US2010032156A1PendingUtilityA1

Method for testing an engineered geothermal system using one stimulated well

Assignee: ALTA ROCK ENERGY INCPriority: Aug 8, 2008Filed: Aug 10, 2009Published: Feb 11, 2010
Est. expiryAug 8, 2028(~2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
E21B 43/26Y02E10/10F24T 2201/00F24T 10/30E21B 49/008F24T 10/00
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Claims

Abstract

Systems and methods for testing a subterranean formation are herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method includes stimulating a substantially non-permeable medium within a subterranean formation to create a fractured reservoir. At least one stimulation parameter is measured during stimulation. A well drilled in the subterranean formation is shut-in. A fluid is produced from the subterranean well and at least one production parameter is measured during production. The stimulation and production parameters are used in a numerical reservoir fluid flow model to identify parameters of the fractured reservoir.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method comprising:
 stimulating a substantially non-permeable medium within a subterranean formation to create a fractured reservoir;   measuring at least one stimulation parameter during stimulation;   using the stimulation parameter in a numerical reservoir fluid flow model;   shutting-in a subterranean well drilled in the subterranean formation;   producing a fluid comprising at least a treatment fluid from the subterranean well;   measuring at least one production parameter during production;   using the production parameter in the numerical reservoir fluid flow model; and   identifying a heat exchange area of the fractured reservoir using the numerical reservoir fluid flow model.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein stimulating a substantially non-permeable medium within the subterranean formation comprises injecting the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein measuring at least one stimulation parameter during stimulation comprises measuring at least one parameter from a group consisting of: seismicity within the subterranean formation, streaming potential of the treatment fluid injected into the subterranean formation, temperature within the subterranean well and pressure within the subterranean well. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the treatment fluid comprises a tracer composition. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the tracer composition comprises at least one reactive tracer and at least one nonreactive tracer. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein measuring at least one production parameter during production comprises measuring at least one parameter from a group consisting of: flow rate of the fluid produced from the subterranean well, concentration of the at least one reactive tracer, concentration of the at least one nonreactive tracer, temperature within the subterranean well, and pressure within the subterranean well. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising injecting a test fluid into the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein measuring at least one stimulation parameter during stimulation comprises measuring at least one parameter from a group consisting of: seismicity within the subterranean formation, streaming potential of the treatment fluid injected into the subterranean formation, temperature within the subterranean well and pressure within the subterranean well. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising measuring at least one injection parameter during injection. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein measuring at least one injection parameter during injection comprises measuring at least one parameter from a group consisting of: seismicity within the subterranean formation, streaming potential of the test fluid injected into the subterranean formation, temperature within the subterranean well and pressure within the subterranean well. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the test fluid comprises a tracer composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the tracer composition comprises at least one reactive tracer and at least one nonreactive tracer. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein producing a fluid further comprises producing a fluid comprising at least the test fluid from the subterranean well. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein measuring at least one production parameter during production comprises measuring at least one parameter from a group consisting of: flow rate of the fluid produced from the subterranean well, concentration of the at least one reactive tracer, concentration of the at least one nonreactive tracer, temperature within the subterranean well, and pressure within the subterranean well. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product comprising:
 at least one computer-readable medium;   at least one processor module residing on the computer-readable medium and operative to:
 use an input of test data obtained from testing a subterranean formation in a numerical reservoir fluid flow model; and 
 provide an output of theoretical data generated by the numerical reservoir fluid flow model. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the subterranean formation comprises at least one subterranean interval. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the subterranean formation is stimulated by injecting treatment fluid into the at least one subterranean interval to create a fractured reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the treatment fluid comprises a tracer composition comprising at least one reactive tracer and at least one nonreactive tracer. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the input of test data obtained from testing the subterranean formation comprises at least one parameter from a group consisting of: seismicity within the subterranean formation, streaming potential of the treatment fluid injected into the at least one subterranean interval, temperature adjacent to the at least one subterranean interval, pressure proximate the bottom of the fractured reservoir, flow rate of the treatment fluid produced from the at least one subterranean interval, concentration of the at least one reactive tracer, concentration of the at least one nonreactive tracer. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the output of theoretical data venerated by the numerical reservoir fluid flow model comprises at least one parameter from a group consisting of: heat exchange area of the at least one subterranean interval, circulating volume of the treatment fluid within the at least one subterranean interval, permeability of the at least one subterranean interval, porosity of the at least one subterranean interval, combined compressibility of the at least one subterranean interval and thickness of the at least one subterranean interval.

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