Fracturing Characteristic Patents (Class 166/250.1)
  • Patent number: 11053787
    Abstract: A fracturing controller, a method for controlling fracture diversion, and a hydraulic fracturing system are provided herein. One example of a method for controlling fracture diversion of a fracture during hydraulic fracturing, includes: (1) providing a first fracturing treatment for the fracture at a first pump rate, (2) subsequently providing a low rate treatment for the fracture at a reduced pump rate less than the first pump rate, and (3) changing the reduced pump rate based on proppant bridging in the fracture during the low rate treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Nikolayevich Martysevich, Harold Grayson Walters
  • Patent number: 11028679
    Abstract: Systems and methods for fracturing operations include initiating pumping of a fracturing fluid into a target well according to one or more fracturing operation parameters, the target well extending through a subterranean formation. Subsequent to initiating pumping of the fracturing fluid into the target well, a response of a monitor well extending through the subterranean formation is detected, the monitor well including a sealed monitoring portion. The sealed monitoring portion is substantially filled with a liquid such that the response results from interactions between the sealed monitoring portion and a fracture extending from the target well. The method further includes modifying at least one of the one or more fracturing operation parameters in response to detecting the response of the monitor well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Devon Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle L. Haustveit, Wolfgang Deeg
  • Patent number: 11015444
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for predicting the optimal shut-in duration by coupling fluid flow and geological stress, comprising the following steps: determine basic parameters; obtain the fracture length, fracture width and reservoir stress distribution based on the basic parameters; calculate the oil saturation, pore pressure, and permeability and porosity after coupling change in different shut-in durations on the basis of the principle of fluid-solid coupling; take the oil saturation, pore pressure, and permeability and porosity obtained in Step 3 as initial parameters and calculate the production corresponding to different shut-in time on the basis of the productivity model; finally select the optimal shut-in time based on the principle of fastest cost recovery. The present invention can accurately predict the optimal shut-in duration after fracturing to improve the oil and gas recovery ratio in tight oil and gas reservoirs with difficulty in development and low recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST PETROLEUM UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yongquan Hu, Qiang Wang, Jinzhou Zhao, Lan Ren, Chenghao Fu, Chaoneng Zhao, Jin Zhao
  • Patent number: 11002130
    Abstract: A spoolable array of sensors may be deployed within a wellbore and external a tubular string for measuring properties of a fluid in the central flow passage of the tubular string. A flow port may be made in the tubular string passing from the central flow passage to the external surface. Sensors of the spoolable array of sensors may be covered with a shroud and placed proximate the flow port, or such sensors may be isolated in a zone with packers along with the flow port. The spoolable array of sensors may additionally obtain pressure data to calculate a flow rate from a production zone. The spoolable array of sensors may also be employed in a non-flowing wellbore for monitoring nearby wellbores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Thomas Jules Frosell, Aswin Balasubramanian, Luke William Holderman, Suzi Marie Marcuccio, Gireesh Bhat, Clint Adam Brown
  • Patent number: 10989639
    Abstract: The invention discloses an experimental test method for subcritical propagation rate of rock fractures based on triaxial stress-strain curve, including: Step 1: preparing test sample core for experiment; Step 2: putting core into triaxial rock mechanics test system, applying constant radial confining pressure to core, and applying axial stress in the axial direction until the core is macroscopically damaged; recording experimental parameters of axial stress, strain and corresponding loading time of the core; Step 3: drawing stress-strain curve of the test core according to detection data points of axial stress and axial strain; Step 4: in the stress-strain curve of the test core, starting time and ending time of the subcritical propagation stage of fractures inside the core correspond to the initiation stress ?ci and damage stress ?cd, respectively, and calculating subcritical propagation rate of the subcritical fracture propagation stage of the test core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: CHENGDU UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hao Zhang, Bin Yang, Ying Zhong, Yang Yang, Jiping She, Guanchang Pan, Kun Chang, Xinyang Wang
  • Patent number: 10983241
    Abstract: Born Scattering Inversion (BSI) systems and methods are disclosed. A BSI system may be incorporated in a well system for accessing natural gas, oil and geothermal reserves in a geologic formation beneath the surface of the Earth. The BSI system may be used to generate a three-dimensional image of a proppant-filled hydraulically-induced fracture in the geologic formation. The BSI system may include computing equipment and sensors for measuring electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of the fracture before and after the fracture is generated, adjusting the parameters of a first Born approximation model of a scattered component of the surface electromagnetic fields using the measured electromagnetic fields, and generating the image of the proppant-filled fracture using the adjusted parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: CARBO CERAMICS, INC, NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS OF SANDIA, LLC.
