Hydraulic fracturing of a shallow subsurface formation

Patent · Tue Dec 22 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5464142

Uhri, D C

A method for propagating a vertical hydraulic fracture in an earth formation surrounding a borehole where the original in-situ stresses favor a horizontal fracture is described comprising the steps of: (a) firstly supplying fracturing fluid to the formation at a first depth within the borehole to propagate a horizontal fracture favored by the original in-situ stresses of the formation, and (b) secondly supplying fracturing fluid to the formation at a second depth within the borehole, while maintaining pressure in the horizontal fracture, to propagate a vertical fracture as favored by the in-situ stresses as altered by the propagating of the horizontal fracture.

• Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp., New York, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4714115
• OSTI ID: 5464142
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
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COMMINUTION
CRACK PROPAGATION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FAILURES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
FRACTURING FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS