about 25 C per km depth, so the wells must be drilled very deep to access suitably high temperature rock )%. The available heat energy in the subsurface is usually limited ¨ once the heat energy is removed from the formation, heat conduction from the base and cap rock will not replenish the heat energy removed (in reasonable time frames) ¨
the produced fluid thermal energy will decrease over time (as demonstrated by lower wellhead temperature) Closed loop systems need sufficient retention time for the circulation fluid to heat )=. Implies low flow rate or very long well length due to the relatively low subsurface temperature (<200 C for geothermal formations) )%. Due to the large depth, even with insulation thermal energy is lost in the vertical up-production string )%. Restricted to regions that have high geo-temperatures which may be remote and lack infrastructure TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 c. Favor closed loop system: description E
8 https://eavor.com/about/technology >.
c co c > Closed loop system: wells do not exchange mass or a .

z fluids with the thermal reservoir > Multilateral wells, drilled from two pads, and connected in the middle deep in the reservoir _0 =¨

p _ 4-1 , ul . Need many laterals with extreme length to ensure LO i 0 , , sufficient residence time to heat the working fluid a - -;\'-. ,=00 :
z ,......"00, ....._,..,, w z o U
Eavor: Closed loop: closed loop well method TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 rt, Favor closed loop system: drilling sequence https://eavor.com/about/technology co o =_ 0 -6) z =_ Drill down vertically Continue drilling After connecting the toes, Continue the process, UJ
horizontally and connect set a whipstock and kick kicking off additional the two wells at the off laterals from the heel laterals from the heel area 0 "toes" of the wells of the original wells; drill of each original wellbore the two laterals toward and connecting the toes of each other and connect each pair of laterals TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 ro Eavor closed loop drilling description Riser wellbore (vertical) drilled from surface to depths of up to 5 km )= %. Well then drilled horizontal for lengths between 2 to 5 km in the thermal reservoir )%. A second well drilled from a site about 5 to 10 km distant, up to 5 km vertical depth, then horizontal drilling for between 2 to 5 km )=. Objective is to intersect the first wellbore at the toe of the well O )=. Uses radiomagnetic methods to steer the wells and to provide a target for intersection )%. To pick representative numbers: at 4 km depth and up to 7 km total drilled length to the toe of each lateral, the uncertainty of positioning is high, increasing the risk of non-intersection:
likely requires some amount of drilling iteration to steer the second wellbore to hit the first z )= %. Each successive branched multilateral drilling execution will become ever more complex and risky due to "underground clutter" of wellbores at the heel region:
)%. Additionally, there are two 90 degree turns and a sharp kick-off point that will increase drilling risk LLI
CI Risk of kicking off all the laterals from the heel of the well puts in jeopardy the entire well, and risks losing the well Instead of branching from a small zone, how does one convert this process to mostly linear drilling (reducing curvature), and increase the size of the intersect target?
TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 r. Motivation for Well Improvement:
E .t. 8 t >. Improve the closed loop well system used for geothermal energy production .' Potential Improvements: maximize heat transfer, reduce cost, reduce risk > Increase surface area of the well system, increase the residence time of the working fluid e .4g > Increase the "size of the target" for underground intersection > Reduce the number of turns in the well to improve drilling and completion probability of LC:3 success .= > Reduce the risk of the process of adding multilaterals by not repeatedly "kicking off"
a' r- additional laterals from the heel zone of the original horizontal lateral z w a:
z o TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 New drilling method _ description o = Drill and case a conventional single lateral well from surface:
one 90 degree turn to form a horizontal trunkline in the formation using a large diameter wellbore; this will be 4- known as "Well-01"; see FIGURE 01 = Approximately 0.5 to 1.6 km distant, drill and case a second single lateral well from surface that ideally parallels (ie: within the limitations imposed by actual drilling activities and geologic conditions) the first. There is one 90 degree turn to form a horizontal trunkline in the formation using a large diameter wellbore; this will be known as"Well-02".
The exact (distance for the offset of these two wells (Well-01 to Well-02), and the length of each trunkline well, are part of the engineering design and optimization process. see = During drilling process, gather data on the formation to understand and map underground formations using Logging While Drilling ("LWD") and Measurement While Drilling ("MWD") tools, standard in the oil and gas industry = From the toe of the trunkline of Well-01, kick off a single lateral that will drill horizontally, ideally perpendicular to both Well-01 and Well-02, toward the toe of trunkline of Well-o 02; this lateral will be known as Lat01-01; steer Lat01-01 MWD and LWD
methods augmented with the use radio-magnetic targeting tools to guide the drill bit of Lat01-01 to .471 intersect Well-02 as close to perpendicular as possible; see FIGURE