    Inventors: David F. Aldridge, Lewis Bartel
  • Patent number: 10976468
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining front propagation within a subsurface volume such as a reservoir. The subsurface volume includes a plurality of cells and at least one geological fault. The method includes performing a fast marching algorithm so as to determine the front propagation in terms of the time of arrival of the front at a particular cell from one or more neighboring cells which make up the neighborhood of the particular cell. For each faulted cell that is adjacent a geological fault, the neighborhood of the faulted cell is defined as including only its geometric neighbors, where the geometric neighbors are those cells that are in contact with the faulted cell in a geometric sense, regardless of stratification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOTAL SE
    Inventors: Stéphane Vignau, Florent Lallier, Michael Montouchet
  • Patent number: 10947841
    Abstract: A method for performing a formation-related physical action includes: receiving image data of a wall of a borehole penetrating a formation, the image data having image data of fractures intersecting the wall of the borehole; and defining a volume surrounding the borehole. The method also includes determining a surface area of each fracture intersecting the volume at each defined depth in a plurality of depths and calculating a fracture density for each defined depth based on the surface area of each fracture intersecting the volume at each defined depth in a plurality of depths and a size of the volume. The method further includes performing the formation-related physical action based on the fracture density for each defined depth using apparatus configured to perform the formation-related physical action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Julio Roberto Arro
  • Patent number: 10920580
    Abstract: A system and method for obtaining real time down hole flow measurements and proppant concentrations between perforations and/or perforation clusters during hydraulic fracturing in multistage stimulated wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman R. Warpinski, Mikko Jaaskelainen, Kenneth James Smith, Brian Park
  • Patent number: 10920554
    Abstract: A cylindrical drum with a fluid inlet is configured to be connected to a downhole end of a fluid conduit. The cylindrical drum has an outer surface along which is the fluid inlet. The cylindrical drum has a center and an inner surface. Fluid nozzles fluidically connect to an interior of the cylindrical drum and are positioned around the outer circumference of the cylindrical drum. The fluid nozzles are positioned to direct fluid away from the cylindrical drum. A rotatable collar is positioned in the center of the cylindrical drum. The rotatable collar has an outer surface parallel to the inner surface of the cylindrical drum. Sleeve plates are positioned between the inner surface of the cylindrical drum and the outer surface of the rotatable collar. Each of the sleeve plates defines a hole with a diameter smaller than a diameter of a corresponding dropped ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Khalid Mohammed M Alruwaili, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10914167
    Abstract: An apparatus for deploying one or more components of a borehole monitoring system includes a conductor assembly having one or more communication devices connected along a length of a conductor, each communication device being configured to wirelessly communicate data and/or power, the conductor configured to transmit the data and/or the power through a borehole in an earth formation. The apparatus further includes a deployment device configured to transport and support the length of the conductor having the one or more communication devices connected along the length of the conductor and deploy the length of the conductor in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas McClain Scott, James Joseph Freeman, Ermanel Isidro
  • Patent number: 10907469
    Abstract: A method for obtaining hydrocarbon from a reservoir in a subterranean formation is described. The method includes measuring a poromechanic pressure change due to lithostatic load sharing in the subterranean formation. Mapping the poromechanic pressure change to one or more locations in the subterranean formation. Identifying one or more local pressure peaks in the poromechanic pressure change, wherein the one or more local pressure peaks are each marked by a pressure escalation and subsequent pressure depletion. Determining a drained reservoir volume in the hydrocarbon reservoir based on the pressure escalation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Samarth Agrawal, Richard A. Albert
  • Patent number: 10908317
