Determining stimulated reservoir volume from passive seismic monitoring
US9957791B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 28, 2014 |
| Grant date | May 1, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/267
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method for determining a stimulated rock volume includes determining a position of a plurality of seismic events from seismic signals recorded in response to pumping fracturing fluid into a formation penetrated by a wellbore. The signals generated by recording output of a plurality of seismic receivers disposed proximate a volume of the Earth's subsurface to be evaluated. A source mechanism of each seismic event is determined and is used to determine a fracture volume and orientation of a fracture associated with each seismic event. A volume of each fracture, beginning with fractures closest to a wellbore in which the fracturing fluid was pumped is subtracted from a total volume of proppant pumped with the fracture fluid until all proppant volume is associated with fractures. A stimulated rock volume is determined from the total volume of fractures associated with the volume of proppant pumped.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.