Abstract: Methods and systems for geothermal energy production wherein multiple horizontal or vertical wells may be used to pass fluids through the Earth from an injector well to a producer well through induced cracks, splits, fractures, conduits, or channels in the rock. Such methods and systems may include controlling tensile-split conduits in a subterranean geothermal formation by providing an injection well, providing a production well, configuring the injection well for injection of a tensile-splitting fluid into a production zone, configuring the production well to produce a heated fluid from the production zone, applying pressure to the production well, creating a plurality of tensile-split conduits, raising or lowering the pressure in the production well, establishing fluid communication between the injection well and the production well, and producing the heated fluid to the surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for geothermal energy production wherein multiple horizontal or vertical wells may be used to pass fluids through the Earth from an injector well to a producer well through induced cracks, splits, fractures, conduits, or channels in the rock. Such methods and systems may include controlling tensile-split conduits in a subterranean geothermal formation by providing an injection well, providing a production well, configuring the injection well for injection of a tensile-splitting fluid into a production zone, configuring the production well to produce a heated fluid from the production zone, applying pressure to the production well, creating a plurality of tensile-split conduits, raising or lowering the pressure in the production well, establishing fluid communication between the injection well and the production well, and producing the heated fluid to the surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for geothermal energy production wherein multiple horizontal or vertical wells may be used to pass fluids through the Earth from an injector well to a producer well through induced cracks, splits, fractures, conduits, or channels in the rock. Such methods and systems may include controlling tensile-split conduits in a subterranean geothermal formation by providing an injection well, providing a production well, configuring the injection well for injection of a tensile-splitting fluid into a production zone, configuring the production well to produce a heated fluid from the production zone, applying pressure to the production well, creating a plurality of tensile-split conduits, raising or lowering the pressure in the production well, establishing fluid communication between the injection well and the production well, and producing the heated fluid to the surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for geothermal energy production wherein multiple horizontal or vertical wells may be used to pass fluids through the Earth from an injector well to a producer well through induced cracks, splits, fractures, conduits, or channels in the rock. Such methods and systems may include controlling tensile-split conduits in a subterranean geothermal formation by providing an injection well, providing a production well, configuring the injection well for injection of a tensile-splitting fluid into a production zone, configuring the production well to produce a heated fluid from the production zone, applying pressure to the production well, creating a plurality of tensile-split conduits, raising or lowering the pressure in the production well, establishing fluid communication between the injection well and the production well, and producing the heated fluid to the surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for geothermal energy production wherein multiple horizontal or vertical wells may be used to pass fluids through the Earth from an injector well to a producer well through induced cracks, splits, fractures, conduits, or channels in the rock. Such methods and systems may include controlling tensile-split conduits in a subterranean geothermal formation by providing an injection well, providing a production well, configuring the injection well for injection of a tensile-splitting fluid into a production zone, configuring the production well to produce a heated fluid from the production zone, applying pressure to the production well, creating a plurality of tensile-split conduits, raising or lowering the pressure in the production well, establishing fluid communication between the injection well and the production well, and producing the heated fluid to the surface.

Abstract: Methods and systems for geothermal energy production wherein multiple horizontal or vertical wells may be used to pass fluids through the Earth from an injector well to a producer well through induced cracks, splits, fractures, conduits, or channels in the rock. Such methods and systems may include controlling tensile-split conduits in a subterranean geothermal formation by providing an injection well, providing a production well, configuring the injection well for injection of a tensile-splitting fluid into a production zone, configuring the production well to produce a heated fluid from the production zone, applying pressure to the production well, creating a plurality of tensile-split conduits, raising or lowering the pressure in the production well, establishing fluid communication between the injection well and the production well, and producing the heated fluid to the surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modeling subterranean formations that include both gaseous hydrocarbons and adsorbed hydrocarbons. The systems and methods include determining a formation volume factor for gaseous hydrocarbons that may be present within the subterranean formation and correcting the formation volume factor to generate a compensated formation volume factor. The systems and methods further may include simulating a fluid flow within the subterranean formation, with the simulating being based, at least in part, on the compensated formation volume factor. Correcting the formation volume factor may include adjusting the formation volume factor based, at least in part, on a fraction of the adsorbed hydrocarbons within the subterranean formation that desorbs from the subterranean formation and/or transitions to gaseous hydrocarbons during production of the gaseous hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Autonomous units and methods for downhole, multi-zone perforation and fracture stimulation for hydrocarbon production. The autonomous unit may be a perforating gun assembly, a bridge plug assembly, or fracturing plug assembly. The autonomous units are dimensioned and arranged to be deployed within a wellbore without an electric wireline. The autonomous units may be fabricated from a friable material so as to self-destruct upon receiving a signal. The autonomous units include a position locator for sensing the presence of objects along the wellbore and generating depth signals in response. The autonomous units also include an on-board controller for processing the depth signals and for activating an actuatable tool at a zone of interest.

