Method and apparatus for fracturing a deep borehole and determining the fracture azimuth
US4432078A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 21, 1981 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 21, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V1/52
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of fracturing a deep borehole to form a vertical fracture, and of determining the azimuth of the resulting fracture, comprising pumping a pressurized fracture fluid into said well through a pipe from the surface, to provide a bottom hole pressure P which is less than the normal fracturing press (NFP), and generating a series of sharp pressure pulses (SPP) of selected magnitude, such that when added to the pressure P, provide pressure peaks greater than the NFP. By providing arrays of seismic sensors at the surface and determining the direction of propagation of the seismic waves generated by the SPP, the azimuth of the fracture can be determined.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.