Method for enhancement of sequential hydraulic fracturing using control pulse fracturing

Patent · Tue Jul 20 00:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:6167635

Jennings, Jr, A R; Strubhar, M K

A method is described for creating multiple sequential hydraulic fractures via hydraulic fracturing combined with controlled pulse fracturing where two wells are utilized comprising: (a) drilling and completing a first and second well so that the wells will be in fluid communication with each other after subsequent fracturing in each well; (b) creating more than two simultaneous multiple vertical fractures via a controlled pulse fracturing method in the second well; (c) thereafter hydraulically fracturing the reservoir via the first well thereby creating fractures in the reservoir and afterwards shutting-in the first well without any induced pressure; (d) applying thereafter hydraulic pressure to the reservoir via the second well in an amount sufficient to fracture the reservoir thereby forming a first hydraulic fracture perpendicular to the least principal in-situ stress; (e) maintaining the hydraulic pressure on the reservoir while pumping via the second well alternate slugs of a thin-fluid spacer and a temporary blocking agent having a proppant therein whereupon a second hydraulic fracture is initiated; (f) maintaining the hydraulic pressure on the second well while pumping alternate slugs of spacer and blocking agent into the second hydraulic fracture thereby causing the second hydraulic fracture to propagate away from the first hydraulic fracture in step (e) in a curved trajectory which intersects a fracture created in the first well; (g) maintaining the hydraulic pressure while pumping as in step (f) whereupon another hydraulic fracture initiates causing another curved fracture trajectory to form and intersect the fracture created in the first well; and (h) repeated steps (f) and (g) until a desired number of hydraulic fractures are created which allows a substantial improvement in removing a natural resource from the reservoir.

• Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp., Fairfax, VA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5228510; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-885790
• OSTI ID: 6167635
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 20 May 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
42 ENGINEERING
WELLS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
BOREHOLE LINKING
FLUID INJECTION
FRACTURING FLUIDS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURES
OPTIMIZATION
ORIENTATION
PROPPING AGENTS
PULSE TECHNIQUES
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
WELL COMPLETION
WELL DRILLING
WELL STIMULATION
DRILLING
ENGINEERING
FAILURES
FLUIDS
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
STIMULATION
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
422000 - Engineering- Mining & Underground Engineering- (1980-)