Patent · US Active

Using pre-fracturing hydraulic conductivity measurements to avoid fracture treatment problems

US11753923B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
8References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 7, 2021
Grant dateSep 12, 2023
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 22, 2042

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01V2210/646
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method for predicting fracture treatment performance includes inducing tube waves in a well drilled through a formation to be fracture treated. A polarity of reflected tube waves in the well is determined, and using the reflected tube waves, hydraulic conductivity of at least one zone in the well hydraulically connected to the formation is estimated. The estimated hydraulic conductivity is compared to a selected threshold. The selected threshold is based on pumping parameters and pumping pressure behavior of at least one pumped hydraulic fracture treatment. A warning signal is generated when the hydraulic conductivity is below the selected threshold and/or the determined polarity indicates a closed boundary condition so that the treatment may be adjusted to avoid screenouts and other operational and treatment issues.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.