Pulse Pressure Fracking

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing pulse fracturing of a wellbore using a combination of timing and/or explosive properties to provide a pressure pulse, resulting in the necessary pressure to open artificial fractures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of fracking a wellbore, comprising:
 lowering at least one module with a plurality of initiators disposed within at least one propellant;   locating the at least one module at a desired location in the wellbore;   firing a first initiator at a first predetermined time, wherein the resulting ignition produces a first pressure in the wellbore;   firing a second initiator at a second predetermined time, wherein the resulting ignition produces a second pressure in the wellbore higher than the first pressure; and   firing a third initiator at a third predetermined time, wherein the resulting ignition produces a third pressure in the wellbore higher than the third pressure, wherein the first pressure, second pressure, and third pressure are initiated in a series to form a pressure pulse.   
     
     
         2 . The method of fracking a wellbore of  claim 1 , wherein the interval between the first predetermined time, second predetermined time determines resulting second pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of fracking a wellbore of  claim 2 , wherein the interval between the first predetermined time, second predetermined time, and third predetermined time determines resulting third pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of fracking a wellbore of  claim 1 , wherein the propellant is a first propellant, a second propellant, and a third propellant. 
     
     
         5 . The method of fracking a wellbore of  claim 4 , wherein the first propellant properties determine the first pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of fracking a wellbore of  claim 4 , wherein the second propellant properties determine the second pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The method of fracking a wellbore of  claim 4 , wherein the third propellant properties determine the third pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The method of fracking a wellbore of  claim 1 , further comprising setting a plug. 
     
     
         9 . The method of fracking a wellbore of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of initiators include an electrode with a spark gap. 
     
     
         10 . The method of fracking a wellbore of  claim 1 , wherein the propellant is a liquid propellant. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for fracking a wellbore, comprising:
 a housing containing at least one propellant; and   a plurality of initiators embedded in the propellant, wherein the initiators are detonated in a sequence timed to cause a plurality of pressure spikes in at least one wellbore fracture, where the plurality of initiators are adapted to detonate a series of pressure spikes, with each subsequent pressure spike producing a higher pressure than the previous pressure spike, resulting in a pressure pulse.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for fracking a wellbore of  claim 11 , wherein the propellant is a liquid propellant. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for fracking a wellbore of  claim 11 , wherein the propellant is a plurality of propellant portions. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for fracking a wellbore of  claim 13 , wherein the propellant is a plurality of propellant portions. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for fracking a wellbore of  claim 14 , wherein the each of the plurality of propellant portions has a dedicated at least one of the plurality of initiators. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for fracking a wellbore of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of propellant portions is a black powder based propellant. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for fracking a wellbore of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the plurality of propellant portions is a nitrate based propellant. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for fracking a wellbore of  claim 11 , further comprising a plug setting tool coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for fracking a wellbore of  claim 11 , further a wireline electrically connecting the housing to a controller, wherein the housing is disposed within a wellbore and the controller is located at a surface. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for fracking a wellbore of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of initiators includes an electrode with a spark gap.