Patent ID: 7134494

Claim:
A method for recirculating fluid in a well system, comprising drilling a first well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone; drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone, the articulated well bore intersecting the first well bore at a junction proximate the subterranean zone; drilling a drainage bore from the junction into the subterranean zone; receiving gas, water, and particles produced from the subterranean zone at the junction via the drainage bore; receiving gas, water, and particles from the junction at the surface; separating the water received at the surface from the gas and the particles received at the surface; determining a bottom hole pressure; determining an amount of separated water to recirculate based at least in part on the bottom hole pressure; and recirculating a portion of the separated water into the junction from the surface according to the determination.