Fracture closure pressure determination
US6705398B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 24, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 16, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 24, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/26
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method for assessing the fracture pressure closure is proposed. This method includes first injecting a fluid into the formation at a first generally constant rate Q to create a fracture, and then, dropping the pumping rate to significantly smaller feed rate q so that the volume of the fracture becomes constant, in other words. As the fracture volume becomes constant at equilibrium, the well is shut-in. The wellbore pressure is monitored and the closure pressure is determined from the analysis of the wellbore pressure using a time-function of the dimensionless “shut-in” time, defined as the ratio of time since shutting to pumping time. This method provides a way of estimating the friction component of the monitored wellbore pressure due to the fracture tortuosity and friction.It is applicable to the art of fracturing subterranean formations and more particularly to the process of designing and analyzing stimulation treatments.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.