Patent ID: 6964308
Filing Date: 2005-11-15
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for drilling a lateral wellbore from a slant well, comprising: drilling the slant well below the surface of the earth, the slant well angled toward a first horizontal direction that generally coincides with a desired drilling direction for the lateral wellbore, the slant well having a borehole wall comprising: a high side portion closest to the surface; a low side portion farthest from the surface; and two side portions between the high side portion and the low side portion; disposing a drill string in the slant well, the drill string having a drill bit coupled at a lower end thereof; positioning the drill bit in contact with one of the side portions; drilling, from the side portion, an intermediate wellbore with the drill bit; and drilling, from the intermediate wellbore, the lateral wellbore in the desired drilling direction.