Enchanced gas recovery program. Part I. Second annual report, October 1976 through September 1977

Technical Report · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6633565· OSTI ID:6633565

Northrop, D A; Schuster, C L

Massive hydraulic fracture mapping field experiments continued in FY 77 with Sandia participating in fractures with Gas Producing Enterprises, Amoco, Shell, and Conoco. The surface electrical potential system has demonstrated that the fracture orientation can be determined to within +- 5/sup 0/ and has clearly shown that most fractures are asymmetrical. This system has been completely documented and has had wide exposure to the industry providing for the transfer of its technology. Improvements in the electrical system, its analytical model and the development of new systems for fracture diagnostics was also continuing. Hydraulic and explosive fracturing experiments have been conducted adjacent to an existing tunnel complex at DOE's Nevada Test Site and have been directly observed by subsequent mineback activities. Evaluation of a proppant distribution experiment has revealed a very complex fracture system which differed significantly from design; additional in situ stress and material property measurements are being made to quantify observed behavior. An experiment has been designed and conducted which will examine hydraulic fracture behavior at a geologic interface between formations with significantly different moduli, Poisson's ratios and porosities; mineback evaluation will occur next year. In conjunction wth a nuclear containment program, the stresses surrounding a contained explosive detonation have been examined. A 256 lb TNT detonation produced no radial fractures extending from the main cavity, but gases escaping down a borehole did create a 30 x 75 ft fracture in a region of reduced overburden stress caused by the explosion. Specific aid was provided in the planning and development of the Western Tight Gas Sands Project and DOE's Enhanced Gas Recovery Strategy Plan. A resource survey of the Greater Green River Basin was conducted as part of the latter activity.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 6633565
• Report Number(s): SAND-77-1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030900* -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
COMMINUTION
ELECTRICAL SURVEYS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
GREEN RIVER FORMATION
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
NATURAL GAS
NEVADA TEST SITE
PROPPING AGENTS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
SEISMIC SURVEYS