Sonic fracing process and means to carry out said process

Patent · Tue Aug 27 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6323037

Beard, F

A sonic fracing process and means to enhance production of oil and gas wells, increasing formation permeability by creating sonic waves that cracks and loosens the formation interstices. The sonic waves are created by a series of directed detonations and harmonic pulsations. The explosive material is placed inside the well bore and detonated from the surface. Two methods commonly used to increase formation permeability are known as Acidizing and/or Hydraulic Fracturing. The Sonic Frac has been designed to complement these fracing processes. Three inherent benefits are derived by using the Sonic Frac Process. First, and most important, is that the fine formation fissures are cracked and ''opened'' to allow flow of oil or gas to migrate from pores that would otherwise not be affected by conventional fracing processes. Second the pressure pulsations, which are created by the expansion of the gas utilized in conjunction with the Sonic cause the fluid in the wall bore to oscillate through the perforated zones. Third, the head generated by the variable velocities of the sonic waves tend to dissipate and precipitate back into the formation any paraffin or asphaltum deposits which might be clogging the perforations or a main artery of permeability. The device employed includes a tubular housing, cylinders mounted in said housing, pistons in said cylinders, fuel lines connected into said cylinders and a remote controlled firing means in said cylinder, and means for timing the firing so that a series of explosions provide sonic waves in the formation.

• Assignee: EDB-86-014406
• Patent Number(s): US 4537256
• OSTI ID: 6323037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030900 -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
COMMINUTION
DESIGN
DETONATIONS
ENGINEERING
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
FORMATION DAMAGE
FRACTURING
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
SEISMIC SOURCES
SOUND WAVES
STIMULATION
WAVE FORCES
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS