Monitoring hydraulic fracturing of a well using pressure waves

Abstract

A system for monitoring hydraulic fracturing of a well includes an apparatus configured to generate a pressure wave in a wellbore of the well. The pressure wave causes a response from a formation surrounding the wellbore. The system further includes a sensor configured to detect the response and output a signal based on the detected response. The system further includes a processor configured to receive the signal and analyze the signal to determine a characteristic of the formation. A fracking operation of the well is altered based on the determined characteristic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring hydraulic fracturing of a well, comprising: 
 one or more pumps configured to generate a pressure wave in a wellbore of the well, wherein the pressure wave comprises an oscillation of a flow rate output by the one or more pumps, wherein the oscillation sweeps between a first frequency and a second frequency, wherein the first frequency is below a natural frequency of a formation surrounding the wellbore, wherein the second frequency is above the natural frequency, and wherein the pressure wave causes a response from the formation;   a sensor configured to detect the response, and output a signal based on the detected response; and   a processor configured to receive the signal, and analyze the signal to determine a characteristic of the formation, wherein a fracking operation of the well is altered based on the determined characteristic.