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Uplifts and tilts at earth's surface induced by pressure transients from hydraulic fractures

Journal Article · · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/18538-PA· OSTI ID:6572427

The pressure transient that spreads through the formation during and after a hydraulic fracture treatment pressurizes the formation and induces a certain swelling. This swelling and the accompanying uplift at the earth's surface can be estimated with poroelastic theory. The uplift may produce a significant signal in tiltmeter devices placed at the surface. This paper reports six fracturing treatments in liquid-saturated reservoirs, all with tiltmeters to diagnose the fractures, analyzed. In five cases, routine tiltmeter analysis postulated a horizontal fracture component (in the remaining case, a near-vertical fracture of dip 70 to 85{degrees} probably could also be interpreted by a vertical fracture with a subsidiary horizontal component). In three treatments, however, theoretical tilts calculated from the pressure transient can account for the magnitude of the tiltmeter signals, which had previously been explained by a horizontal fracture component.

OSTI ID:
6572427
Journal Information:
SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (USA), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Production Engineering; (USA) Vol. 5:3; ISSN SPENE; ISSN 0885-9221
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English