-0 = From the toe of Well-02 and a certain distance back from the intersection of Lat01-01 and Well-02, kick off a single lateral well that will drill ideally horizontally toward Well-01 .¨

" and ideally parallel to Lat01-01; this second lateral will be known as Lat02-01 using the same process as described for Lat01-01; see FIGURE 03 =
From the trunkline of Well-01 and a certain distance back from the toe of the intersection of Lat02-01 and Well-01, kick off a single lateral well that will drill ideally horizontally toward Well-02 and ideally parallel to Lat02-01 using the same process as described for Lat01-01; this second lateral will be known as Lat01-02 ; see = From the trunkline of Well-02 and a certain distance back from the toe of the intersection of Lat01-02 and Well-02, kick off a single lateral well that will drill ideally horizontally toward Well-01 and ideally parallel to Lat01-02 using the same process as described for Lat01-01; this second lateral will be known as Lat02-02 ; see 1¨ = Continue the process until the desired number of laterals have been drilled; see FIGURE 06 = Run casing in each lateral well using standard completion techniques;
isolate the junction of the laterals and the trunklines using standard cement and mechanical methods CI
LL = Run completion string in the injection trunkline manifold to control the flow to each lateral well, using standard sliding side door or sliding sleeve methods for fluid diversion 0 = Run a completion string in the production trunkline manifold to measure the temperature in the riser section and if possible, the trunkline itself; the data from the production lateral will be used to set the flow rate to each lateral, as controlled by the valves in the injection trunkline manifold well = Flow can now be implemented; to illustrate, WELL-01 is the cold water injector and WELL-02 is the hot water producer; see FIGURE 07 TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 +a CO FIGURE 01: drilling of Well-01 and Well-02 E
8 '*=
>,. = Well-01 and Well-02 are horizontal wells, drilled from surface c ca and ideally are parallel to each other, subject to drilling c =_ execution and actual geology encountered when drilling a; r/
0 / Sci f M Z'r ,-6' = The wellbores are large diameter (ideally up to 1 ft diameter , 8 õ..i.-, in the trunkline) to optimize drilling, working fluid retention time, and allow for a completion string for flow measurement and control = The length of each trunkline manifold well in the reservoir, e e j 5 44 1 i a I /1' ' 0 aq ,. and the distance between the two trunkline wells, are z k =
.,< ' . ., _ 0 determined by engineering designs that will optimize heat == 6-, ..J k C7 e transfer, flow rates and cost 1::
z g S
o u.i =1/4". = The wells are cased and cemented using standard thermal , kt.
ir. =,.,0 ,, completion technology z .0 TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

=
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 ru FIGURE 02: drilling of Lat01-01 from Well-01 to Well-02 E

>,. = Lateral well LAT01-01 kicks off from the toe of WELL-01 and is c ca drilled ideally perpendicular from WELL-01 toward WELL-02 c =_ in the horizontal plane M ,O ¨ I = MWD and LWD will be used to steer the LAT01-01 toward 8 g ,,,,,,- , DRILL LAT01-01 FROM
'fv,, WELL01 TO WELL02 WELL-02, and radiomagnetics will be used in WELL-02 to e .4 ..t,-0 d ,R, guide the drillbit of LAT01-01 to intersect WELL-02 , z 4-_ct 4, di 9 Sig =_ , l = The lateral wells are large wellbores to maximize the heat . i transfer surface area and the fluid retention time 15 , t:41 e .% cc 0 =I .
. _ 1 Z ' t-' i = The lateral wells will be cased but not necessarily cemented , /== ,,, e over the entire horizontal length as cement has lower thermal .`"., conductivity than reservoir fluids +-.) 0 kt LT. A .
e z a e-o u #-u m ,;
TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

