Method of Fracturing an Earth Formation, Earth Formation Borehole System, Method of Producing a Mineral Hydrocarbon Substance

Abstract

Method of fracturing an earth formation by pumping a pressurized fracturing fluid into a borehole in an earth formation thereby fracturing the earth formation. At least during the pumping, a strain distribution is monitored in an object that is located in the earth formation and that is mechanically interacting with the earth formation. The borehole system has a plurality of strain sensors for monitoring the strain distribution in the object during fracturing. After terminating the pumping of the pressurized fracturing fluid, mineral hydrocarbon fluids may be allowed to flow from the reservoir into the wellbore or another wellbore, and produced via that wellbore.

1 . A method of fracturing an earth formation, comprising: 
 pumping a pressurized fracturing fluid into a borehole in an earth formation thereby fracturing the earth formation; and    at least during the pumping, monitoring a strain distribution in an object located in the earth formation and mechanically interacting with the earth formation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object is located in the borehole and is mechanically interacting with the earth formation via the borehole wall.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object is located in an offset borehole and is mechanically interacting with the earth formation via the borehole wall of the offset borehole.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the strain distribution is analyzed to determine a deformation parameter of the object.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the deformation parameter is one of axial strain, bending curvature, and ovalization parameter.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising controlling the pumping of the pressurized fracturing fluid in response to the monitoring.  
   
   
       7 . A borehole system in an earth formation, the borehole system comprising: 
 a borehole reaching into an earth formation;    a fracturing fluid pump comprising a low-pressure input opening and a high-pressure output opening, the high-pressure output opening being in fluid communication with the wellbore;    a fracturing fluid supply in fluid communication with the low-pressure input opening;    an object located in the earth formation mechanically interacting with the earth formation; and    a plurality of strain sensors applied to the object for monitoring a strain distribution in the object.    
   
   
       8 . The borehole system of  claim 7 , wherein the object is located in the borehole and is mechanically interacting with the earth formation via the borehole wall.  
   
   
       9 . The borehole system of  claim 7 , further comprising an offset borehole reaching into the earth formation at a location different from the location of the borehole, wherein the object is located in the offset borehole and is mechanically interacting with the earth formation via the borehole wall of the offset borehole.  
   
   
       10 . A method of producing a mineral hydrocarbon fluid from a reservoir in an earth formation, comprising 
 pumping a pressurized fracturing fluid into a wellbore in an earth formation thereby fracturing the earth formation in or in the vicinity of a mineral hydrocarbon fluid containing reservoir;    at least during the pumping, monitoring a strain distribution in an object that is located in the earth formation and that is mechanically interacting with the earth formation;    controlling the pumping of the pressurized fracturing fluid in response to the monitoring;    terminating the pumping of the pressurized fracturing fluid, and releasing the pressure;    allowing mineral hydrocarbon fluid to flow from the reservoir into the wellbore; and    producing the mineral hydrocarbon fluid via the wellbore or via another wellbore that penetrates into the mineral hydrocarbon fluid containing reservoir.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the object is located in the wellbore and is mechanically interacting with the earth formation via the wellbore wall.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the object is located in an offset borehole and is mechanically interacting with the earth formation via the borehole wall of the offset borehole.