Fracture stimulation of coal degasification wells

Patent · Tue Feb 19 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5788751

Palmer, I D; Gardner, D C; Veatch, R W; Kutas, G M

This patent describes a method of placing a conductive proppant pack while hydraulically fracturing a subterranean coal formation penetrated by a coal degasification well. It comprises: continuously injecting a pad fluid through the well and into contact with the coal formation at a flow rate and pressure at least sufficient to fracture the coal formation and thereafter injecting a proppant-laden fracturing fluid into the fractured coal formation for a time sufficient to emplace a conductive proppant pack in the fracture coal formation that is in fluid communication with the wellbore. The proppant-laden fracturing fluid having a graduated schedule of increasing proppant mesh size, ranging from about 40/70 mesh to about 12/20 mesh, and increasing proppant concentration in the fracturing fluid.

• Assignee: Amoco Corp., Chicago, IL (USA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4993491; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-342407
• OSTI ID: 5788751
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012030* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Underground Mining-- (1987-)
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL SEAMS
COMMINUTION
DEGASSING
FLUIDS
FRACTURING
FRACTURING FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS WELLS
RESOURCES
STIMULATION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS