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Title: Method for monitoring the hydraulic fracturing of a subsurface formation

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6744584

This patent describes a method for monitoring the hydraulic fracturing of a subsurface formation of interest. It comprises: logging a subsurface formation through a measurement of delayed gamma rays from the neutron activation of a characteristic element of the formation, injecting a fracturing fluid into the formation to hydraulically create a fracture within the formation, injecting a proppant into the fracture containing the element which emits delayed gamma rays in response to neutron activation, logging the proppant containing the fractured formation through a measurement of delayed gamma rays from the neutron activation of the proppant containing fractured formation, and identifying the extent of proppant deposition within the fractured formation from the difference in the delayed gamma ray measurements of the formation before and after the proppant injection.

Assignee:
Mobil Oil Corp., New York, NY (USA)
Patent Number(s):
US 4926940; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-240308A
OSTI ID:
6744584
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 6 Sep 1988
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English