Method and system for real-time monitoring of earth formation fracture movement
US5442173A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 4, 1994 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V5/12
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method of monitoring formation fractures in real-time is performed in which a fluid containing a radio-active tracer element is pumped at a high pressure down a wellbore into a formation. As the fluid creates fractures and moves through the formation gamma-rays are emitted from the radio-active tracer element in the fluid. Detector means placed at predetermined locations in the wellbore continuously detect these gamma-rays. Gamma-rays emitted from wellbore fracture fluids are distinguished from formation gamma-rays and the detected formation gamma-rays are counted. As the fracture fluid approaches the height or vertical depth of these detecter means, the gamma-ray count increases. Once the gamma-ray count reaches a predetermined level, the fracture will have reached a desired location in the formation and pumping of the fracture fluid will stop.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.