Method for hydrocarbon resource recovery by repairing a failed hydrocarbon recovery arrangement

Abstract

A method of hydrocarbon resource recovery from a subterranean formation may include forming a plurality of spaced apart injector/producer well pairs in the subterranean formation, each injector/producer well pair including a laterally extending producer well, and a laterally extending injector well spaced thereabove. The method may include determining a failed injector/producer well pair from among the plurality thereof. The method may further include repairing the failed injector/producer well pair by at least forming a repair well adjacent the failed injector/producer well pair, and applying radio frequency (RF) heating from the repair well to the subterranean formation adjacent the failed injector/producer well pair. The method may further include recovering hydrocarbon resources from the plurality of injector/producer well pairs including the repaired injector/producer well.

1 . A method of hydrocarbon resource recovery from a subterranean formation comprising:
 forming a plurality of spaced apart injector/producer well pairs in the subterranean formation, each injector/producer well pair comprising a laterally extending producer well and a laterally extending injector well spaced thereabove;   determining a failed injector/producer well pair from among the plurality thereof;   repairing the failed injector/producer well pair by at least
 forming a repair well adjacent the failed injector/producer well pair, and 
 applying radio frequency (RF) heating from the repair well to the subterranean formation adjacent the failed injector/producer well pair; and 
   recovering hydrocarbon resources from the plurality of injector/producer well pairs including the repaired injector/producer well.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining the failed injector/producer well pair comprises determining the failed injector/producer well pair based upon at least one of a fluid flow and a temperature associated with the failed injector/producer well pair. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying RF heating comprises applying the RF heating to increase hydraulic communication between the failed injector/producer well pair along a length thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein recovering hydrocarbon resources comprises using Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD). 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein applying RF heating comprises:
 positioning at least one RF applicator within the repair well; and   supplying RF energy to the at least one RF applicator.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein positioning the at least one RF applicator comprises positioning at least RF applicator comprising a plurality of tubular conductors arranged in end-to-end relation and a pair of spaced apart feed conductors extending within the plurality of tubular conductors and coupled thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein positioning the at least one RF applicator further comprises positioning at least one RF applicator comprising a dielectric layer on each of the plurality of tubular conductors. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one RF applicator is positioned to at least one predetermined location within the repair well to selectively apply RF heating to at least one corresponding portion of the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein forming the repair well comprises forming the repair well between the injector well and producer well in the failed pair thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A method of repairing a failed injector/producer well pair in a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
 forming a repair well adjacent the failed injector/producer well pair; and   applying radio frequency (RF) heating from the repair well to the subterranean formation adjacent the failed injector/producer well pair.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein applying RF heating comprises applying the RF heating to increase hydraulic communication between the failed injector/producer well pair along a length thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein applying RF heating comprises:
 positioning at least one RF applicator within the repair well; and   supplying RF energy to the at least one RF applicator.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein positioning the at least one RF applicator comprises positioning at least one RF applicator comprising a plurality of tubular conductors arranged in end-to-end relation, and a pair of spaced apart feed conductors extending within the plurality of tubular conductors and coupled thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein positioning the at least one RF applicator further comprises positioning at least one RF applicator comprising a dielectric layer on each of the plurality of tubular conductors. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one RF applicator is positioned to at least one predetermined location within the repair well to selectively apply RF heating to at least one corresponding portion of the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein forming the repair well comprises forming the repair well between the injector well and producer well in the failed pair thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A method of repairing a failed injector/producer well pair in a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
 forming a repair well between the injector well and producer well in the failed pair thereof; and   applying radio frequency (RF) heating from the repair well to the subterranean formation adjacent the failed injector/producer well pair to increase hydraulic communication between the failed injector/producer well pair along a length thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein applying RF heating comprises:
 positioning at least one RF applicator within the repair well; and   supplying RF energy to the at least one RF applicator.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the positioning the at least one RF applicator comprises positioning at least one RF applicator comprising a plurality of tubular conductors arranged in end-to-end relation, and a pair of spaced apart feed conductors extending within the plurality of tubular conductors and coupled thereto. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one RF applicator is positioned to at least one predetermined location within the repair well to selectively apply RF heating to at least one corresponding portion of the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein repairing the failed injector/producer well pair further comprises sensing at least one quantity associated with the subterranean formation from within the repair well.