Abstract: A downhole tool configured for conveyance within a borehole extending into a subterranean formation, wherein the downhole tool comprises a sensor assembly comprising a housing, a cap coupled to an end of the housing, a flow-line tube disposed within the housing and configured to receive fluid from the formation, a first winding disposed within the housing and configured to induce an electrical current in the fluid, and a second winding disposed within the housing and configured to detect the electrical current induced in the fluid by the first winding.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to downhole wellbore operations, such as drilling and completing wells in an earth formation, include a laser device. A first portion of a subterranean formation can be characterized, the first portion being at a first location. A first orientation of an aperture can be selected based on the characteristics of the first portion of the subterranean formation. A laser beam can be used to create the aperture having the first orientation. A second portion of the subterranean formation can be characterized, the second portion being at a second location different from the first location. A second orientation, different from the first orientation, can be selected based on the characteristics of the second portion of the subterranean formation. The laser beam can be moved to the second location and can be used to form the aperture having the second orientation.

Abstract: A technique enables improvements in hydraulic fracturing treatments on heterogeneous reservoirs. Based on data obtained for a given reservoir, a fracturing treatment material is used to create complex fractures, which, while interacting with the interfaces and planes of weakness in the reservoir, develop fracture connectors, e.g. step-overs, which often grow for short distances along these planes of weakness. The technique further comprises closing or sealing at least one of the fracture connectors to enable reinitiation of fracturing from the truncated branches, and to subsequently develop additional connectors. As a result, the overall fracturing becomes more complex (more branches and more surface area per unit reservoir volume is created), which leads to an increase in the effective fracture area and improved fluid flow through the reservoir.

Abstract: In one aspect a method of estimating a property of interest of a formation is provided, which method in one embodiment may include: injecting nanoexplosive elements into the formation, detecting signals responsive to explosion of the nanoexplosive elements by one or more sensors, and processing the detected signals by a processor to estimate the property of interest of the formation.

Abstract: A method according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure comprises disposing a tool in a wellbore, the tool comprising a displacement unit for pumping a fluid at least partially through the tool, a first flowline hydraulically connected to the displacement unit through a valve network, and a second flowline hydraulically connected to the displacement unit; pumping a fluid from the first flowline to the second flowline; monitoring a pressure at a chamber of the displacement unit; and monitoring flowing pressure in the first flowline across the valve network from the displacement unit.

Abstract: A sonde for installation in a well including a clamp (2) for engaging with the inner wall of a well casing (3) and securing device for securing the clamp to inner tubing of the well, whereby the securing device includes an attachment device (5, 6) for connection to the inner tubing and a rod (4) connected between the clamp and the attachment device.

Abstract: A wellhead protection tool for simultaneously fitting within a lower portion of a tubing head and extending into a gate valve can have four portions with different diameters. A plurality of sealing grooves with seals can provide for sealing of the wellhead protection tool. A locking ring can engage the tubing head and injection portions thereof, allowing for continuous monitoring of seals between the tubing head and the gate valve using a client device at a remote location.

Abstract: A method of inducing fracture complexity within a fracturing interval of a subterranean formation comprising characterizing the subterranean formation, defining a stress anisotropy-altering dimension, providing a wellbore servicing apparatus configured to alter the stress anisotropy of the fracturing interval of the subterranean formation, altering the stress anisotropy within the fracturing interval, and introducing a fracture in the fracturing interval in which the stress anisotropy has been altered. A method of servicing a subterranean formation comprising introducing a fracture into a first fracturing interval, and introducing a fracture into a third fracturing interval, wherein the first fracturing interval and the third fracturing interval are substantially adjacent to a second fracturing interval in which the stress anisotropy is to be altered.

