Patent · US Active

Electrically conductive proppant and methods for detecting, locating and characterizing the electrically conductive proppant

US8931553B2 · kind B2 · utility

30Cited by
120References
20Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateJan 3, 2014
Grant dateJan 13, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 3, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B43/26
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

Electrically conductive proppants and methods for detecting, locating, and characterizing same are provided. The electrically conductive proppant can include a substantially uniform coating of an electrically conductive material having a thickness of at least 500 nm. The method can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein, injecting into the fracture a fluid containing the electrically conductive proppant, electrically energizing the earth at or near the fracture, and measuring three dimensional (x, y, and z) components of electric and magnetic field responses at a surface of the earth or in an adjacent wellbore.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.