A multilateral well is a well with two or more laterals (horizontal, vertical, or deviated) drilled from a main mother well. This allows one well to produce from several reservoirs. Multilateral wells are suitable for complex geology where drilling more new wells to penetrate to those reservoirs is not economical. Lateral sections may be used to produce from a separated section in depleted, faulted, layered and heavy oil reservoirs.
Figure 1 – Multilateral Well Bashkiria drilled in 1953 (Credit – http://www.drillingcontractor.org)
Figure 2 shows how multilateral wells fit with several geological structures.
Figure 2 – Multilateral well with different geological structure