Abstract: Methods for determining hydraulic fracture geometry and/or areal extent of an area of interest in a reservoir, are provided. An exemplary method includes isolating downhole acoustic receiver equipment in a lower portion of a first wellbore from fracturing operations located in a second wellbore connected to the first wellbore. Communications between surface equipment in the downhole acoustic receiver equipment is provided through a communications conduit bypass that permits well operations in the second wellbore without interfering with communications between the surface equipment and the downhole acoustic receiver equipment.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for characterizing natural fracture networks or other textural networks in an Earth formation when using microseismic monitoring of a hydraulic fracturing job. The method comprises receiving (120) microseismic data from a hydraulic fracturing event, identifying a data subset (153) comprising components of the microseismic data associated with the one or more hydraulic fractures; and obtaining a remainder dataset (156) of the microseismic data by removing the subset from the microseismic data. One approach for identifying the data subset, after removing high uncertainty microseismic events, is to create a Voronoi diagram of a plurality of cells each associated with one of the microseismic events, determine a density for each cell, create a connectivity matrix of the high density cells and identify event clusters in the connectivity matrix which are aligned with a main growing direction of the hydraulic fracture.

Abstract: There is provided a method of testing a subterranean formation for fracture condition, including the steps of creating a side bore into the wall of a well traversing the formation, sealing the wall around the side bore to provide a pressure seal between the side bore and the well, pressurizing the side bore beyond a pressure inducing formation fracture while maintaining the seal and monitoring the pressure to identify the fracture condition.

Abstract: A method for characterizing fluid pumping effects on a subsurface formation includes (a) during pumping of fluid into the subsurface formation, detecting passive seismic signals related to fractures created in the subsurface formation. (b) A place of origin of the passive seismic signals is determined. (c) A seismic energy source is actuated for a plurality of actuations and an output thereof is beam steered toward the place of origin. (d) At least one acoustic property is determined for the place of origin using signals detected as a result of the plurality of actuations. The detected signals are beam steered toward the place of origin and are stacked over the plurality of actuations. (a), (b), (c) and (d) are repeated until the pumping is completed.

Abstract: A method for determining the fracture spacing for a first set of fractures of a wellbore. A first fracture dimension is chosen from the smaller of the length or height of a first fracture and an expected second fracture dimension is chosen from the smaller of the expected length or expected height of a second fracture to be formed. An approximate position of the second fracture is determined from a percentage of the average of the first fracture dimension and the second fracture dimension. An approximate position of a third fracture is determined so that ratio of the distances from the first fracture and the second fracture are about equal to a ratio of the first fracture dimension and the second fracture dimension. The well may then be fractured at the approximate position of the second fracture and may be fractured at the approximate position of the third fracture.

Abstract: Systems and methods for maximizing energy recovery from a subterranean formation are herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, a selected subterranean open-hole interval is isolated and at least one fracture is stimulated in the isolated subterranean open-hole interval.

Abstract: A method for determining fracture geometry of a subterranean formation from radiation emitted from a fracture in the formation, including measuring gamma-radiation emitted from the fracture; subtracting background radiation from the measured gamma-radiation to obtain a peak-energy measurement; comparing the peak-energy measurement with a gamma-ray transport/spectrometer response model; and determining formation fracture geometry of the fracture in accordance with values associated with the response model.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to stochastic simulation of subterranean fracture propagation. A plurality of subterranean formation models, each representing a subterranean formation, are analyzed to obtain information on predicted results of applying an injection treatment to the subterranean formation. Each of the analyzed subterranean formation models is generated by simulating forces acting on rock blocks of the subterranean formation during the injection treatment. Each simulation has an input parameter value determined for that simulation based on sampling a distribution of values for a characteristic of the subterranean formation. The characteristic may include, for example, a natural fracture parameter. The information on the predicted results of applying the injection treatment may include, for example, an output probability distribution.

Abstract: Method for identifying geologic features from geophysical or attribute data using windowed principal component (22), or independent component, or diffusion mapping (61) analysis. Subtle features are made identifiable in partial or residual data volumes. The residual data volumes (24) are created by (36) eliminating data not captured by the most prominent principal components (14). The partial data volumes are created by (35) projecting the data (21) on to selected principal components (22, 61). Geologic features may also be identified from pattern analysis (77) or anomaly volumes (62, 79) generated with a variable-scale data similarity matrix (73). The method is suitable for identifying physical features indicative of hydrocarbon potential.

