Apparatus and method for monitoring underground fracturing
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Albuquerque, NM
- Tijeras, NM
- Las Vegas, NV
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872431
- Patent Number(s):
- 5934373
- Application Number:
- 08/790292
- Assignee:
- Gas Research Institute (Chicago, IL)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 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/
Citation Formats
Warpinski, Norman R, Steinfort, Terry D, Branagan, Paul T, and Wilmer, Roy H. Apparatus and method for monitoring underground fracturing. United States: N. p., 1999.
Web.
Warpinski, Norman R, Steinfort, Terry D, Branagan, Paul T, & Wilmer, Roy H. Apparatus and method for monitoring underground fracturing. United States.
Warpinski, Norman R, Steinfort, Terry D, Branagan, Paul T, and Wilmer, Roy H. Tue .
"Apparatus and method for monitoring underground fracturing". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872431.
@article{osti_872431,
title = {Apparatus and method for monitoring underground fracturing},
author = {Warpinski, Norman R and Steinfort, Terry D and Branagan, Paul T and Wilmer, Roy H},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1999},
month = {8}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Measuring the Hydraulic Fracture-Induced Deformation of Reservoirs and Adjacent Rocks Employing a Deeply Buried Inclinometer Array: GRI/DOE Multi-Site Project
conference, October 1996
- Branagan, P. T.; Warpinski, N. R.; Engler, B.
- SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, All Days
Uplifts and Tilts at Earth's Surface lnduced by Pressure Transients From Hydraulic Fractures
journal, August 1990
- Palmer, Ian D.
- SPE Production Engineering, Vol. 5, Issue 03
Interpretation of Hydraulic Fracture Mapping Experiments
conference, April 2013
- Warpinski, N. R.
- University of Tulsa Centennial Petroleum Engineering Symposium