Abstract: The well includes a wellbore with a casing string that extends within the wellbore, defining a casing conduit including existing perforations. A re-completion liner extends within the casing conduit and defines a liner conduit therein, and an annular space extends between the re-completion liner and the casing string. Systems and methods include perforating the re-completion liner to create liner perforations and perforating the casing string to create re-completion perforations that are generally aligned with respective liner perforations, stimulating the subterranean formation by flowing a completing fluid through the plurality of liner perforations and re-completion perforations, controlling flow of a fluid within the annular space, and/or producing a reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation and through both the existing perforations and the re-completion perforations.

Abstract: Autonomous units and methods for downhole, multi-zone perforation and fracture stimulation for hydrocarbon production. The autonomous unit may be a perforating gun assembly, a bridge plug assembly, or fracturing plug assembly. The autonomous units are dimensioned and arranged to be deployed within a wellbore without an electric wireline. The autonomous units may be fabricated from a friable material so as to self-destruct upon receiving a signal. The autonomous units include a position locator for sensing the presence of objects along the wellbore and generating depth signals in response. The autonomous units also include an on-board controller for processing the depth signals and for activating an actuatable tool at a zone of interest.

Abstract: A method for hydraulically fracturing subterranean formations in a manner resulting in improved propping of fractures, particularly in ductile rock formations such as gas-containing shales having a high clay content. The method allows for improved hydrocarbon production. The method involves injecting a first fluid having a first proppant concentration into the subsurface formation to form a fracture, reducing the pressure in the fracture and allowing the fracture to substantially close, and injecting a second fluid having a second proppant concentration into the fracture to re-open the fracture. The second proppant concentration is greater than the first proppant concentration. A portion of the proppant is effectively retained in the reopened fracture.

Abstract: Drag-enhancing structures for downhole operations are included in a downhole assembly that further includes a tool string, extends past a maximum transverse perimeter of the tool string, and increases resistance to fluid flow past the downhole assembly when the downhole assembly is pumped in a downhole direction within a wellbore conduit. The systems and methods include conveying the downhole assembly in the downhole direction within the wellbore conduit. The systems and methods further may include decreasing the resistance to fluid flow past the downhole assembly after the downhole assembly is located within a target region of the wellbore conduit and/or flowing a sealing material past the downhole assembly while the downhole assembly is located within the wellbore conduit.

Abstract: Autonomous units and methods for downhole, multi-zone perforation and fracture stimulation for hydrocarbon production. The autonomous unit may be a perforating gun assembly, a bridge plug assembly, or fracturing plug assembly. The autonomous units are dimensioned and arranged to be deployed within a wellbore without an electric wireline. The autonomous units may be fabricated from a friable material so as to self-destruct upon receiving a signal. The autonomous units include a position locator for sensing the presence of objects along the wellbore and generating depth signals in response. The autonomous units also include an on-board controller for processing the depth signals and for activating an actuatable tool at a zone of interest.

