Patent ID: 8517091

Claim:
A method for creating a drainage network in a subsurface rock formation, comprising drilling a first plurality of wellbores extending laterally in a first direction, each wellbore including a single main portion extending from a vertical portion of a first single wellbore and terminating at a single extension portion extending therefrom; drilling a second plurality of wellbores extending laterally in a second direction substantially opposed to the first direction, each of the second plurality of wellbores including a single main portion extending from a vertical portion of a second single wellbore spaced apart from the first single wellbore and terminating at an extension portion extending therefrom, the extension portions of the first plurality of lateral wellbores disposed laterally adjacent to main portions of the second plurality of lateral wellbores, the extension portions of the second plurality of lateral wellbores disposed laterally adjacent to main portions of the first plurality of lateral wellbores; hydraulically isolating each main portion from each associated extension portion using a single hydraulic isolation device; and stimulating each main portion of each of the first and second plurality of wellbores.