Abstract: Enhancing the recovery of unconventional and conventional hydrocarbons is possible by utilizing patterns of wells and hydraulic fractures that are carefully designed to avoid interconnection between injection and production well fractures to allow for both primary production and improved secondary production. Adjacent horizontal wells may be drilled and fractured, with selected wells converted to injection wells after primary production to produce alternating production and injection fractures. In addition, infill horizontal injection wells may be drilled and fractured adjacent to an existing and previously produced multiple transverse fracture horizontal hydrocarbon production well to produce alternating production and injection fractures.

Abstract: Enhancing the recovery of unconventional and conventional hydrocarbons is possible by utilizing patterns of wells and hydraulic fractures that are carefully designed to avoid interconnection between injection and production well fractures to allow for both primary production and improved secondary production. Adjacent horizontal wells may be drilled and fractured, with selected wells converted to injection wells after primary production to produce alternating production and injection fractures. In addition, infill horizontal injection wells may be drilled and fractured adjacent to an existing and previously produced multiple transverse fracture horizontal hydrocarbon production well to produce alternating production and injection fractures.

Abstract: An engineered, scalable underground containment system and method for storing compressed gases or liquids in permeable rock formations using conventional drilling techniques. The porosity and permeability of the formation may be enhanced to maximize reservoir capacity and increase the rate at which gases and liquids can be introduced into and removed from the reservoir. In some embodiments, layers of cap rock in the formation are utilized as containment barriers, and in some, containment barriers are constructed around the storage zones.

Abstract: An engineered, scalable underground containment system and method for storing compressed gases or liquids in permeable rock formations using conventional drilling techniques. The porosity and permeability of the formation may be enhanced to maximize reservoir capacity and increase the rate at which gases and liquids can be introduced into and removed from the reservoir. In some embodiments, layers of cap rock in the formation are utilized as containment barriers, and in some, containment barriers are constructed around the storage zones.

Abstract: An engineered, scalable underground containment system and method for storing compressed gases or liquids in permeable rock formations using conventional drilling techniques. The porosity and permeability of the formation may be enhanced to maximize reservoir capacity and increase the rate at which gases and liquids can be introduced into and removed from the reservoir. In some embodiments, layers of cap rock in the formation are utilized as containment barriers, and in some, containment barriers are constructed around the storage zones.

Abstract: An engineered, scalable underground containment system and method for storing compressed gases or liquids in permeable rock formations using conventional drilling techniques. The porosity and permeability of the formation may be enhanced to maximize reservoir capacity and increase the rate at which gases and liquids can be introduced into and removed from the reservoir. In some embodiments, layers of cap rock in the formation are utilized as containment barriers, and in some, containment barriers are constructed around the storage zones.

Abstract: This invention relates to a procedure to control fracture orientation in underground formations to increase well productivity. The method is performed by hydraulically fracturing the formation and propping and plugging the fractures which result. The formation is then perforated or notched in a direction angularly disposed relative to the anticipated fracture formation and first hydraulic fracture. The presence of the first fracture will force the second fracture to propagate in a direction away from that of the first fracture. A method for simultaneously fracturing the formation in two directions is also provided.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for determining the fracture closure pressure of a fractured formation. The method includes the steps of injecting a fracturing fluid into a subsurface formation to create a fracture, measuring the pressure response of the formation after injection has ceased, and determining the pressure at the onset of constant volume behavior as the fracture closure pressure. In another embodiment of the present invention, the fracture volume, leak-off volume and efficiency are determined by integrating the fracture closure rate over time, and then iterating with a fluid volume equation. Still another embodiment of the present invention determines the fracture volume, leak-off volume and efficiency by extrapolating the apparent system volume back to the moment when injection is stopped.

Abstract: A method of determining the relative fracturability of two materials whereby samples of the materials are bonded together to form a composite sample and a force is applied to the composite sample to create and extend fractures therein. The rate of application of the force to the sample is controlled whereby the displacement of the sample resulting from the force increases at a relatively slow rate.