Method for determining fracture network volume using passive seismic signals
US9158021B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 2013 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 25, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V2210/646
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for determining a volume of a fracture network includes detecting seismic signals deployed over an area of the subsurface during pumping of fracturing fluid into at least one wellbore drilled through the area. A hypocenter of each fracture induced by the pumping is determined using the seismic signals. A facture network and associated fracture volume is determined using the determined hypocenters and seismic moments determined from the detected seismic signals. A maximum value of a scaling factor is determined based on a subset of the hypocenters having a highest cumulative seismic moments. The scaling factor is determined by relating a pumped volume of the fracturing fluid with respect to the determined fracture volume. Dimensions of each fracture are scaled using the maximum value of the scaling factor. The fracture volumes are recalculated using the scaled dimensions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.