Abstract: The well includes a wellbore with a casing string that extends within the wellbore, defining a casing conduit including existing perforations. A re-completion liner extends within the casing conduit and defines a liner conduit therein, and an annular space extends between the re-completion liner and the casing string. Systems and methods include perforating the re-completion liner to create liner perforations and perforating the casing string to create re-completion perforations that are generally aligned with respective liner perforations, stimulating the subterranean formation by flowing a completing fluid through the plurality of liner perforations and re-completion perforations, controlling flow of a fluid within the annular space, and/or producing a reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation and through both the existing perforations and the re-completion perforations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modeling subterranean formations that include both gaseous hydrocarbons and adsorbed hydrocarbons. The systems and methods include determining a formation volume factor for gaseous hydrocarbons that may be present within the subterranean formation and correcting the formation volume factor to generate a compensated formation volume factor. The systems and methods further may include simulating a fluid flow within the subterranean formation, with the simulating being based, at least in part, on the compensated formation volume factor. Correcting the formation volume factor may include adjusting the formation volume factor based, at least in part, on a fraction of the adsorbed hydrocarbons within the subterranean formation that desorbs from the subterranean formation and/or transitions to gaseous hydrocarbons during production of the gaseous hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Drag-enhancing structures for downhole operations are included in a downhole assembly that further includes a tool string, extends past a maximum transverse perimeter of the tool string, and increases resistance to fluid flow past the downhole assembly when the downhole assembly is pumped in a downhole direction within a wellbore conduit. The systems and methods include conveying the downhole assembly in the downhole direction within the wellbore conduit. The systems and methods further may include decreasing the resistance to fluid flow past the downhole assembly after the downhole assembly is located within a target region of the wellbore conduit and/or flowing a sealing material past the downhole assembly while the downhole assembly is located within the wellbore conduit.

Abstract: A method for heating a subsurface formation using electrical resistance heating is provided. The method includes placing a first electrically conductive proppant into a fracture within an interval of organic-rich rock. The first electrically conductive proppant has a first bulk resistivity. The method further includes placing a second electrically conductive proppant into the fracture. The second electrically conductive proppant has a second bulk resistivity that is lower than the first bulk resistivity, and is in electrical communication with the first proppant at three or more terminal locations. The method then includes passing an electric current through the second electrically conductive proppant at a selected terminal and through the first electrically conductive proppant, such that heat is generated within the fracture by electrical resistivity. The operator may monitor resistance and switch terminals for the most efficient heating.

Abstract: A method of forming an elevated pressure proppant-containing fracturing fluid for direct injection into a wellbore that reduces exposure of a substantial amount of the pumping equipment to the abrasive effects of proppant, as compared to conventional pumping equipment. The method includes providing a high pressure fluid stream to a nozzle having an inlet and an exit; accelerating the high pressure fluid stream through the nozzle from the inlet to the exit to increase the velocity thereof; providing a low pressure stream comprising a proppant to a suction chamber, the suction chamber positioned adjacent the nozzle exit; and mixing the low pressure fluid stream comprising a proppant with the high pressure fluid stream to form an elevated pressure proppant-containing fracturing fluid. A method for fracturing and a system for forming an elevated pressure proppant-containing fracturing fluid for injection into a wellbore are also provided.

Abstract: A method for hydraulically fracturing subterranean formations in a manner resulting in improved propping of fractures, particularly in ductile rock formations such as gas-containing shales having a high clay content. The method allows for improved hydrocarbon production. The method involves injecting a first fluid having a first proppant concentration into the subsurface formation to form a fracture, reducing the pressure in the fracture and allowing the fracture to substantially close, and injecting a second fluid having a second proppant concentration into the fracture to re-open the fracture. The second proppant concentration is greater than the first proppant concentration. A portion of the proppant is effectively retained in the reopened fracture.

Abstract: A method of creating a network of fractures in a reservoir is provided. The method includes designing a desired fracture network system, and determining required in situ stresses to create the desired fracture network within the reservoir. The method further includes designing a layout of wells to alter the in situ stresses within the stress field, and then injecting a fracturing fluid under pressure into the reservoir to create an initial set of fractures within the reservoir. The method also includes monitoring the in situ stresses within the stress field, and modifying the in situ stresses within the stress field. The method then includes injecting a fracturing fluid under pressure into the reservoir in order to expand upon the initial set of fractures and to create the network of fractures. A method for producing hydrocarbons from a subsurface formation is also provided herein, wherein a fracture network is created from a single, deviated wellbore production.