Abstract: A drill pipe includes a pin end connector, a box end connector, a first communication connector and a second communication connector. The pin end connector includes a first region to form a threaded connection to join sections of the drill pipe together, and the first region includes at least one thread that begins at one end of the first region and ends at the other end of the first region. The box end connector receives the pin end connector, and the box end connector includes a second region to mate with the first region to form the threaded connection. The first communication connector is attached to the pin end connector and is located in the first region; and the second communication connector is attached to the box end connector and located in the second region to form a communication connection with the first communication connector.

Abstract: A method determines the performance index of subterranean rock. In one embodiment, a performance index method determines a performance index for subterranean rock of an area. The area includes a well. The method includes determining a time period during producing the well. The method also includes determining the performance index from data of the time period from the equation PI=(q/dd)*(cum./GPI). The term PI is the performance index, and the term q is the average daily rate of the well for the time period. The term dd is the average drawdown per day of the well for the time period, and the term cum. is the cumulative production of the well for the time period. The term GPI is the gross perforated interval of the well for the time period.

Abstract: An explosive pellet for characterizing a fracture in a subterranean formation is provided. The pellet can include a casing having a detonation material and an explosive material disposed within the casing. The pellet can also include a nonexplosive material moveably disposed within the casing. Movement of the nonexplosive material can generate a predetermined amount of energy in the form of friction-generated heat sufficient to detonate the explosive material.

Abstract: Hydraulic fracturing, acidizing and polymer injection using coiled tubing are commonly used techniques in wellbore completion. A pulsed neutron tool may be conveyed at the bottom of the coiled tubing to monitor the effectiveness of these operations by measuring the flow velocity of the borehole fluid of the annulus between the pulsed neutron tool and the borehole wall. Gamma rays resulting from Oxygen activation and/or ? measurements are used for measuring the flow velocity.

Abstract: A method for stimulating production of a first wellbore associated with a reservoir. The method includes determining a textural complexity of a formation in which the reservoir is located, determining an induced fracture complexity of the formation using the textural complexity, determining a first operation to perform within the formation to maintain conductivity of the formation based on the induced fracture complexity and the textural complexity, performing the first operation within the formation, and fracturing the formation to create a first plurality of fractures.

Abstract: A method for managing a fracturing operation. In one implementation, the method may include positioning a seismic source and at least one seismic receiver near a hydrocarbon reservoir; pumping a fracturing fluid into a well bore of the hydrocarbon reservoir such that the fracturing fluid may include an additive that enhances acoustic impedance between the fracturing fluid and subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located and that produces a foam; performing a seismic survey with the seismic source and the at least one seismic receiver during the fracturing operation; and identifying locations of the fracturing fluid within subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located.

Abstract: Methods of the present disclosure include determining an expected trajectory of induced fractures in a rock formation, analyzing net pressure associated with the induced fractures, and determining at least one of spacing of induced fractures and a property of the induced fractures based on the net pressure. Computer-readable medium containing the method are also disclosed. Other related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The method and system describes monitoring and modeling the hydraulic fracturing of a reservoir. The microseismic events caused by hydraulic fracturing on a reservoir are captured by sensor arrays. The data captured by the sensor arrays are then analyzed to determine the source radius, and seismic moment tensor of microseismic events caused by the hydraulic fracturing. This information is then combined with a seismic velocity model to arrive at a discrete fracture network showing at least the orientation, source radius, and source mechanism of each microseismic event. This discrete fracture network is then used to determine the stimulated surface area, stimulated volume, and point of diminishing returns for the hydraulic fracturing process. Hydraulic fracturing engineers can use the algorithms to monitor the well and/or determine well completion.

Abstract: A technique provides an electric submersible pumping system to facilitate a well treatment, such as a hydraulic fracturing well treatment. The electric submersible pumping system is positioned downhole and oriented to intake a fluid delivered downhole for use in the well treatment. Once the fluid is delivered downhole, the electric submersible pumping system pumps, pressurizes and discharges this fluid to perform the well treatment, e.g. the hydraulic fracturing treatment. The pumping system reduces the pressure at which the treatment fluid must be delivered downhole.

