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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Stimulation of earth formations surrounding a deviated wellbore by sequential hydraulic fracturing

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6264025
A method is described for the stimulation of oil and gas production from a naturally fractured earth formation surrounding a deviated wellbore by sequential hydraulic fracturing, comprising the steps of: (a) firstly supplying fracturing fluid to the formation at a first depth within the deviated wellbore to propagate a first vertical fracture as favored by the original in-situ stresses of the formation in a direction that is perpendicular to the least principal in-situ stress, the formation of the first vertical fracture altering the local in-situ stresses, and (b) secondly supplying fracturing fluid to the formation at a second depth within the wellbore, while maintaining pressure in the first vertical fracture, to propagate a second vertical fracture through the formation in a direction parallel to the least principal in-situ stress as favored by the altering of the local in-situ stresses by the first vertical fracture, such that the second vertical fracture intersects the naturally occurring fractures in the formation which are perpendicular to the direction of the least principal in-situ stress so as to link the naturally occurring fractures to the wellbore and thereby stimulate the production of oil or gas from the formation.
Assignee:
Mobil Oil Corp., New York, NY
Patent Number(s):
US 4687061
OSTI ID:
6264025
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English