Patent ID: 7422059

Claim:
A method for production of material from a subsurface earth formation being intersected by a wellbore, comprising: forming a plurality of lateral injection passages extending into the subsurface earth formation from the wellbore; forming a plurality of lateral production passages extending into the subsurface earth formation from the wellbore, said plurality of lateral production passages being substantially vertically spaced from said plurality of lateral injection passages; each of said lateral injection and production passages being formed by fluid jetting with a jet washing head having a perforate liner connected therewith and having a washing fluid supply conduit releasably connected with said jet washing head; after jet washing the jet washing head and perforate liner to a laterally extended position with the perforate liner substantially completely lining the lateral passage stopping fluid jetting and releasing the washing fluid supply conduit from the jet washing head; retrieving the washing fluid supply conduit, leaving the perforate liner and jet washing head within the lateral passage; establishing an injection compartment within the wellbore, said injection compartment having communication with a source of injection fluid via an injection conduit; establishing a production compartment within the wellbore being sealed from said injection compartment, said production compartment being in communication with fluid handling equipment at the surface via a production conduit; injecting fluid from a source of injection fluid into said injection compartment and into the production formation via said injection passages, the injection fluid migrating through the production formation to said plurality of lateral production passages; and producing material and injection fluid from the subsurface formation via said plurality of lateral production passages and said production compartment and to the surface via said production conduit.