Granted Patent B2

US 12,480,385 · App. 17/930,586 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Inventors: Eyad Ali Alali (Dammam, SA); Mohammed Abdullah Bataweel (Dhahran, SA); Rajendra Arunkumar Kalgaonkar (Dhahran, SA)

Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY

E21B43/01E21B44/00

Abstract

Claims (57)

1 . A method, comprising:

providing a well extending underground from a surface;

using radial drilling to drill a primary tunnel extending in an outwardly direction from the well at a first axial location along the well;

drilling a secondary tunnel extending from the well to a second axial location along the main well,

wherein the primary tunnel and the secondary tunnel are drilled within a non-producing area off the well;

installing a power source in the secondary tunnel;

installing a chemical storage assembly in the primary tunnel, wherein the chemical storage assembly comprises chemicals stored in the chemical storage assembly;

connecting the power source to the chemical storage assembly in the primary tunnel;

powering the chemical storage assembly via the power source; and

ejecting the chemicals from the chemical storage assembly into the well.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical storage assembly further comprises a pill capsule containing the chemicals, wherein the pill capsule comprises a dissolvable casing.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ejecting of the chemicals is triggered by a change in a downhole environmental condition, wherein the downhole environmental condition comprises a downhole temperature condition.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

pulling the chemical storage assembly out of the primary tunnel after ejecting the chemicals to remove the chemical storage assembly; and

circulating brine through the well as the chemical storage assembly is removed.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the radial drilling comprises using a whipstock to orient a radial drilling bit in the outwardly direction from the well as the radial drilling bit drills the primary tunnel, wherein the method further comprises:

rotating the whipstock in the well to orient the radial drilling bit in a second outwardly direction from the well; and

drilling an additional primary tunnel in the second outwardly direction from the well at the first axial location.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing a non-metallic seal at an opening to the primary tunnel to isolate the primary tunnel from a downhole environment in the well.

7 . A method, comprising:

providing a well extending underground from a surface;

drilling different tunnels off the well, comprising:

drilling a primary tunnel extending a length from the well in an outwardly direction from the well;

drilling a secondary tunnel extending outwardly from the well at a different location than the primary tunnel, wherein each of the tunnels are drilled within a non-producing area off the well;

installing different components of a chemical storage assembly in the different tunnels the installing comprising:

installing a first component of the components in the primary tunnel, wherein the first component is a dispensing mechanism;

installing a second component of the components in the secondary tunnel, wherein the second component is a chemical storage compartment;

installing a third component of the components in a third tunnel, wherein the third component is a power source;

fluidly connecting the chemical storage compartment to the dispensing mechanism;

powering the chemical storage assembly via the power source;

moving a downhole tool through the well and past the primary tunnel to perform a well operation; and ejecting chemicals from the chemical storage assembly into the well via the dispensing mechanism during or after performing the well operation.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the well operation is a workover operation comprising extending a production string through the main well.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the length of the primary tunnel is less than 300 feet.

10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

wherein the dispensing mechanism is operated by a controller;

connecting the power source to the controller via one or more electrical cables; and

using the controller to eject controlled dosages of the chemicals from the chemical storage assembly via the dispensing mechanism.

11 . A system, comprising:

a well extending through an underground formation;

multiple tunnels extending from the well at different locations, the multiple tunnels comprising:

a primary tunnel extending a length outwardly from the well at a first axial location along the well; and

a secondary tunnel extending outwardly from the well at a second axial location along the well,

wherein each of the multiple tunnels is drilled within a non-producing area off the well; and

a chemical storage assembly comprising multiple components, wherein at least two of the multiple components are installed in different tunnels of the multiple tunnels, comprising:

a first component of the chemical storage assembly installed in the primary tunnel, wherein the chemical storage assembly comprises chemicals stored in the chemical storage assembly, the chemicals configured to be ejected into the well; and

a power source of the chemical storage assembly installed in the secondary tunnel, wherein the first component is fluidly connected to the power source and powered by the power source.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the well is a branch well extending from a main well, and the main well extends underground from a surface.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the multiple components of the chemical storage assembly further comprise:

a chemical storage compartment containing the chemicals; and

a pump in fluid communication with the chemical storage compartment.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the pump is programmed to pump a controlled dosage of the chemicals.

15 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising an additional primary tunnel at the first axial location extending outwardly from the well in a different direction from the primary tunnel.

16 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

an additional tunnel extending outwardly from the well; and

a chemical storage compartment disposed in the additional tunnel, wherein the chemical storage compartment is fluidly connected to the first component in the primary tunnel.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the primary tunnel and the secondary tunnel have diameters that are less than 7 inches.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the primary tunnel and the secondary tunnel extend outwardly from a horizontal section of the main well.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (49)