Method for determining fracture plane orientation using passive seismic signals
US8960280B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 2013 |
| Grant date | Feb 24, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 2, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V2210/646
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for determining fracture plane orientation from seismic signals detected above a subsurface formation of interest includes detecting seismic signals using an array of seismic sensors deployed above the subsurface formation during pumping of a hydraulic fracture treatment of the subsurface formation. A time of origin and a spatial position of origin (hypocenter) of microseismic events resulting from the hydraulic fracture treatment are determined. Time consecutively occurring ones of the hypocenters falling within a selected temporal sampling window are selected. A best fit line through the selected hypocenters using a preselected linear regression coefficient is determined. The selecting hypocenters and determining best fit lines is repeated for a selected number of windows.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.