Mitigating risk by using fracture mapping to alter formation fracturing process
US6935424B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B49/006
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A formation fracturing method with which to mitigate risk to hydrocarbon productivity includes pumping fracturing fluid, during at least part of a fracturing job time period, into a well to fracture a formation; generating signals, within the fracturing job time period, in response to at least one dimension of the fracture; and further pumping fracturing fluid, within the fracturing job time period, into the well in response to the generated signals. Further pumping includes controlling at least one of a pump rate of the further pumping and a viscosity (either fluid viscosity or particulate concentration) of the further pumped fracturing fluid. Control can include comparing a measured magnitude of at least one dimension of the fracture represented by the generated signals with a predetermined modeled magnitude of the same dimension. Tiltmeters can be used to sense fracture height and width, for example.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.