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for experimentally determining the conductivity distribution of an acid-fractured fracture a carbonate rock oil and gas reservoir, including the following steps: by an acid fracturing simulator FracproPT, simulating and acquiring distribution data of fracture width, fracture height, temperature and acid liquor mass concentration in a hydraulic fracture length direction; selecting fracture width, fracture height and temperature data of total 10 feature points with the acid liquor mass concentrations being from 100% to 10% of the initial mass concentration; converting site acid injection displacement into laboratory acid injection displacement; preparing experimental acid liquor according to the acid liquor mass concentration data of the 10 feature points; and simulating the acid etching process, and experimentally testing the conductivity under the condition of reservoir closed pressure, and drawing a distribution diagram of the acid-etched fracture conductivity in the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST PETROLEUM UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Bo Gou, Jianchun Guo, Chi Chen, Jichuan Ren, Jie Lai, Xiao Li, Bo Yang
  • Patent number: 10895136
    Abstract: A method for reducing condensate in a subsurface formation is disclosed. The method comprises introducing a first reactant and a second reactant into the subsurface formation. The first reactant and the second reactant produce an exothermic reaction that increases temperature and pressure in the subsurface formation to greater than a dew point of the condensate. Increasing the temperature and pressure in the subsurface formation to greater than the dew point of the condensate vaporizes, and thereby reduces, condensate in the subsurface formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Ayman R. Al-Nakhli, Mohammed Abdullah Bataweel, Mohamed Ahmed Nasr Eldin Mahmoud, Amjed Mohammed Hassan
  • Patent number: 10870793
    Abstract: Electrically conductive proppant and methods for energizing and detecting the electrically conductive proppant in a single wellbore are disclosed. The methods can include performing numerical simulations solving Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism for electric and/or magnetic fields to determine temporal characteristics of an optimum input wave form and a recording sensor location to be used in a wellbore that extends into a subterranean formation having a fracture that is at least partially filled with proppant and an electrically conductive material, wherein the numerical simulations are based upon an earth model determined from geophysical logs and/or geological information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chad Cannan, Lewis Bartel, Todd Roper
  • Patent number: 10851633
    Abstract: A method of hydraulic fracturing of a hydrocarbon reservoir in a rock layer uses a method of providing a reservoir description. Firstly, a reservoir description is provided for the hydrocarbon reservoir. This reservoir description comprises a distribution of stresses within a rock layer affecting propagation of a hydraulic fracture. This reservoir description can be used to calculate a fracture plan to for hydraulic fracture of the hydrocarbon reservoir according to the distribution of stresses in the reservoir description to provide one or more predetermined fracture properties. Hydraulic fracturing of the hydrocarbon reservoir can then follow according to the fracture plan. A method determines minimum horizontal stress in a rock region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignees: Ikon Science Innovation Limited, Geosphere Limited
    Inventor: Timothy Richard Harper
  • Patent number: 10816695
    Abstract: The disclosure presents a process for determining an initial gain of a gamma detector located within a wellbore of a well system. The technique can utilize the subterranean formation characteristics at the gamma detector. The process can sweep, at a step value, across a determined high voltage range. At each sweep step, gamma events can be detected and counted over a detection time interval. The collected gamma events can then be utilized to perform an in-situ plateau test from which a high voltage can be determined, e.g., knee of the plateau curve. The determined high voltage can then be used as the initial gain. Additional fine gain control functions can be executed to further adjust the gain. In an alternative aspect, the collected gamma events can be utilized to perform diagnostics to infer faults or issues with the gamma detector assembly while it is down-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Imran Sharif Vehra
  • Patent number: 10815776
    Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing system includes a perforating tool configured to perforate a casing of a well and a computing system communicatively coupled to the perforating tool. The computing system is configured to determine a plurality of geomechanical properties associated with a plurality of depths of the well and associated with a subterranean region adjacent to the well based on seismic data representative of the subterranean region; determine stress regime of each of the plurality of depths based on the plurality of geomechanical properties; classify at least one continuous interval of the plurality of depths as a critical net pay (CNP) region based on the stress regime of each depth of the at least one continuous interval; and send a command to the perforating tool to perforate the casing of the well at a depth associated with the CNP region within the at least one continuous interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Kousic Theja Kanneganti
  • Patent number: 10808511
