US 12,352,133 B2
Method of controlling tensile-splitting and hydro-shearing parameters during completion of enhanced geothermal system wells
Michael Roy Chambers, Sr., Lindale, TX (US); Timothy David Gray Hillesden Lines, Hayling Island (GB); Carl Bradley Pate, Fort Smith, AR (US); Robert Mansell Pearson, Calgary (CA); David Walter Edward Brown, Calgary (CA); and David Lynn Copeland, Carrollton, TX (US)
Filed by Michael Roy Chambers, Sr., Lindale, TX (US); Timothy David Gray Hillesden Lines, Hayling Island (GB); Carl Bradley Pate, Fort Smith, AR (US); Robert Mansell Pearson, Calgary (CA); David Walter Edward Brown, Calgary (CA); and David Lynn Copeland, Carrollton, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 29, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/818,873.
Application 18/818,873 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/804,291, filed on Aug. 14, 2024.
Application 18/804,291 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/644,250, filed on Apr. 24, 2024, granted, now 12,140,344.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/540,435, filed on Sep. 26, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/535,469, filed on Aug. 30, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0075593 A1, Mar. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. E21B 41/00 (2006.01); E21B 43/30 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 41/0035 (2013.01) [E21B 43/305 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of drilling naturally fractured geothermal reservoirs, comprising:
drilling a vertical pilot well in a formation comprising a geothermal heat reservoir;
obtaining data on the properties of the formation, wherein the properties are derived from core or electric logs, wherein the data comprises temperature data on the formation;
determining the direction and depth of a potential horizontal lateral;
determining the orientations of fractures in the formation;
drilling a managed pressure horizontal lateral until one of the fractures is encountered;
employing underbalanced drilling for the managed pressure horizontal lateral, wherein the pressure exerted by the effective circulating density is lower than a rock pore pressure when drilling through porous rock, and further wherein the pressure exerted by the effective circulating density is lower than a borehole stability pressure when drilling through non-porous impermeable rock;
running one or more cementing sleeves into the managed pressure horizontal lateral;
isolating a rock interval with cement by inserting cement in the annulus of the managed pressure horizontal lateral between two cementing sleeves;
stimulating one or more conduits; and
producing from the vertical pilot well.