Processes and configurations for subterranean resource extraction are provided. The processes include installing borehole strings, such as by drilling a plurality of boreholes, for example, first and second boreholes, that extend from a surface region into a resource deposit. The first and second boreholes are situated adjacent to each other. Portions of the first and second boreholes laterally extend in a penannularly fashion and connect terminally at a nodal space situated within the resource deposit. Carrier fluid is injected from the surface along fluid paths defined by the boreholes to in situ leach resource materials from the resource deposit into the carrier fluid, and carrier fluid containing the resource materials is brought back to surface for resource extraction.

A wellbore completion comprises a borehole extending into a subterranean formation, a first portion of the borehole disposed within at least one production zone of the subterranean formation, and one or more completion zones within the first portion of the wellbore. The first portion maintains a high dog-leg severity throughout the first portion, and the one or more completions are configured to allow for fluid communication between an interior of the borehole and the subterranean formation.

Methods are provided that facilitate the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations, involving the mobilization of an immobile heavy oil in situ by gravity displacement. In effect, heavy oil is mobilized by dense aqueous gravity displacement (DAGD), in a process that generally involves injecting a dense, heated aqueous injection fluid into the formation into an injection zone that is in fluid communication with immobile heavy oil. The injection well is operated so that the injection fluid mobilizes and displaces the immobile heavy oil, to produce an expanding upper zone of mobilized heavy oil amenable to production.

Novel catalysts comprising nickel oxide nanoparticles supported on alumina nanoparticles, methods of their manufacture, heavy oil compositions contacted by these nanocatalysts and methods of their use are disclosed. The novel nanocatalysts are useful, inter alia, in the upgrading of heavy oil fractions or as aids in oil recovery from steam-assisted well reservoirs.

A device and method for collecting sample fluids from an underground source which includes sample wells terminating in a corrugated conduit and sieve. The sampling regions for each sample well is separated by a grout or expanding seal barrier. Negative pressure is optionally applied to extract fluids from the underground matrix for sampling. The device can also be used for remediating an environmental contaminant from soil or aquifers. Upon identification of at least one environmental contaminant, a remediation composition is injected into the soil or aquifer using the sampling wells of the device. The remediation fluids can be directed to specific locations by selectively utilizing one or more sampling wells to inject the remediation fluid.

An apparatus, method, and system for multi-well ranging and planning of a second injector well in the presence of a first injector well in close proximity to a producer well. The method includes generating a three-well forward simulation model using survey data for a producer well, survey data for a first injector well, survey data for a first section of a second injector well, a producer well casing property profile, and a formation resistivity parameter. The method provides for determining the offset between the true magnetic sensor position in the BHA and a planned depth position. The method determines ranging distance and direction of the drilling well to target well using the offset between the true magnetic sensor position and the first planned depth position. The method helps to adjust directional drilling parameter to achieve constant ranging distance between drilling well and target well.

Disclosed herein is a method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the method comprising: penetrating at least a portion of the subterranean reservoir with a first well and a second well, positioning an annulus-flow restrictor within the substantially-horizontal section of the first well at a distance, d.sub.1, from a produced-fluid inlet of the second well, injecting mobilizing fluid into the subterranean reservoir via a mobilizing-fluid injection outlet of the first well to mobilize hydrocarbons therewithin, and producing mobilized hydrocarbons from the subterranean reservoir via the produced-fluid inlet. The method further comprises positioning an annulus-flow restrictor within the substantially-horizontal section of the first well at a distance, d.sub.2, from the produced-fluid inlet such that d.sub.2<d.sub.1, injecting mobilizing fluid into the subterranean reservoir via the mobilizing-fluid injection outlet of the first well to mobilize hydrocarbons therewithin, and producing mobilized hydrocarbons from the subterranean reservoir via the produced-fluid inlet.

Provided are embodiments that include identifying candidate well parameters for a hydrocarbon well that include a location, a well production rate and candidate horizontal wellbore lateral lengths for the well, conducting simulations of hydrocarbon wells located at the location and having lateral lengths corresponding to the candidate horizontal wellbore lateral lengths and operating at the well production rate to determine a gas breakthrough productivity indexes (GBPIs) for the simulated wells, determining (based on the GBPIs) a relationship of GBPI to horizontal wellbore lateral length, determining (based on the relationship) an optimized horizontal wellbore lateral length for the production rate, and developing the well based on the optimized horizontal wellbore lateral length.

Closed loop wellbore configurations with unrestricted geometry for accommodating irregular or challenging thermal gradients within a thermally productive formation are disclosed. A working fluid is utilized in the loop for extraction of thermal energy there from. The loop and the unrestricted geometry are achieved using magnetic ranging of independent drilling operations which intersect from an inlet well and outlet well to form an interconnecting segment. In conjunction with the directional drilling, conditioning operations are incorporated to condition the rock face, cool the entire system, activate the wellbore for treatment to optimize thermal transfer inter alia. The significant degree of freedom in wellbore configuration is further optimized by the absence of mechanical impediments such as casing or liners in the heat transfer areas.

An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing a producer well, which defines a longitudinal axis, between at least a first and second transmission line conductor. At a reference location along the length of the longitudinal axis, the first and second transmission line conductors are laterally spaced from the producer well by a first and second reference distance, respectively. At a second location, the first and second transmission line conductors are laterally spaced from the producer well by a third and fourth distance, respectively. At least one of the third and fourth distances are greater than the first and second reference distances, respectively. Excitation of the transmission line conductors generates an electromagnetic field having a reference shape and a reference position at the reference location and at least one of a more elongated shape and a different position at the second location.