Multilateral well completions to improve individual branch control

Abstract

Methods and systems for enhanced thermal recovery of subsurface hydrocarbons comprising the use of multilateral branches, wherein the multilateral wells are completed in a manner to improve individual branch control.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing hydrocarbon from a subsurface reservoir, the method comprising the steps of:
 drilling a production well from surface to the reservoir;   drilling an injection well from the surface to the reservoir;   drilling at least one lateral well off of the injection well;   determining an optimal local fluid flow level for regions along the injection well and the at least one lateral well;   providing flow control devices in each of the injection well and the at least one lateral well for positioning adjacent the regions, each of the flow control devices selected to allow the optimal fluid flow therethrough for the respective region;   injecting a fluid through the injection well and the at least one lateral well through the flow control devices and into the reservoir;   allowing the fluid to mobilize the hydrocarbon; and   producing the hydrocarbon to the surface through the production well.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one lateral well is a plurality of lateral wells. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the optimal local fluid flow level for the regions comprises assessing the regions of the reservoir along the injection well and the at least one lateral well where fluid injection requires enhancement or restriction to optimize mobilization of the hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flow control devices are steam splitters. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fluid is steam, a steam-solvent mixture or a non-condensable gas. 
     
     
         6 . A system for producing hydrocarbon from a subsurface reservoir, the system comprising:
 an injection well from surface to the reservoir;   a production well from the surface to the reservoir;   at least one lateral well off of the injection well; and   flow control devices in each of the injection well and the at least one lateral well for allowing passage of an injected fluid therethrough, the flow control devices selected to allow an optimal fluid flow therethrough.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the flow control devices are steam splitters. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the at least one lateral well is a plurality of lateral wells. 
     
     
         9 . A method for producing hydrocarbon from a subsurface reservoir, the method comprising the steps of:
 drilling a production well from the surface to the reservoir;   drilling an injection well from surface to the reservoir;   drilling at least one lateral well off of the production well;   determining an optimal local fluid flow level for regions along the production well and the at least one lateral well;   providing inflow control devices in each of the production well and the at least one lateral well for positioning adjacent the regions, each of the inflow control devices selected to allow the optimal fluid flow therethrough for the respective region;   injecting a fluid through the injection well into the reservoir;   allowing the fluid to mobilize the hydrocarbon; and   producing the hydrocarbon to the surface through the inflow control devices and the production well and the at least one lateral well.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the at least one lateral well is a plurality of lateral wells. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the step of determining the optimal local fluid flow level for the regions comprises assessing the regions of the reservoir along the production well and the at least one lateral well where production requires enhancement or restriction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the fluid is steam, a steam-solvent mixture or a non-condensable gas. 
     
     
         13 . A system for producing hydrocarbon from a subsurface reservoir, the system comprising:
 an injection well from surface to the reservoir;   a production well from the surface to the reservoir;   at least one lateral well off of the production well; and   inflow control devices in each of the production well and the at least one lateral well for allowing passage of a produced fluid therethrough, the inflow control devices selected to allow an optimal fluid flow therethrough.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one lateral well is a plurality of lateral wells. 
     
     
         15 . A system for producing hydrocarbon from a subsurface reservoir, the system comprising:
 an injection well from surface to the reservoir;   a production well from the surface to the reservoir;   at least one lateral well off of the production well; and   a tubing string in each of the production well and the at least one lateral well for allowing passage of a produced fluid therethrough, the tubing string in the at least one lateral well connected to the tubing string in the production well by a tubing junction tool to form a unitary production tubing string.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the at least one lateral well is a plurality of lateral wells. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein each tubing string comprises an associated packer assembly. 
     
     
         18 . A system for producing hydrocarbon from a subsurface reservoir, the system comprising:
 an injection well from surface to the reservoir;   a production well from the surface to the reservoir;   at least one lateral well off of the production well; and   a pump assembly in each of the production well and the at least one lateral well for pumping produced fluid, the pump assembly in the at least one lateral well comprising at least two pumps.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one lateral well is a plurality of lateral wells. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least two pumps of each pump assembly run on separate individual tubing strings. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least two pumps of each pump assembly run in series. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  wherein each pump assembly comprises variable pumping rate means. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the variable pumping rate means comprises a variable frequency drive. 
     
     
         24 . A system for producing hydrocarbon from a subsurface reservoir, the system comprising:
 an injection well from surface to the reservoir;   a production well from the surface to the reservoir;   at least one lateral well off of the injection well; and   at least one blank liner in each of the injection well and the at least one lateral well for restricting passage of an injected fluid therethrough.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the at least one lateral well is a plurality of lateral wells. 
     
     
         26 . A system for producing hydrocarbon from a subsurface reservoir, the system comprising:
 an injection well from surface to the reservoir;   a production well from the surface to the reservoir;   at least one lateral well off of the production well; and   at least one blank liner in each of the production well and the at least one lateral well for restricting passage of a produced fluid therethrough.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the at least one lateral well is a plurality of lateral wells.