Acoustic measurements in rock formations for determining fracture orientation
US4744245A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 1986 |
| Grant date | May 17, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/26
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method and system for determining the probable direction of extension of a hydraulically induced fracture in a hydrocarbon bearing formation wherein prior to inducing the fracture, the formation region to be fractured is heated and thermally induced acoustic emissions from the formation are sensed to determine the orientation of the maximum and minimum horizontally directed in situ compressive stresses based on the acoustic emission rate and/or intensity. A device including a microwave energy generator and an array of acoustic transducers is lowered into a wellbore to generate and measure the thermally induced acoustic emissions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.