=
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 ru FIGURE 03: drilling of Lat02-01 from Well-02 to Well-01 E
8 '*=
= Lateral well LAT02-01 kicks off from the toe of WELL-02 and is >.
c drilled ideally perpendicular from WELL-02 toward WELL-01 in the ca c horizontal plane =_ .,-_ -- = MWD and LWD will be used to steer the LAT02-01 toward WELL-01, z 0 , 8 F 4,,õ and radiomagnetics will be used in WELL-01 to guide the drillbit of , , LAT02-01 to WELL-01 , ...., 4-, = Data from the drilling of LAT01-01 is incorporated to increase the z ,,,=-,o _ct _, accuracy of LAT02-=_ VI
15 = õ
,,,, .7õ - , . = The use of MWD and LWD from each lateral is incorporated into = DRILL LAT02-01 FROM
0 the drilling execution program for subsequent laterals, which 4. t. il WELL02 '0 WELL01 , Z i IiV t, P $ increases the probability of success of accurately hitting the . 4D
,- ,.''- targeted trunkline manifold well 4µ
st .
z g ._-= By drilling laterals, starting from the toe of the trunkline and UJ ,:' 0 +s, A'z' working back to the heel of the trunkline, the risk of completely ir. AP
z 00 losing a well is greatly reduced; any adverse result at the toe of the 0 N.
well does not put the rest of the well at risk: a bridgeplug would be .,/,.., , V,....,, At= set to seal off the toe of the well and the rest of the well can be , safely utilized TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 ru FIGURE 04: drilling of Lat01-02 from Well-01 to Well-02 E

>,. = Lateral well LAT01-02 kicks off from the toe of WELL-01 and is c ca - drilled ideally perpendicular from WELL-01 toward WELL-02 in -c =_ the horizontal plane z 4-. --= e = MWD and LWD will be used to steer the LAT01-02 toward WELL-02, and radiomagnetics will be used in WELL-02 to guide . .
the drillbit of LAT01-02 to WELL-02 =47, w== , _ ,..,-z EE
1:2 (- ,,,e 1 , =¨ ¨ = Data from the drilling of LAT01-01 and LAT02-01 are _ ,,õ, +a 4 incorporated to increase the accuracy of LAT01-02 Z / µmippr Pu = LAT 01-01 FROM 0 .:.; -' WELL01 TO WELL02 ...-(3..
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=
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 ru FIGURE 05: drilling of Lat02-02 from Well-02 to Well-01 E
8 '*=
>,. = Lateral well LAT02-02 kicks off from the toe of WELL-02 and is c ca drilled ideally perpendicular from WELL-02 toward WELL-01 in c =_ the horizontal plane M 7't 4S _ = MWD and LWD will be used to steer the LAT02-02 toward WELL-01, and radiomagnetics will be used in WELL-01 to ,, _..
., , guide the drillbit of LAT02-02 to WELL-01 =47, -, z + 4, _ct , 0 , 1 '' - = Data from the drilling of LAT01-01, LAT02-01 and LAT01-02 are =_ I At. 4/.,., , +a ¨ C7`' .01, (1) = N; ':- 40. incorporated to increase the accuracy of LAT02-02 0 4 : 07 , PI
z , = = /9 ..J
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=
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 ru FIGURE 06: final well construction with 6 laterals E
8 '*=
>,. = The final construction of the multilateral thermal collection c ca system is illustrated for a system with 6 laterals between the c =_ two trunkline manifold wells M 7't 4,, _____________________ = The construction is not limited to only 6 laterals, but can be 8 g s , .,,4.- feasibly extended to have less than or more than 6 laterals as , e .
0 .7õ,, ' .)= ¨
/:1- determined by technical and economic optimization z +
-b1 = As an example of the proliferation of multilateral wells, =_ 4,,,, +a µc, q Maximum Reservoir Contact ("fishbone") wells are drilled to have 10 or more laterals; see FIGURE 08 for actual results of 8 Z ' k 4,,-õ, = = laterals, achieved over 15 years ago by Saudi Aramco 17: -.1 .'z' = The trunkline concept allows any number of laterals for the z *--`g w thermal collection system, provided the trunkline manifolds o s.
ir. IF. can be drilled long enough, with no additional risk of adverse z Ø
0 ,v drilling results U
TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

