US2016003020A1PendingUtilityA1
Methods for time-delayed fracturing in hydrocarbon formations
Est. expiryFeb 4, 2033(~6.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Mukul Sharma
E21B 43/26E21B 43/267E21B 47/06E21B 49/006E21B 43/305
45
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims
Abstract
Methods of fracturing a hydrocarbon formation are described herein. A method may include propagating one or more first fractures from a first wellbore in the hydrocarbon formation, allowing a selected period of time to elapse so that at least a portion of the first fractures close, and propagating at least one second fracture in the wellbore or a second wellbore after the elapsed selected period of time.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modifiedWhat is claimed is:
1 . A method of fracturing a hydrocarbon formation, comprising:
propagating one or more first fractures from a first wellbore in the hydrocarbon formation; allowing a selected period of time to elapse so that at least some of the first fractures closes; and propagating at least one second fracture in the wellbore after the elapsed selected period of time.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a desired amount of time is at least 30 minutes, at least 2 hours, or longer.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the closure of the fracture using diagnostic tools, wherein the diagnostic tools include microseismic array, tiltmeter, or the like.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein wellbore is an open wellbore.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wellbore is a cased wellbore.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein propagating at least one second fracture comprises determining a distance from the first fracture from the wellbore.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein propagating at least one second fracture comprises determining the pressure in the first fracture and determining a distance from the first fracture.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing proppant to at least one of the first fractures.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the closed first fracture is unpropped.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring initial shut in pressure associated with propagating the first fracture.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one second fracture is propagated at a distance twice a determined distance from the initial wellbore.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising propagating at least one third fracture, wherein propagating the third fracture comprises allowing at least one of the second fractures to close; determining a distance of the closed second fracture from the wellbore, wherein at least one third fracture is propagated at a distance twice the determined distance from the first fracture.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein propagating one or more first fractures and/or at least a second fracture comprises providing a fluid through one or more openings in the wellbore, wherein the fluid is pressurized.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second fracture is on either side of the first fracture.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein propagating the first and second fractures comprises zipper fracturing.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein propagating the first and second fractures comprises alternating fracturing.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the closure of at least a portion of the fractures reduces the stress shadow of at least one of the initially created fractures.
18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising using diagnostic tools during and/or after the fracturing treatments, wherein the diagnostic tools comprise microseismic array, tiltmeter, or the like.
19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing proppant to at least some of the first fractures and/or second fractures, and producing formation fluid from at least some of the propped fractures.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second fracture is adjacent to at least one of the first fractures.
21 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising propagating at least one third fracture prior to propagating at least one second fracture, wherein the third fracture is propagated from a substantially horizontal second wellbore vertically displaced from the first wellbore.
22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein allowing a selected period of time is determined by:
Δ
σ
yy
P
neti
=
(
1
-
6.37
τ
)
f
(
ζ
)
where
,
f
(
ζ
)
=
-
2
π
[
ζ
(
ζ
2
-
1
)
(
ζ
2
+
1
)
2
-
tan
-
1
(
1
ζ
)
]
,
τ
=
t
(
(
w
max
i
-
w
max
f
)
/
C
L
)
2
,
and
P
neti
=
π
Ew
max
i
8
(
1
-
v
2
)
h
f
where Δσ yy is the stress in the direction perpendicular to the crack face, m/Lt 2 , Pa; p net is the net closure stress, m/Lt 2 , Pa; τ is the dimensionless closure time; fζ variation in fracture fluid content; ζ is fluid content; w maxi is initial maximum fracture width and length in meters; w maxf is final maximum fracture width and length in meters; C L is leak-off coefficient in meters/second 1/2 ; E is Young's modulus, m/Lt 2 , Pa; and h f is fracture half-height in meters.
23 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising propagating at least one fracture in a second wellbore; and determining closure of some of the second fractures by monitoring a pressure in the first wellbore.
24 . The method of claim 1 , propagating at least one third fracture in a second wellbore, wherein an initial time for fracturing the third fracture in a second wellbore is determined by monitoring a pressure in the first wellbore.
25 . A method of fracturing a hydrocarbon formation, comprising:
propagating one or more first fractures from a wellbore in the hydrocarbon formation; analyzing a pressure in the first fracture to determine closure of at least one or more of the first fractures; propagating at least one second fracture from the wellbore or from a second wellbore based on the analyzed closure pressure; and producing formation fluid from the hydrocarbon formation.
26 . A method of fracturing a hydrocarbon formation, comprising:
propagating one or more first fractures from a wellbore in the hydrocarbon formation; determining a minimum start time for propagating at least one second fracture from the wellbore and/or a second wellbore based on closure of at least some of the first fractures; and propagating at least one second fracture from the wellbore based on the minimum start time, wherein the second fracture is at least a minimum spacing distance away from the first fracture.
27 . A method of fracturing a hydrocarbon formation, comprising:
propagating one or more first fractures from a first wellbore of a plurality of wellbores in the hydrocarbon formation; allowing, at least a desired period of time before propagating a second fracture at a chosen distance in the first wellbore, wherein at least some of the first fractures close during the period of time; and propagating one or more second fractures from the same or a second wellbore in the hydrocarbon formation after fracture closure of at least some of the first fractures in the first wellbore, wherein the first wellbore and the second wellbore are in the same section of the hydrocarbon formation.
28 . A method of fracturing a hydrocarbon formation comprising propagating at least one second fracture in a wellbore based on a closure of a first fracture in the hydrocarbon formation.Join the waitlist — get patent alerts
Track US2016003020A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.
We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.