    Abstract: The complexity of a fracture network within a subterranean formation may be enhanced by pumping a high breakdown pressure fluid followed by a low breakdown pressure fluid into the formation. The method increases the Stimulated Reservoir Volume (SRV) of the formation and provides for a network of ancillary fractures within the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventors: Ahmed M. Gomaa, Qi Qu, Russell L. Maharidge, Scott G. Nelson, Ted B. Reed
  • Patent number: 10793769
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to compositions including acidic chelator or salt or ester thereof for treatment of subterranean formations including one or more fractures. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method includes placing in the subterranean formation a composition including an acidic chelator or a salt or ester thereof. The subterranean formation includes one or more fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Matthew Lewis Lahman, Aaron Gene Russell, Dipti Singh, Prashant D. Chopade, Travis Hope Larsen
  • Patent number: 10760395
    Abstract: Techniques for hydraulically fracturing a geologic formation include circulating a proppant-free hydraulic fracturing liquid into a wellbore that is formed from a terranean surface into a geologic formation within a subterranean zone that is adjacent the wellbore; fluidly contacting the geologic formation with the proppant-free hydraulic fracturing liquid for a specified duration of time; and subsequent to the specified duration of time, circulating a hydraulic fracturing liquid that includes proppant into the wellbore to fracture the geologic formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Bitao Lai, Feng Liang, Leiming Li, Jilin Zhang
  • Patent number: 10711577
    Abstract: A multi-oriented hydraulic fracturing (MOHF) model may incorporate the pseudo-plastic properties of the formation and tiny tectonic motions from fracturing to enhance MOHF operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Bryan John Lewis
  • Patent number: 10690790
    Abstract: A first stationary seismic receiver array is provided in a first non-vertically directed first borehole section of a first array of non-vertically directed first borehole sections, and a second stationary seismic receiver array is provided in a second non-vertically directed first borehole section of the first array of non-vertically directed first borehole sections. A seismic source assembly is moved axially through a first non-vertically directed second borehole section from at least a first position to a second position of a plurality of first borehole positions along a length of the first non-vertically directed second borehole section. The seismic source assembly contains a repeatable seismic source, which is activated when the seismic source assembly is in the first position and when the seismic source assembly is in the second position. First and second shots of seismic signals are recorded with at least each of the first and second stationary seismic receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Johan Cornelis Hornman, Albena Alexandrova Mateeva, Jorge Luis Lopez
  • Patent number: 10677016
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing fluid communication between wells. Providing a first treatment fluid comprising synthetic clay and an aqueous carrier fluid; pumping the first treatment fluid into a first fracture network in fluid communication with a first well; placing the synthetic clay in the first fracture network; pumping a second treatment fluid into the first fracture network after placing the synthetic clay in the first fracture network; wherein the second treatment fluid is not produced in a second well in fluid communication with a second fracture network, and wherein the second fracture network is in fluid communication with the first fracture network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Dipti Singh, Ubong Inyang, Golchehreh Salamat
  • Patent number: 10670506
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods for determining imbibition of hydraulic fracturing fluids into hydrocarbon-bearing formations. More specifically, the disclosure relates to laboratory methods for determining certain unconventional flow parameters to measure the imbibition over time of hydraulic fracturing fluids into a low-permeability hydrocarbon-bearing rock formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hui-Hai Liu, Bitao Lai, JinHong Chen
  • Patent number: 10648329
    Abstract: A method of estimating one or more properties of an earth formation includes acquiring formation fluid data indicative of a qualitative property of a formation fluid in a near-field region of an earth formation surrounding a borehole, the near field region including a surface of the borehole, and acquiring acoustic data based on acoustic signals transmitted into a far-field region of the formation, and estimating a property of one or more fractures in the far-field region based on the acoustic data. The method also includes combining the formation fluid data and the acoustic data, and estimating, by a processing device, at least one fracture characteristic of the formation in the near-field region and the far-field region based on the combined data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Nicklas Ritzmann, Frank Walles, Alex Bruns, David Gadzhimirzaev, Sergey Kotov
