Method and apparatus for well drilling and completion

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for forming wellbores and in a single trip for also performing multistage wellbore treatments. The disclosed apparatus comprises a bore forming apparatus in the form of a hydraulic drilling motor and bit; a well treatment apparatus in the form of a jetting tool and means for controlling flow to the jetting tool and drilling motor.

1 . A method for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore comprising the steps of:
 assembling a tool comprising a wellbore forming assembly and a wellbore treating assembly;   connecting the tool to a tubular member;   inserting the tool into the wellbore; and   without removing the tool from the wellbore, extending the wellbore with the wellbore forming assembly and performing more than one well treatment of the material surrounding the wellbore with the wellbore treating assembly;   wherein the step of performing more than one well treatment comprises: performing a well treatment step at one location: moving the tool to at least another axially-spaced location and performing an additional well treatment step: and, without the use of packer or bridge plug, effectively isolating the wellbore at the one location from the wellbore at the another location after completion of the well treatment step at the one location and before the well treatment step at the another location.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the well treatment steps comprise forming one or more fractures in the material surrounding the wellbore at the at least at two spaced locations along the wellbore portion. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the fracturing steps comprise pumping fracturing fluid into the wellbore. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the fracturing steps comprise first forming perforations in the wellbore wall and then pumping fracturing fluid into the wellbore. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the step of isolating comprises installing an isolation fluid in the wellbore adjacent to the one location. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the isolation fluid is slurry of fracturing fluid and proppant. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the well treatment steps comprise perforating the wellbore wall. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the wellbore treating assembly comprises at least one fluid nozzle and wherein the perforating step comprises pumping fluids through the nozzle to contact the wellbore wall. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the step of performing more than one well treatment additionally comprises causing one or more fractures to form in the material surrounding the wellbore at the one location, isolating the one location from the another location and then causing one or more fractures to form in the material surrounding the wellbore at the another location. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the step of performing more than one well treatment step comprises pumping liquids from the wellbore into the materials surrounding the wellbore. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the wellbore extending step comprises rotating and axially advancing a cutter to extend the wellbore. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the wellbore extending step comprises following the path of a pilot hole. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 2  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore additionally comprising the step of cleaning out at least a portion of the wellbore following the well treatment steps and without removing the tool from the wellbore. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the cleaning out step comprises using the well forming assembly. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the cleaning out step comprises reaming out a portion of the wellbore. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore additionally comprising measuring the properties of the materials surrounding at least a portion of the wellbore without removing the tool from the wellbore. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the step of measuring the properties of the materials surrounding the wellbore comprises logging the at least a portion of the wellbore. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the step of measuring the properties of the materials surrounding the wellbore comprises logging while drilling the at least a portion of the wellbore. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the step of measuring the properties of the materials surrounding the wellbore comprises measuring while drilling the at least a portion of the wellbore. 
   
   
       22 - 29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . A method for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore comprising the steps of:
 assembling a tool comprising a wellbore forming assembly and a wellbore treating assembly;   connecting the tool to a tubular member;   inserting the tool into the wellbore; and   without removing the tool from the wellbore, extending the wellbore with the wellbore forming assembly and performing more than one well treatment of the material surrounding the wellbore;   wherein the step of performing more than one well treatment comprises causing one or more fractures to form in the material surrounding the wellbore at the one location, isolating the one location from the another location, and then causing one or more fractures to form in the material surrounding the wellbore at the another location.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the step of isolating comprises installing an isolation fluid in the wellbore adjacent to the one location. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the isolation fluid is slurry of fracturing fluid and proppant. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the step of isolating is performed without the use of a packer or bridge plug. 
   
   
       34 . A method for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore comprising the steps of:
 assembling a tool comprising a wellbore forming assembly and a wellbore treating assembly;   connecting the tool to a tubular member;   inserting the tool into the welibore; and   without removing the tool from the wellbore, extending the wellbore with the wellbore forming assembly and performing more than one well treatment of the material surrounding the wellbore with the wellbore treating assembly, wherein the step of performing more than one well treatment comprises performing a well treatment at one location; and moving the tool to at least another axially-spaced location and performing an additional well treatment;   cleaning out at least a portion of the wellbore following the step of performing more than one well treatment and without removing the tool from the wellbore; and   measuring the properties of the materials surrounding at least a portion of the wellbore without removing the tool from the wellbore.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the cleaning out step comprises using the wellbore forming assembly. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore wherein the cleaning out step comprises reaming out a portion of the wellbore. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34  for forming and treating at least a portion of a wellbore additionally comprising the step of, without the use of a packer or bridge plug, effectively isolating the wellbore at the one location from the wellbore at the another location after completion of the well treatment at the one location and before well treatment at the another location.