Refining information on subterranean fractures
US9176245B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 25, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 3, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/26
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to refining information on characteristics of natural fractures of a subterranean formation. Fracture pattern models are generated based on sampling an initial distribution of values for a fracture parameter. Each fracture pattern model may include, for example, a model of natural fractures in a subterranean formation. Each fracture pattern model is compared to microseismic event data for a subterranean region. A refined distribution for the fracture parameter is generated based on the comparison. Generating the refined distribution may include, for example, selecting values of the fracture parameter from fracture pattern models that correlate with the microseismic event data. In some implementations, an injection treatment may be simulated and/or designed based on the refined distribution.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.