Jet-drilling and completion process

Abstract

A method of drilling a slim hole and inserting a slotted liner into such hole drilled in an underground reservoir using jet-drilling. The method enables jet-drilling to be effective in unconsolidated subterranean formations, such as some petroleum reservoirs. The method enables fluid injection or production to be undertaken on individual jet-drilled holes or on groups of holes drilled laterally at different vertical intervals in a vertical well within an underground formation.

1 . A method of creating lateral boreholes extending perpendicularly outwardly from a well bore, comprising the steps of:
 placing a shoe comprising a 90 degree curved member having an inner arcuate curved passage, to which at one end is affixed coiled tubing, against a side wall of said well bore;   inserting a drilling bit into said coiled tubing, and thereby deflecting said drilling bit via said shoe against said side wall of said well bore;   operating said drilling bit to drill through said side wall in said well bore, and thereafter removing said drilling bit;   directing a jet drill member and attached perforated liner member, in which is located a jetting fluid feed line to said jet drill member, through said coiled tubing; and   supplying a fluid under pressure to said jet drill member to drill a lateral borehole extending perpendicularly outwardly from said well bore.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step of detaching said jetting fluid feed line from said jet drill member and removing said jetting fluid feed line from said lateral borehole. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising the step, after the step of supplying fluid under pressure to said jet drill member, of severing said coiled tubing at said side wall of said well bore. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps, after the step of supplying fluid under pressure to said jet drill member and after the step of detaching said jetting fluid feed line from said jet drill member and removing said jetting fluid feed line from the lateral borehole, of severing said coiled tubing at said side wall of said well bore. 
     
     
         5 . A method of creating at least one lateral borehole extending perpendicularly outwardly from a pre-drilled vertical well bore drilled in an underground formation, comprising the steps of:
 attaching coil tubing to one end of a 90 degree curved member, said curved member having an inner arcuate curved passage,   attaching an opposite end of said curved member against a side wall of said vertical well bore;   inserting a drilling bit into said coiled tubing and into said curved member, and deflecting said drilling bit via said arcuate curved passage against said side wall of said well bore;   operating said drilling bit to drill through said side wall in said vertical well bore, and thereafter removing said drilling bit from said curved member and said well bore;   attaching a jet drill apparatus to a perforated liner member;   locating a jetting fluid feed line co-axially within said perforated liner member, and coupling said fluid feed line to said jet drill apparatus so that said jet drill apparatus is in fluid communication therewith;   directing said jet drill apparatus and attached perforated liner member, in which said jetting fluid feed line is co-axially located, through said coiled tubing and said curved member; and   supplying a fluid under pressure to said jet drill apparatus via said jetting fluid feed line and drilling a lateral borehole extending perpendicularly outwardly from said vertical well bore.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising the step of detaching said jetting fluid feed line from said jet drill member and removing said jetting fluid feed line from said lateral borehole. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising the step, after the step of supplying fluid under pressure to said jet drill member, of severing said coiled tubing at said side wall of said well bore. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising the steps, after the step of supplying fluid under pressure to said jet drill member and after the step of detaching said jetting fluid feed line from said jet drill member and removing said jetting fluid feed line from the lateral borehole, of severing said coiled tubing at said side wall of said well bore. 
     
     
         9 . A method of creating at least one lateral borehole extending perpendicularly outwardly from a pre-drilled vertical well bore drilled in an underground formation, comprising the steps of:
 attaching coil tubing to one end of a 90 degree curved member having an inner arcuate curved passage,   attaching an opposite end of said curved member against a side wall of said vertical well bore;   inserting a drilling bit into said coiled tubing and into said curved member, and deflecting said drilling bit via said arcuate curved passage against said side wall of said well bore;   operating said drilling bit to drill through said side wall in said vertical well bore, and thereafter removing said drilling bit from said curved member and said well bore;   coupling a jet drill apparatus to a jetting fluid feed line so as to be in fluid communication therewith;   locating said jetting fluid feed line co-axially within a perforated liner member, and attaching said perforated liner member to said jet drill apparatus or said jetting fluid line so that said perforated liner member moves with said jet drill jet drill apparatus; and   directing said jet drill apparatus and said perforated liner member in which said jetting fluid feed line is co-axially located, through said coiled tubing and said curved member; and   supplying a fluid under pressure to said jet drill apparatus via said jetting fluid feed line and drilling a lateral borehole extending perpendicularly outwardly from said vertical well bore.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising the step of detaching said jetting fluid feed line from said jet drill apparatus and removing said jetting fluid feed line from said lateral borehole. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising the step, after the step of supplying fluid under pressure to said jet drill apparatus, of severing said coiled tubing at said side wall of said well bore. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising the steps, after the step of supplying fluid under pressure to said jet drill member and after the step of detaching said jetting fluid feed line from said jet drill apparatus and removing said jetting fluid feed line from the lateral borehole, of severing said coiled tubing at said side wall of said well bore. 
     
     
         13 . A method of recovering liquid hydrocarbons from an underground formation, comprising the steps of:
 (i) creating a vertical well;   (ii) creating lateral boreholes extending perpendicularly outwardly from said vertical well by:
 (a) placing a shoe comprising a 90 degree curved member having an inner arcuate curved passage, to which at one end is affixed coiled tubing, against a side wall of said well bore; 
 (b) inserting a drilling bit into said coiled tubing, and thereby deflecting said drilling bit via said shoe against said side wall of said well bore; 
 (c) operating said drilling bit to drill through said side wall in said well bore, and thereafter removing said drilling bit; 
 (d) directing a jet drill member and attached perforated liner member, in which is located a jetting fluid feed line to said jet drill member, through said coiled tubing; 
 (e) supplying a fluid under pressure to said jet drill member to drill a lateral borehole extending perpendicularly outwardly from said well bore; and 
 (f) repeating the process to create a number of boreholes extending radially and horizontally outwardly from said vertical well; 
   (iii) allowing hydrocarbons to flow into said lateral boreholes; and   (iv) pumping said hydrocarbons to surface.