=
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 ru FIGURE 07: Operation=. flow direction of the system E

>,. = The final construction of the multilateral thermal collection c ra ts system in this representation is illustrated with 6 laterals C p between the two trunkline manifold wells to help envision the a; LI
0 . operation of the system z w 8 ! Shhil = The construction is not limited to only 6 laterals, but can be e 8 '42 ZI2 4 feasibly extended to have many more than 6 laterals if required z w :z. , 4 4 1 iii 047145 0 .0 0 =_ = As an example of the proliferation of multilateral wells, ,..,_ .
ul 0 "fishbone" wells drilled for maximum reservoir contact can have o u, 10 or more laterals extending from a single trunkline, in the ., z -.:.; 0 context of oil production; see FIGURE 08 for actual result of 8 laterals, achieved over 15 years ago by Saudi Aramco 1:: 0 , z d UJ 10 = To drill each lateral, there is one 90-degree turn at the heel of the o ir. vertical well as it transits to the horizontal trunkline manifold, z 0 and then one kick off point; this reduces the number of 90 kdegree turns by half compared to the Eavor system , TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

=
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 ru FIGURE 08: Maximum reservoir contact wells (fish bone) = Reference: "Drilling Maximum-Reservoir-Contact Wells in the Shaybah Field", Dennis co Denney, Society of Petroleum Technology, =_ September 2004 z = Laterals are drilled by kicking off using a whipstock, with the first lateral drilled from the far end ("toe") of the trunk well, and each z additional lateral kicking off form a position _ct =_ that progresses toward the near end ("heel") of +a VI
the trunk well = These actual wells were drilled over 15 years ago and include the incorporation of completions with sensors and valve control UJ
systems o m = The novel method contains the key difference 0 of 90-degree laterals from the trunkline that are drilled to and connect the trunkline of a second well, making a closed loop system TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 +a Summary 1. A new design for a multilateral well system for closed loop well system that is applied to the "Clean Energy from Oil Reservoir" and/or conventional geothermal energy production system = 2. The new design allows for many more laterals in the underground heat collection system; analogous methods used in Saudi Aramco for open system oil production wells have achieved at least 14 laterals from a trunkline z well
3. The new design allows for large diameter casing that will enhance heat conduction by increased surface area and increased working fluid residence time z _ct 4. The new design reduces risk of missing the target well by reducing the offset distance between the two =_ trunkline manifold wells and changing the target from a small disk (the radius of the target wellbore) to a +a cylinder (increased target area) z 5. The new design reduces the risk of adverse drilling results by removing one of the 90 degree turns in the wellbore, simplifying the drilling process by reducing friction drag associated with 90-degree turns 6. The new design reduces the risk of catastrophic lose of the well due to repeatedly kicking off additional laterals UJ from the same region of the host well; instead, all kick off points are distributed along the length of the host trunkline manifolds in order to distribute the "wear and tear" on the well 0 7. The new design allows for better sensors and valve control systems, as deployed using conventional surveillance and control methods TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