Abstract: Method for determining geometric characteristics of a hydraulic fracture comprises performing a baseline seismic survey for a geological formation. A velocity model is created by combining results of the baseline seismic survey and additional geoscientific information, and seismic properties of the geologic formation are evaluated. At least one strong flat lithological reflector disposed below a planned fracture is identified. A numerical model of elastic wave propagation in the geologic formation with a fracture with given properties is created. Hydraulic fracturing is performed and after fracturing when the fracture is maintained open and pressurized seismic surveys are performed. The fracture's dimensions and shape are determined by comparing the first and the second reflected and refracted seismic signals and solving an inverse problem with the use of the numerical model.

Abstract: Systems for determining a size, extent, and orientation of a hydraulic fracture of a reservoir, are provided. An exemplary system can include a plurality of RFID transponders modified to include an acoustic transmitter, and an RFID reader modified to include both an RF transmitter and a pair of acoustic receivers, to be deployed in a wellbore adjacent a hydraulic fracture. The system includes program product configured to receive acoustic return signal data to determine the three-dimensional location of each RFID transponder within the reservoir, to map the location of each RFID transponder, and to responsively determine the size, extent, and orientation can be determined.

Abstract: Methods of employing and using a hybrid transponder system to determine the size, extent, and orientation of a hydraulic fracture of a reservoir, are provided. An exemplary method can include the steps of inserting a plurality of transponders into a fluid, injecting the fluid carrying the transponders through casing perforations and at least one fracture aperture in a wellbore and into a hydraulic fracture, actuating each of the transponders by a reader to provide an acoustic return signal to the reader, determining a three-dimensional position of each of the transponders, mapping the location of the each of the transponders, and determining characteristics of the hydraulic fracture responsive to the three-dimensional position of each of the plurality of transponders. The method can be implemented utilizing a reader including an RF transmitter and one or more acoustic receivers along with typically a substantial plurality of transponders each containing an RF receiver and an acoustic transmitter.

Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising placing into a wellbore a first wellbore composition comprising a plurality of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors having a first identifier, and determining positions in the wellbore of the MEMS sensors having the first identifiers.

Abstract: A formation fluid sampling tool is provided with reactants which are carried downhole and which are combined in order to generate heat energy which is applied to the formation adjacent the borehole. By applying heat energy to the formation, the formation fluids are heated, thereby increasing mobility, and fluid sampling is expedited.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatus useful for determining at least one dimension of at least one geological feature of an earthen formation from a subterranean well bore includes at least two electric current transmitting electrodes and at least two sensing electrodes disposed in the well bore. The electric current transmitting electrodes are configured to create an electric field and the sensing electrodes are configured to detect perturbations in the electric field created by at least one target object.

Abstract: Reservoir fractures are characterized directly in situ without need to acquire and analyze formation sample cores. A magnetic fluid is injected into an isolated section of the reservoir. The magnitude and directional properties of the enhanced magnetic susceptibility in the section where magnetic fluid injection occurs is measured with a down hole magnetometer. Logs obtained of the enhanced magnetic susceptibility are analyzed to characterize fractures, and petrophysical properties of interest, such as porosity, permeability, and permeability anisotropy of the formation in the vicinity of the fluid injection.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for determining injected fluid vertical placement in a formation. The apparatus includes a borehole drilled through a formation, and an injection conduit within the borehole. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a fiber optic cable within the borehole wrapped helically around the injection conduit such that the fiber optic cable reads temperatures at specific depths and radial angles throughout the borehole. The apparatus includes a thermal insulation layer interposed between the injection conduit and the fiber optic cable such that the fiber optic cable detects the formation temperature rather than the injection conduit temperature. The apparatus includes a computer programmed to determine the vertical placement of the injected fluid within the formation based on the temperature readings. The apparatus detects an induced hydraulic fracture height, and detects whether an induced hydraulic fracture has deviated from the plane of the borehole.

Abstract: Proppants having added functional properties are provided, as are methods that use the proppants to track and trace the characteristics of a fracture in a geologic formation. Information obtained by the methods can be used to design a fracturing job, to increase conductivity in the fracture, and to enhance oil and gas recovery from the geologic formation. The functionalized proppants can be detected by a variety of methods utilizing, for example, an airborne magnetometer survey, ground penetrating radar, a high resolution accelerometer, a geophone, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultra-sound, impedance measurements, piezoelectric activity, radioactivity, and the like. Methods of mapping a subterranean formation are also provided and use the functionalized proppants to detect characteristics of the formation.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a well site having a subterranean formation is provided. The method comprises determining a first spectral attenuation of a first seismic wave measured from a first location, determining a second spectral attenuation of a second seismic wave measured from a second location, determining a reservoir attenuation anisotropy from a comparison of the first spectral attenuation to the second spectral attenuation, and determining at least one fracture parameter of the subterranean formation from a comparison of the first seismic wave to the second seismic wave.

Abstract: A well bore in a subterranean formation includes a signaling subsystem communicably coupled to injection tools installed in the well bore. Each injection tool controls a flow of fluid into an interval of the formation based on a state of the injection tool. Stresses in the subterranean formation are altered by creating fractures in the formation. Control signals are sent from the well bore surface through the signaling subsystem to the injection tools to modify the states of one or more of the injection tools. Fluid is injected into the stress-altered subterranean formation through the injection tools to create a fracture network in the subterranean formation. In some implementations, the state of each injection tool can be selectively and repeatedly manipulated based on signals transmitted from the well bore surface. In some implementations, stresses are modified and/or the fracture network is created along a substantial portion and/or the entire length of a horizontal well bore.

Abstract: A method for managing a fracturing operation. In one implementation, the method may include positioning a seismic source and at least one seismic receiver near a hydrocarbon reservoir; pumping a fracturing fluid into a well bore of the hydrocarbon reservoir such that the fracturing fluid may include an additive that enhances acoustic impedance between the fracturing fluid and subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located; performing a seismic survey with the seismic source and the at least one seismic receiver during the fracturing operation; and identifying locations of the fracturing fluid within subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for acquiring and evaluating the geometry of a fracture.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the automated positioning of pads and orienting of slot templates for the pads. The systems and methods also include automated adjustment of well path plans from a pad to selected well targets.

Abstract: Subterranean formation treatment methods incorporating a rheology model which enables prediction of fluid rheology properties during a treatment operation, where the foundation of the model is a description of the reaction chemistry which describes how the number of crosslinks and broken polymer linkages develops in time under the influence of crosslinkers, breakers, and/or thermally induced effects and pressure effects. In one aspect, when used as a tool for simulating the fluid viscosity, the model can help optimizing the fluid design and optional breaker schedule for a hydraulic fracturing treatment.

Abstract: Prior to a hydraulic fracturing treatment, the requisite apparent viscosity of a transport fluid, ?fluid, containing a proppant for a desired propped fracture length of a fracture, DPST, may be estimated in accordance with Equation (I): ?fluid=(1/A)×qi×(1/DPST)B×(CTRANS)×(?SGPS)×(d2prop)??(I) wherein: A is the multiplier and B is the exponent from the Power Law equation of velocity of the transport slurry vs. distance for the fracture geometry; qi is the injection rate per foot of injection height, bpm/ft; CTRANS is the transport coefficient; ?SGPS is SGprop?SGfluid, SGprop being the specific gravity of the proppant and SGfluid being the specific gravity of the transport fluid; and dprop is the median proppant diameter, in mm.

