Method for Closed Loop Fracture Detection and Fracturing using Expansion and Sensing Apparatus

Abstract

An expansion and sensing apparatus used to detect natural and hydraulic fractures. In a closed loop aspect of the invention a microprocessor may be incorporated to process data which identifies natural fractures and optimises the coordinates for setting an isolation device, hydraulically fracturing the formation, identifying the effectiveness of the hydraulic fracture and if required repeat the hydraulic fracture at the same co-ordinates or select further co-ordinates in order to propagate an optimised fracture pathway and maximise production. The apparatus may be used with microseismic, tiltmeters, etc.

1 . An apparatus ( 50 ) for fracturing an oil or gas well comprising a sensing element, means for attaching the sensing element to a support whereby it can be moved in a borehole ( 20 ), characterized by, at least one sensor ( 58 ), to detect a fracture or a feature of the formation related to a fracture, at least one expandable element ( 52 ) 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said sensing element detects a fracture or a feature of a formation related to a fracture in order to generate an optimal location to set the expandable element in real-time 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising expanding the expandable element in response to sensor data acquired by the sensing element. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein downhole sensors are used to sense said fractures or fracture features 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein surface sensors are used to sense said fractures or fracture features 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said sensors are one of the group selected from: resistivity, neutron density, nuclear magnetic resonance, acoustic, wellbore imaging, seismic, micro-seismic, tilt-meters, pressure, flow, temperature, stress, strain 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said expandable element is selected from one or more of the group of: plugs, packers, elastomers, sponges, metals, porous material, non porous material and effectively isolates or communicates with at least one zone of the formation 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the expandable element expands under mechanical force, temperature, pressure, flow or other force acting against it from the inside of a wellbore or from the inside of the support. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the expandable element is expanded on command in response to sensor data. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the expandable element is expanded on command in response to sensor data. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is locatable above or below the expandable element 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the sensor is retrievable and has an unrestricted internal diameter communicable to the expandable element 
     
     
         13 . Method of  claim 20  wherein a fracture is detected by sensor, the expandable element is expanded on command in response to sensor data and a fracture is induced 
     
     
         14 . Method of  claim 15  wherein the induced fracture is detected by sensor 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  with sensors and expandable elements configured with a wall contact member  FIG. 5  ( 62 ) wall contact member ( 63 ) at the trailing uphole or leading downhole end 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus of  claim 17  wherein such downhole wall contact member may form part of a rotary steerable, stabilizer, roller reamer, a reamer, a pressure containment device, a measurement device, a bridge plug, a packer and inflow control device. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  which is elongate and comprises at least two of said expandable elements at longitudinally separated positions along the support, ( FIG. 7 ,  61 ) 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising microprocessor control means ( 55 ) adapted to receive data on the formation or formation features based on acoustic signature velocities recognized by receivers ( 52 ), detect a formation or formation feature and signal a tool in response to acquired data in order to set the expandable element to maximize production. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of sensing elements are directed outwardly of the tool to form a sensing zone wherein said plurality is placed helically, longitudinally, spirally, axially, radially and communicate with a user interface in real-time so as to optimize performance. 
     
     
         20 . An automated method of operating a fracturing apparatus to optimally place a wellbore or tubular or packer or sand screen or like completion or production system or device based on acquired formation data, which comprises locating a tool as claimed in claim one in a borehole, activating the sensing element to send and receive formation data, rotating the tool and moving it axially along the borehole on the drill-bit or support, receiving data by receiver means, and continuing the formation evaluation until an optimal fracking operation is achieved using logic programming to diagnose and correct common errors or failures. 
     
     
         21 . A method of fracturing using apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  provided with a closed-loop micro-processor means for detecting a wellbore feature or detecting a natural fracture or an induced fracture, comparing this with a desired fracture and automatically alerting an operator or changing the condition of an expandable element in response thereto ( 62 ) and wherein the tool is supported on a downhole string ( 40 ) and a surface interface controls and exchanges data with the downhole string and any of its components during the formation evaluation operation according to a program to deliver a desired wellbore placement. 
     
     
         22 . A method of completing an oil or gas well as claimed in  claim 1  where the apparatus gives immediate evaluation of a formation, or the characteristics of a formation yet to be drilled and, if the tool detects a feature of a formation or a change in a feature of interest, to automatically calculate and correct for an optimal well path, and to repeat evaluation until such an optimal well path result is achieved in real-time where formations are detected as rock types, earthen formations or lithologies with a feature of interest meant to include but not limited to detecting porosity or a change in porosity, detecting permeability or a change in permeability, an oil zone, a gas zone, a water zone, a fracture, a fault, a dip, a bed, a vugular formation, an anticline, a syncline and a trap.