=
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 Summary In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for drilling an array of lateral wells for a closed-loop multilateral thermal capture system comprises the t= steps of: a) drilling a first horizontal well comprising a first horizontal trunkline having a toe and a heel and a second horizontal well comprising a second ea horizontal trunkline having a toe and a heel, wherein the said toes of the first and second horizontal trunklines are spaced apart by a first offset distance and the heels of the first and second horizontal trunklines are spaced apart by a second offset distance; b) drilling a first ateral well kicking off from a first kickoff ^ position of the first horizontal trunkline toward the second horizontal trunkline so as to intersect the second horizontal trunkline at a first intersection point, wherein the first kickoff position is adjacent the toe of the first horizontal trunkline; c) drilling a second lateral well kicking off from a second kickoff position
4/1 of the second horizontal trunkline, the second kickoff position located between the first intersection point and the heel of the second horizontal trunkline, = the second lateral well extending toward the first horizontal trunkline so as to intersect the first horizontal trunkline at a second intersection point, wherein " the second intersection point is located between the first kickoff position and the heel of the first horizontal trunkline; and d) repeating steps lo) and c) so as 0 to drill at least a third lateral well and at least a fourth lateral wel so as to form an array of lateral wells extending between the first and second horizontal e trunklines, and wherein each lateral well of the array of lateral wells does not intersect any other lateral well in the array. A volume of heat-retentive fluid O flows through the heel of the first horizontal trunkline at a first flow rate and through the array of lateral wells at a second flow rate, and the first flow rate is ^ greater than or equal to the second flow rate.
=c The steps of drilling the at least first, second, third and fourth lateral wells, in the method described above, may further include steering the drilling of the .1-'411 said lateral wells using measurement while drilling ("MWD") and logging while drilling ("LWD") techniques. In addition to the use of MWD and LWD
= techniques, the steps of drilling all lateral horizontal wells (the first, second, third, etc) further includes positioning a plurality of radiomagnetic targeting tools 13 within each of the first and second horizontal trunklines so as to assist with steering the drilling of all lateral horizontal wells (first, second, third, etc) to intersect the horizontal trunkline.
In another aspect of the method, the data set generated by the MWD and LWD
techniques during the drilling of the first lateral well may be used during the < drilling of the second lateral well so as to increase the accuracy of steering the drilling of the said second lateral well. Similarly, the data set may further I¨ include data obtained from the MWD and LWD techniques during the drilling of the second, third, fourth and any subsequent lateral wells, and that data set Z may be used during the drilling of the third, fourth and any subsequent lateral wells so as to increase the accuracy of steering of the drilling of the said third, LIJ fourth and any subsequent lateral wells.

In another aspect of the method, in some embodiments the first offset distance is equal to the second offset distance. In some embodiments, both the first 0 and second horizontal trunklines are in a same horizontal plane. In some embodiments, the diameter of a wellbore of each of the first and second horizontal wells is equal to or less than one foot, and/or a diameter of a wellbore of each lateral well in the array of lateral wells is equal to or less than one foot. Some embodiments may include an array of lateral wells having at least four lateral wells. In some embodiments, each lateral well in the array of lateral wells is at least partially encased in steel.
TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 Summary In another aspect of the present disclosure, a closed-loop multilateral thermal capture system comprises a first horizontal well c having a first horizontal trunkline well and a second horizontal well having a second horizontal trunkline well, the first and second co horizontal trunkline wells spaced apart by a offset distance and parallel to one another; a plurality of lateral wells extending from .E the first horizontal trunkline well to the second horizontal trunkline well, wherein each lateral well of the plurality of lateral wells intersects both the first horizontal trunkline well and the second horizontal trunkline well and each lateral well of the plurality of = lateral wells is perpendicular to the first and second horizontal trunkline wells; surface pipeline and facilities to ensure that a z closed loop is formed that incorporates the first wellhead of the first horizontal well and a second wellhead of a second horizontal O well so as to form a closed loop. The surface facilities include the process units required to receive heated water from the e production wellhead, use the hot water to generate electricity, and return cooled water to the injection wellhead to feed the said O heat-retentive fluid back into the underground reservoir to capture more heat energy by flowing through the plurality of lateral g wells in the hot formation, prior to production back up to the first producer wellhead of the closed loop. The system further 70 includes data surveillance instrumentation in communication with a trunkline well selected from a group comprising: the first trunkline well, the second trunkline well, wherein the data surveillance instrumentation could be configured to monitor the I pressure, temperature and flow rate of the heat-retentive fluid in the closed loop; and also includes flow control instrumentation in fluid communication with a trunkline well selected from a group comprising:
the first trunkline well, the second trunkline well, z wherein the flow control instrumentation is configured to control the flow rate of the heat-retentive fluid flowing through the .. plurality of lateral wells.
Zit In some embodiments, the heat-retentive fluid comprises water. In some embodiments, the plurality of lateral wells includes at z least four lateral wells. In some embodiments, the diameter of a wellbore of each of the first and second horizontal wells may be Ili equal to or less than one foot, and/or a diameter of a wellbore of each lateral well of the plurality of lateral wells has a diameter rz that may be equal to or less than one foot. In some embodiments, each lateral well of the plurality of lateral wells is at least z partially encased in steel. In some embodiments, the first horizontal well is an injection well and the second horizontal well is a 0 production well, wherein the flow control instrumentation is in fluid communication with the second trunkline well of the U production well. In some embodiments, the data surveillance instrumentation is adjacent the second wellhead of the production well and in fluid communication with the second trunkline well.
TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25

