CPC F24T 10/20 (2018.05) [E21B 7/04 (2013.01); E21B 33/138 (2013.01); E21B 36/001 (2013.01); E21B 43/305 (2013.01); E21B 47/0228 (2020.05)] | 21 Claims |
1. A method for configuring wellbores in a thermally productive geologic formation, the method comprising:
drilling in said formation an inlet wellbore and an outlet wellbore adjacent the inlet wellbore;
drilling a first interconnecting wellbore segment and a second interconnecting wellbore segment between said inlet wellbore and said outlet wellbore to form a continuous geothermal recovery well, said interconnecting segments having a predetermined angular configuration relative to said inlet wellbore and said outlet wellbore within said formation, wherein drilling said first interconnecting segment comprises drilling from a downhole end of said inlet wellbore a first lateral wellbore and drilling said second interconnecting segment comprises drilling from a downhole end of said outlet wellbore a second lateral wellbore, the first and second lateral wellbores drilled to extend alongside one another and at least one of the lateral wellbores sloping to intersect a sidewall of the other at a junction, said second lateral wellbore disposed at a depth greater than a depth of said first lateral wellbore; and
conditioning at least said interconnecting segments by sealing the segments to facilitate thermal recovery by working fluid flow therethrough, said interconnecting segments being at least partially open hole.
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