Method of fracturing a geological formation
Abstract
An improved method of fracturing a geological formation surrounding a well bore is disclosed. A relatively small explosive charge is emplaced in a well bore and the bore is subsequently hydraulically pressurized to a pressure less than the formation breakdown pressure and preferably greater than the fracture propagation pressure of the formation. The charge is denoted while the bore is so pressurized, resulting in the formation of multiple fractures in the surrounding formation with little or no accompanying formation damage. Subsequent hydraulic pressurization can be used to propagate and extend the fractures in a conventional manner. The method is useful for stimulating production of oil, gas and possibly water from suitable geologic formations.
- Inventors:
-
- 2679-B Walnut, Los Alamos, NM 87544
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 867279
- Patent Number(s):
- 4903772
- Assignee:
- Johnson, James O. (2679-B Walnut, Los Alamos, NM 87544)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F42 - AMMUNITION F42D - BLASTING
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; fracturing; geological; formation; improved; surrounding; bore; disclosed; relatively; explosive; charge; emplaced; subsequently; hydraulically; pressurized; pressure; breakdown; preferably; fracture; propagation; denoted; resulting; multiple; fractures; accompanying; damage; subsequent; hydraulic; pressurization; propagate; extend; conventional; manner; useful; stimulating; production; oil; gas; possibly; water; suitable; geologic; formations; improved method; explosive charge; geological formation; conventional manner; formation surrounding; geologic formations; /166/299/
Citation Formats
Johnson, James O. Method of fracturing a geological formation. United States: N. p., 1990.
Web.
Johnson, James O. Method of fracturing a geological formation. United States.
Johnson, James O. Mon .
"Method of fracturing a geological formation". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867279.
@article{osti_867279,
title = {Method of fracturing a geological formation},
author = {Johnson, James O},
abstractNote = {An improved method of fracturing a geological formation surrounding a well bore is disclosed. A relatively small explosive charge is emplaced in a well bore and the bore is subsequently hydraulically pressurized to a pressure less than the formation breakdown pressure and preferably greater than the fracture propagation pressure of the formation. The charge is denoted while the bore is so pressurized, resulting in the formation of multiple fractures in the surrounding formation with little or no accompanying formation damage. Subsequent hydraulic pressurization can be used to propagate and extend the fractures in a conventional manner. The method is useful for stimulating production of oil, gas and possibly water from suitable geologic formations.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990}
}