Claims

+a Claims 1. A method for drilling an array of lateral wells for a closed-loop multilateral thermal capture system, the c method comprising the steps of:
co a. drilling a first horizontal well comprising a first horizontal trunkline having a toe and a heel and a second horizontal well comprising a second horizontal trunkline having a toe and a heel, wherein the said toes of the first z and second horizontal trunklines are spaced apart by a first offset distance and the heels of the first and second 8 horizontal trunklines are spaced apart by a second offset distance;
0 b. drilling a first lateral well kicking off from a first kickoff position of the first horizontal trunkline toward the second horizontal trunkline so as to intersect the second horizontal trunkline at a first intersection point, wherein z 42 the first kickoff position is adjacent the toe of the first horizontal trunkline;
+a VI
Lci C . drilling a second lateral well kicking off from a second kickoff position of the second horizontal trunkline, the second kickoff position located between the first intersection point and the heel of the second horizontal z trunkline, the second lateral well extending toward the first horizontal trunkline so as to intersect the first horizontal trunkline at a second intersection point, wherein the second intersection point is located between the first kickoff < position and the heel of the first horizontal trunkline;
1::
UJ d. repeating steps b) and c) so as to drill at least a third lateral well and at least a fourth lateral well so as to form an array of lateral wells extending between the first and second horizontal trunklines, and wherein each lateral z' well of the array of lateral wells does not intersect any other lateral well in the array; and whereby a volume of heat-retentive fluid flows through the heel of the first horizontal trunkline at a first flow rate and through the array of lateral wells at a second flow rate, wherein the first flow rate is greater than or equal to the second flow rate.
TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 Claims 4- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of drilling the at least first, second, third and fourth c lateral wells further includes steering the drilling of the said lateral wells using measurement while drilling ("MWD") co and logging while drilling ("LWD") techniques.
=_ 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps of drilling the first and second horizontal wells further includes z positioning a plurality of radiomagnetic targeting tools within each of the first and second horizontal trunklines so as 8 to assist with steering the drilling of the first and second lateral wells using MWD and LWD techniques.
O 4. The method of claim 2, wherein a data set generated by the MWD and LWD techniques during the drilling 7- of the first lateral well is used during the drilling of the second lateral well so as to increase the accuracy of steering z 42 the drilling of the said second lateral well.
5. V') The method of claim 5, wherein the data set further includes data obtained from the MWD and LWD
= techniques during the drilling of the second, third, fourth and any subsequent lateral wells and wherein the data set z is used during the drilling of the third, fourth and any subsequent lateral wells so as to increase the accuracy of steering of the drilling of the said third, fourth and any subsequent lateral wells.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first offset distance is equal to the second offset distance.
UJ
13 7. The method of claim 1, wherein both the first and second horizontal trunklines are in a same horizontal plane.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a diameter of a wellbore of each of the first and second horizontal wells is equal to or less than one foot.
TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 rt, Claims 9. The method of claim 1, wherein a diameter of a wellbore of each lateral well in the array of lateral wells is equal to or c less than one foot.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the array of lateral wells includes at least four lateral wells.
z 11. The method of claim 1, wherein each lateral well in the array of lateral wells is at least partially encased in steel.
