Apparatus and method for monitoring underground fracturing

Patent · Tue Aug 10 00:00:00 EDT 1999

OSTI ID:872431

Warpinski, Norman R ^[1]; Steinfort, Terry D ^[2]; Branagan, Paul T ^[3]; Wilmer, Roy H ^[3]

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1. Albuquerque, NM
2. Tijeras, NM
3. Las Vegas, NV

An apparatus and method for measuring deformation of a rock mass around the vicinity of a fracture, commonly induced by hydraulic fracturing is provided. To this end, a well is drilled offset from the proposed fracture region, if no existing well is present. Once the well is formed to a depth approximately equal or exceeding the depth of the proposed fracture, a plurality of inclinometers, for example tiltmeters, are inserted downhole in the well. The inclinometers are located both above and below the approximate depth of the proposed fracture. The plurality of inclinometers may be arranged on a wireline that may be retrieved from the downhole portion of the well and used again or, alternatively, the inclinometers may be cemented in place. In either event, the inclinometers are used to measure the deformation of the rock around the induced fracture.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• Assignee: Gas Research Institute (Chicago, IL)
• Patent Number(s): US 5934373
• Application Number: 08/790292
• OSTI ID: 872431
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

apparatus
method
monitoring
underground
fracturing
measuring
deformation
rock
mass
vicinity
fracture
commonly
induced
hydraulic
provided
drilled
offset
proposed
region
existing
formed
depth
approximately
equal
exceeding
plurality
inclinometers
example
tiltmeters
inserted
downhole
located
below
approximate
arranged
wireline
retrieved
portion
alternatively
cemented
event
measure
approximately equal
rock mass
hydraulic fracturing
/166/73/