Method for increasing product recovery in fractures proximate fracture treated wellbores

Abstract

A method of recovering product from a fracture below a surface, said method including: a. providing a first well that may be stimulated or has been stimulated at a first predetermined depth within a formation; b. stimulating said well resulting in at least one fracture in said formation; said fracture having at least one initiation point and at least one distal point; wherein said at least one initiation point is proximate said stimulated well and said at least one distal point is distant said stimulated well; c. providing at least one non-stimulated well, proximate said first well at a second predetermined depth in said formation and contacting said at least one distal point of said at least one fracture; said at least one non-stimulated well further including at least one access point to capture product from said at least one fracture in said formation; capturing said product from said fracture through said at least non-stimulated well, and recovering said captured product optionally at said surface.

1 . A method of recovering product from a fracture below a surface, said method comprising:
 a. providing a first well that may be stimulated or has been stimulated at a first predetermined depth within a formation;   b. stimulating said well resulting in at least one fracture in said formation; said fracture having at least one initiation point and at least one distal point; wherein said at least one initiation point is proximate said stimulated well and said at least one distal point is distant said stimulated well;   c. providing at least one non-stimulated well, proximate said first well at a second predetermined depth in said formation and contacting said at least one distal point of said at least one fracture; said at least one non-stimulated well further comprising at least one access point to capture product from said at least one fracture in said formation;   d. capturing said product from said fracture through said at least non-stimulated well, and recovering said captured product optionally at said surface.   
     
     
         2 . A method of recovering product from an induced fracture below a surface, said method comprising:
 providing at least one stimulated substantially horizontal wellbore at a first predetermined depth in a formation; wherein said stimulation results in at least one induced fracture proximate said at least one stimulated substantially horizontal wellbore; said at least one induced fracture having at least one initiation point, proximate said at least one stimulated substantially horizontal wellbore and at least one distal point, distant said at least one stimulated substantially horizontal wellbore;   providing at least one non-stimulated wellbore, proximate said stimulated wellbore at a second predetermined depth in said formation, preferably substantially parallel to said stimulated wellbore, wherein said at least one non-stimulated wellbore further comprises at least one access point to capture product from said formation, capturing said product from said at least one fracture, and recovering said captured product, optionally at said surface.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said first and second predetermined depths are substantially the same. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said first and second predetermined depths are substantially different. 
     
     
         5 . The method of any of  claims 1 - 4  wherein said at least one non-stimulated wellbore is proximate said at least one distal point of said at least one induced fracture. 
     
     
         6 . The method of any of  claims 1 - 4  wherein said at least one non-stimulated wellbore transverses said at least one induced fracture. 
     
     
         7 . The method of any of  claims 1 - 4  wherein said product is hydrocarbon fluid. 
     
     
         8 . A product recovery system comprising:
 at least one stimulated substantially horizontal wellbore at a first predetermined depth in a formation; wherein said stimulation results in at least one fracture proximate said at least one stimulated substantially horizontal wellbore; at least one non-stimulated wellbore, proximate said stimulated wellbore at a second predetermined depth in said formation: wherein said at least one non-stimulated wellbore further comprises at least one access point to capture product from said formation of said at least one stimulated wellbore; and   said at least one fracture having at least one initiation point and at least one distal point.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said at least one non-stimulated wellbore is substantially parallel to said stimulated wellbore. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  or  9  wherein said first and second predetermined depths are substantially the same. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  or  9  wherein said first and second predetermined depths are substantially different. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said product is hydrocarbon fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The system of any of  claims 8 - 12  wherein said at least one non-stimulated wellbore is proximate said at least one distal point of said at least one fracture. 
     
     
         14 . The system of any of  claims 8 - 12  wherein said at least one non-stimulated wellbore transverses said at least one induced fracture. 
     
     
         15 . A diagnostic method to determine the location of at least one subsurface fracture, said diagnostic method comprising:
 providing at least one stimulated substantially horizontal wellbore at a first predetermined depth in a formation; wherein said stimulation results in at least one fracture proximate said at least one stimulated substantially horizontal wellbore;   introducing at least one tracer, preferably a radioactive tracer into said at least one stimulated substantially horizontal wellbore, such that said tracer enters at least one fracture proximate said stimulated wellbore;   providing at least one non-stimulated wellbore, proximate said stimulated wellbore at a second predetermined depth in said formation, wherein said at least one non-stimulated wellbore further comprises at least one access point to capture said at least one tracer from said formation via said at least one fracture; capturing said at least one tracer from said at least one fracture, and mapping the location and path of said tracer.   
     
     
         16 . A method of monitoring wellbore pressure in at least one non-stimulated wellbore; said at least one non-stimulated wellbore being proximate at least one stimulatable wellbore; said method comprising monitoring the wellbore pressure before, during and after stimulation of the at least one stimulatable wellbore. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said pressure is monitored with pressure gauges proximate said non-stimulated wellbore. 
     
     
         18 . A method of reducing cost in recovering product from a fracture below a surface, said method comprising using the method of any of  claims 1 - 7 . 
     
     
         19 . A system of reducing cost in recovering product from a facture below a surface, said system comprising the system of any of  claims 8 - 14 . 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said product is hydrocarbon fluid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said product is hydrocarbon fluid.