12. A closed-loop multilateral thermal capture system, comprising:
.0 a first horizontal well having a first horizontal trunkline well and a second horizontal well having a second horizontal trunkline well, the first and 4g second horizontal trunkline wells spaced apart by a offset distance and parallel to one another;
.c a plurality of lateral wells extending from the first horizontal trunkline well to the second horizontal trunkline well, wherein each lateral well of ti the plurality of lateral wells intersects both the first horizontal trunkline well and the second horizontal trunkline well and each lateral well of the L5 plurality of lateral wells is perpendicular to the first and second horizontal trunkline wells;
0 a surface electrical generator in communication with a first wellhead of the first horizontal well and a second wellhead of a second horizontal well so as to form a closed loop, the surface electrical generator configured to receive a heat-retentive fluid from the first wellhead for generating electricity and to feed the said heat-retentive fluid into the second wellhead, wherein the heat-retentive fluid captures geothermal energy as it ¨ flows through the plurality of lateral wells prior to returning to the first wellhead of the closed loop;
Z data surveillance instrumentation in communication with a trunkline well selected from a group comprising: the first trunkline well, the second trunkline well, wherein the data surveillance instrumentation is configured to monitor the pressure, temperature and flow rate of the heat-it retentive fluid in the closed loop; and 0 flow control instrumentation in fluid communication with a trunkline well selected from a group comprising: the first trunkline well, the second u trunkline well, wherein the flow control instrumentation is configured to control the flow rate of the heat-retentive fluid flowing through the plurality of lateral wells.
TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25 +a Claims Eco >. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the heat-retentive fluid comprises water.
=c 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of lateral wells includes at least four lateral wells.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein a diameter of a wellbore of each of the first and second horizontal 8 wells is equal to or less than one foot.
.2 16. The system of claim 12, wherein a diameter of a wellbore of each lateral well of the plurality of +a lateral wells has a diameter is equal to or less than one foot.
=_ +a VI
L5 17. The system of claim 12, wherein each lateral well of the plurality of lateral wells is at least partially 2 encased in steel.
< 18. The system of claim 12, wherein the first horizontal well is an injection well and the second horizontal z well is a production well, wherein the flow control instrumentation is in fluid communication with the second UJ
trunkline well of the production well.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data surveillance instrumentation is adjacent the second wellhead of the production well and in fluid communication with the second trunkline well.
TRINDADE RESERVOIR SERVICES INC.

=
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-25
CA3100593A 2020-07-31 2020-11-25 Closed-loop multilateral thermal capture method and system Pending CA3100593A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA3100593A CA3100593A1 (en) 2020-11-25 2020-11-25 Closed-loop multilateral thermal capture method and system
US17/390,242 US20220034258A1 (en) 2020-07-31 2021-07-30 System and process for producing clean energy from hydrocarbon reservoirs
CA3126480A CA3126480A1 (en) 2020-07-31 2021-07-30 System and process for producing clean energy from hydrocarbon reservoirs
PCT/CA2021/000055 WO2022020933A1 (en) 2020-07-31 2021-07-30 System and process for producing clean energy from hydrocarbon reservoirs

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA3100593A CA3100593A1 (en) 2020-11-25 2020-11-25 Closed-loop multilateral thermal capture method and system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA3100593A1 true CA3100593A1 (en) 2022-05-25

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