Abstract: A method of micro-fracturing in a well bore to define the stress field and fracture system for the purpose of optimizing subsequent hydraulic fracturing well completion operations. During or subsequent to drilling of the well bore, a down hole imager takes measurements that allow the operator to select appropriate zones of the well bore for optional micro-fracture testing. The micro-fracturing testing is conducted by stopping the flow of drilling mud and expanding one, or preferably two packers incorporated into a micro-fracture module of the drill string. The pressure in the isolated zone between the packers (or below the packer if one packer is used) is pressurized until fracture occurs. The trend in the pressure in the isolated zone of the bore hole is measured during the test to assess information about the fracturing of the bore hole.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for monitoring hydraulic fracturing during oil/gas well formation. A fibre optic cable (102) deployed down a well bore (106), which may be the well bore in which fracturing is performed, is interrogated to provide a distributed acoustic sensor. Data is sampled from at least one longitudinal sensing portion of the fibre and processed to provide at least fracturing characteristic. The fracturing characteristic may comprise the characteristics of high frequency transients indicative of fracturing events (606). The intensity, frequency, duration and signal evolution of the transients may be monitored to provide the fracturing characteristic. Additionally or alternatively the fracturing characteristic may comprise the longer term acoustic noise generated by fracture fluid flow to the fracture sites. The intensity and frequency of the noise may be analysed to determine the fracturing characteristic. The method allows real-time control of the fracturing process.

Abstract: Prior to a hydraulic fracturing treatment, ?SGPS for a desired propped fracture length, DPST, may be estimated wherein ?SGPS=SGprop?SGfluid (SGprop being the specific gravity of the proppant and SGfluid being the specific gravity of the transport fluid) in accordance with Equation (I): ?SGPS=(A)×(1/qi)×(DPST)B×(1/CTRANS)×(1/d2prop)×(?fluid)??(I) wherein: A is the multiplier and B is the exponent from the Power Law equation of velocity of the transport slurry vs. distance for the fracture geometry; qi is the injection rate per foot of injection height, bpm/ft; CTRANS is the transport coefficient; dprop is the median proppant diameter, in mm.; and ?fluid is the apparent viscosity of the transport fluid, in cP.

Abstract: Prior to a hydraulic fracturing treatment, the requisite median diameter of a proppant, dprop, into a fracture of defined length, DPST, may be estimated in accordance with Equation (I): (dprop)2=(A)×(1/qi)×(DPST)B×(1/CTRANS)×(1/?SGPS)×(?fluid)??(I) wherein: A is the multiplier and B is the exponent from the Power Law equation of velocity of the transport slurry vs. distance for the fracture geometry; qi is the injection rate per foot of injection height, bpm/ft; CTRANS is the transport coefficient; ?SGPS is SGprop?SGfluid, SGprop being the specific gravity of the proppant and SGfluid being the specific gravity of the transport fluid; and ?fluid is the apparent viscosity of the transport fluid, in cP.

Abstract: An injection backflow method for measuring fracture surface area adjacent to a wellbore measures an initial temperature profile along the length of a wellbore. A tracer composition is injected into the wellbore at an initial concentration. The tracer composition includes a reactive tracer and a secondary tracer that is less reactive than the reactive tracer. The tracer composition diffuses within subterranean reservoir for a time. A secondary tracer concentration and a reactive tracer concentration are measured as a function of time. A reservoir fracture surface area is calculated using a reservoir fluid flow model.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a fracture operation on a well site having a subterranean formation with a reservoir therein. The method involves measuring at least one seismic wave before and after stimulating the subterranean formation, comparing the seismic waves measured before the stimulation of the subterranean formation to the seismic waves measured after stimulation of the subterranean formation, and determining at least one fracture parameter of the subterranean formation from the compared seismic waves.

Abstract: A numerical model of a polymer-based fracturing fluid displacement from a fracture and a filtrate zone by a formation fluid is provided for calculating a change of a fracturing fluid concentration in a produced fluid and for calculating a change of a polymer concentration in the recovered fracturing fluid. Throughout the entire fracturing fluid recovery the produced fluid samples are periodically taken from a well mouth. The fracturing fluid concentration and the polymer concentration in the samples are measured. The measurement results are compared with the model calculations and the fracture length and width are determined based on a match of the measurement results and the model calculations.

Abstract: There is provided a method of testing a subterranean formation for fracture condition, including the steps of creating a side bore into the wall of a well traversing the formation, sealing the wall around the side bore to provide a pressure seal between the side bore and the well, pressurizing the side bore beyond a pressure inducing formation fracture while maintaining the seal and monitoring the pressure to identify the fracture condition.