Method and apparatus for secondary recovery operations in hydrocarbon formations

1. A method of managing a hydrocarbon producing formation having a primary wellbore including at least one deviated branch wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

a. positioning a production casing string in the deviated branch wellbore, the production casing string including:

i. a plurality of propellant sleeves positioned on the exterior of the production string, wherein a propellant in the propellant sleeves has a burn rate of between 300 ft/sec and 10,000 ft/sec;

ii. an identifiable marker associated with each propellant sleeve;

iii. at least one discharge-only valve and at least one intake-only valve associated with each propellant sleeve;

b. cementing the production casing string within the deviated branch wellbore;

c. positioning a tool within the production casing string where the tool locates on the identifiable marker associated with one of the propellant sleeves;

d. selectively igniting propellant in the propellant sleeve of step (c); and

e. opening at least one of the discharge-only valve or intake-only valve associated with the propellant sleeve in step (c).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein separate valve sleeves cover each of the intake-only and discharge-only valves.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a tool is used to open the discharge-only valve or the intake-only valve.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the tool locks into a profile on the string when the tool locates on the identifiable marker.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the tool has an extension arm which engages one or more of the valve sleeves covering the intake-only and discharge-only valves.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the tool is tethered to the surface.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the tool is untethered.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the propellant sleeves are each associated with a firing mechanism selectively covered by a firing sleeve.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one burst disc is positioned between each propellant sleeve and each firing sleeve.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discharge-only and intake-only valves are formed in a first casing sub and the propellant sleeves are positioned on a second casing sub.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discharge-only and intake-only valves and the propellant sleeves are formed on the same casing sub.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the propellant in each of the propellant sleeves is first ignited and thereafter the intake-only or discharge-only valves associated with multiple propellant sleeves are opened.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of (i) igniting propellant in a first propellant sleeve and opening at least one intake-only or discharge-only valve; and (ii) thereafter, igniting propellant in a second propellant sleeve and opening at least one other intake-only or discharge-only valve.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifiable marker comprises a series of rings having different characteristics positioned on the casing in a specific arrangement, thereby forming a unique code based upon the arrangement of the rings.

15. A method of secondary recovery in a petroleum field having at least one petroleum producing formation and a plurality of vertical wellbores, the method comprising the steps of:

a. from at least one of the vertical wellbores, forming at least one deviated branch wellbore;

b. placing a production string in the deviated branch wellbore, the production string comprising a plurality of zones with each zone including:

i. at least one propellant sleeve positioned on an exterior of the production string, the at least one propellant sleeve including: (1) a propellant having a burn rate of between about 300 ft/sec and about 10,000 ft/sec, (2) a firing mechanism, and (3) a firing sleeve for selectively covering uncovering the firing mechanism;

ii. at least one identifiable marker associated with the zone; and

iii. a selective bi-directional valve assembly associated with the zone;

c. configuring the bi-directional valve assemblies to enhance secondary recovery based upon injection of a liquid or a gas into either or both of (i) at least one of the bi-directional valve assemblies, or (ii) at least one of the vertical wellbores; and

d. moving a valve sleeve to uncover an intake-only valve associated with at least one other propellant sleeve positioned in the deviated branch wellbore.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the bi-directional valve assemblies include at least one intake-only valve and at least one discharge only valve.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein a firing mechanism on the lowermost propellant sleeve is pressure activated and the firing sleeve is moved to uncover the firing mechanism by a cement plug employed during the cementing step.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of introducing a treating fluid under pressure into the formation through the open discharge-only valve during a first period of time.

19. A method of managing a hydrocarbon producing formation having a primary wellbore including at least one deviated branch wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:

a. positioning a production casing string in the deviated branch wellbore, the production casing string including:

i. a propellant sleeve positioned on the exterior of the production string, wherein a propellant in the propellant sleeves has a burn rate of between 300 ft/sec and 10,000 ft/sec;

ii. a burst disc position on the production string and configure to create a passage through the production string upon rupture;

iii. at least one discharge-only valve and at least one intake-only valve associated with the production string;

iv. at least one sleeve configured to be shiftable from covering at least one of the discharge-only valve or intake-only valve to covering the burst disc passage;

b. igniting propellant in the propellant sleeve, thereby rupturing the burst disc and opening the passage through the production string;

c. pumping a liquid or a gas through the burst disc passage at a first flow rate for a first time period; and

d. after the first time period, shifting the sleeve to cover the burst disc passage and uncover at least one of the discharge-only valve or intake-only valve, thereby allowing flow out of or into the production string at a second flow rate, lesser than the first flow rate.