Estimating active fractures during hydraulic fracturing operations
US11268365B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 17, 2019 |
| Grant date | Mar 8, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 30, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B47/00
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The disclosure is directed to a method and system that estimates the number of active fractures for a given hydraulic fracturing fluid pressure. The hydraulic fracturing pressure can be correlated to a corresponding hydraulic fracturing fluid absorption rate of downhole fractures. Using the pressure and rate correlation, an active fracture ratio can be determined and then utilized to estimate the number of active fractures at a given hydraulic fracturing fluid pressure. In other aspects, a target fluid pressure is represented by a curve or other shape corresponding to a fluid friction model so that the fluid pressure correlation to the fluid absorption rate can be utilized to compute the active fracture ratio. The disclosed system is operable to control a well site pump system to adjust the fluid pressure and fluid composition, to monitor the downhole fluid, to collect the fluid values, and to compute an estimated active fracture ratio.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.