Method and system for testing a partially formed hydrocarbon well for evaluation and well planning refinement

1. A method for testing a partially formed well, comprising:

forming a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation, the first well bore comprising a portion of a well and having a first configuration;

testing a production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first configuration;

reconfiguring the first well bore to a second configuration disparate from the first configuration by cutting the subterranean formation to enlarge a transverse dimension of the first well bore;

testing the production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the second configuration;

planning further formation of the well based on testing of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first and second configurations; and

determining at least one characteristic of a substantially horizontal well bore pattern of the well based on testing of the first well bore in the first and second configurations.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first configuration comprises a substantially unaltered bore hole drilled to the subterranean formation.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second configuration comprises the first well bore with a substantially cylindrical cavity in the subterranean formation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first configuration comprises the first well bore with a first enlarged area in the subterranean formation and the second configuration comprises the first well bore with a second further enlarged area in the subterranean formation.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein testing the production characteristic comprises performing a production flow test.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substantially horizontal well bore pattern characteristic comprises a lateral spacing.

7. A method for testing a partially formed well, comprising:

forming a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation, the first well bore comprising a portion of a well and having a first configuration;

testing a production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first configuration;

reconfiguring the first well bore to a second configuration disparate from the first configuration by cutting the subterranean formation to enlarge a transverse dimension of the first well bore;

testing the production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the second configuration;

planning further formation of the well based on testing of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first and second configurations; and

wherein the second confuguration comprises the first well bore with a slot cavity in the subterranean formation.

8. A method for testing a partially formed well, comprising:

forming a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation, the first well bore comprising a portion of a well and having a first configuration;

testing a production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first configuration;

reconfiguring the first well bore to a second configuration disparate from the first configuration by cutting the subterranean formation to enlarge a transverse dimension of the first well bore;

testing the production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the second configuration;

planning further formation of the well based on testing of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first and second configurations; and

wherein the first configuration comprises the first well bore with a slot cavity in the subterranean formation.

9. The method for testing a partially formed well, comprising:

forming a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation, the first well bore comprising a portion of a well and having a first configuration;

testing a production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first configuration;

reconfiguring the first well bore to a second configuration disparate from the first configuration by cutting the subterranean formation to enlarge a transverse dimension of the first well bore;

testing the production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the second configuration;

planning further formation of the well based on testing of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first and second configurations; and

wherein the first cconfiguration comprises the first well bore with a first slot cavity in the subterranean formation and the second configuration comprises the first well bore with a first and second slot cavity in the subterranean formation.

10. A method for testing a partially formed well, comprising:

forming a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation, the first well bore comprising a portion of a well and having a first configuration;

testing a production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first configuration;

reconfiguring the first well bore to a second configuration disparate from the first configuration by cutting the subterranean formation to enlarge a transverse dimension of the first well bore;

testing the production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the second configuration;

planning further formation of the well based on testing of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first and second configurations;

wherein the first configuration comprises the first well bore with a first enlarged area in the subterranean formation and the second configuration comprises the first well bore with a second further enlarged area in the subterranean formation; and

wherein the first enlarged area comprises a first cavity having a diameter between two and three feet and the second enlarged area comprises a cavity having a diameter ot greater than three feet.

11. A method for testing a partially formed well, comprising:

forming a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation, the first well bore comprising a portion of a well and having a first configuration;

testing a production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first configuration;

reconfiguring the first well bore to a second configuration disparate from the first configuration by cutting the subterranean formation to enlarge a transverse dimension of the first well bore;

testing the production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the second configuration;

planning further formation of the well based on testing of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first and second configurations; and

further comprising determing whether to drill a second intersecting well bore of the planned well based on the testing of the first well bore in the first and second configurations.

12. A method for testing a partially formed well, comprising:

forming a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation, the first well bore comprising a portion of a well and having a first configuration;

testing a production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first configuration;

reconfiguring the first well bore to a second configuration disparate from the first configuration by cutting the subterranean formation to enlarge a transverse dimension of the first well bore;

testing the production characteristic of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the second configuration;

planning further formation of the well based on testing of the subterranean formation through the first well bore in the first and second configurations; and

further comprising determing an orientation and lateral spacing of a substantially horizontal well bore pattern of the well based on testing of the first well bore in the first and second configuration.

13. A method for forming a well, comprising drilling a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation;

forming an enlarged cavity in the first well bore at the subterranean formation;

testing a characteristic of the subterranean formation through the well bore;

enlarging the cavity in the subterranean formation;

re-testing the characteristic of the subterranean information through the well bore having the enlarged cavity; and

further drilling a bore hole associated wih the well bore based on testing and re-testing results.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein testing the charactertistic comprises performing a production flow test.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein enlarging the cavity in the subterranean formation comprises enlarging the cross-sectional area of the cavity.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein enlarging the cavity comprises forming a slot cavity in the subterranean formation.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising determining whether to drill a second intersecting well bore based on the testing and re-testing results.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the cavity and the enlarged cavity comprise cylindrical cavities having different diameters.