Planning and performing re-fracturing operations based on microseismic monitoring
US9822626B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 5, 2015 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 26, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V2210/646
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An embodiment of a method of stimulating an earth formation includes: disposing a stimulation device at a borehole in an earth formation, the earth formation having been stimulated by an initial stimulation operation; subsequent to the stimulation operation, performing a probe operation configured to cause movement of existing fractures in the formation; and measuring microseismic events occurring in the formation by one or more seismic receivers. The method further includes: identifying one or more target zones in the formation based on the measuring, the one or more target zones exhibiting a reduced micro seismicity relative to another zone in the formation; and designing a re-stimulation operation configured to stimulate the one or more target zones to increase hydrocarbon production from the formation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.