  • Patent number: 10598002
    Abstract: An interlock system for use in a wellbore and method of using same, including a plurality of sensors configured to detect physical conditions within a wellbore. The sensors may be absolute locational sensors or relative locational sensors. Electronic signals are generated when sensors detect corresponding physical conditions. A processor derives location information from the electronic signals, and verifies location by comparison to pre-programmed reference information for each sensor. A trigger signal is generated when at least two location information have been verified, which is used to activate a downhole event. A timer may also be set with a calculated time delay before the trigger signal is generated. The interlock system operates independent of connection to any device at the surface of a wellbore, and may be attached to any equipment for deployment down a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: IdeasCo LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Sites
  • Patent number: 10578766
    Abstract: Methods for computer modelling of a pressure transient behavior after shut-in and during fall-off of an injection event are provided to provide estimates of stimulated reservoir volume, formation permeability, stress contrast across the target and adjacent zones, fracture dimensions, fracture beyond the target zone, and pump pressure limits for maintaining fractures within the target zone, especially in fractured tight reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Advantek International Corp.
    Inventors: Ahmed S. Abou-Sayed, Mehdi Loloi, Omar Abou-Sayed, Gareth Block, Ali Zidane
  • Patent number: 10564080
    Abstract: A method for measuring a stress field evolution during a CO2 fracturing process is provided, which is adopted to not only transparently display the spatial distribution and propagation morphology of internal fracturing fracture of a three-dimensional physical models, but also obtain internal three-dimensional stress phase diagram in a fracture propagation process by integration of a CT scanning, a digital reconstruction, a 3D printing, a CO2 fracturing experiment, a stress freezing and a photoelastic measurement techniques, thereby realizing transparent display and quantitative characterization of the three-dimensional stress field and its evolution law of a solid matter in the CO2 fracturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY, BEIJING
    Inventors: Yang Ju, Peng Liu, Hongbin Liu, Yongming Yang
  • Patent number: 10559892
    Abstract: A method for monitoring depth of a cave front in a cave-type mine. The method includes: providing a stationary reader device and mobile marker devices, each of the marker devices adapted to (i) emit an electromagnetic signal, (ii) detect strength of the signal emitted by another of the marker devices, and (iii) wirelessly transmit information related to the detected signal via the other marker devices to the stationary reader device; drilling a hole into a rock region of a mine, installing the mobile marker devices at sequential known depths within the hole; monitoring the reader device to detect a decrease in the strength of a signal emitted by a first marker device by a second marker device; and in response to a decrease being detected by the second marker device, inferring the depth of the cave front to be between the known depths of the first and second marker devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: MINDSPARK TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD
    Inventor: Pieter Kuiper
  • Patent number: 10513923
    Abstract: Techniques for determining a hydraulic fracture dimension include identifying pressure signal values of a first fracturing fluid in a monitor wellbore that represent a pressure change in the first fracturing fluid that is induced by formation of a second hydraulic fracture from a treatment wellbore; determining a particular pressure signal value of the plurality of pressure signal values; based on the determined particular pressure signal value, determining a particular dimension of the second hydraulic fracture formed from the treatment wellbore; and determining, based at least in part on (i) the determined particular dimension, and (ii) a first pressure signal value of the plurality of pressure signal values that is less than the determined particular pressure signal value, a first intermediate dimension of the second hydraulic fracture that is less than the determined particular dimension of the second hydraulic fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Reveal Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Erica Coenen, Sean Andrew Spicer, Sudhendu Kashikar
  • Patent number: 10458215
    Abstract: A method for drilling a wellbore in the formation, wherein the wellbore is approximately horizontal; forming two or more fractures in the formation from the wellbore; receiving fracture performance data about the two or more fractures; analyzing the fracture performance data; selecting one or more fractures for injection and selecting one or more fractures for production based on the analysis of the fracture performance data; and completing the wellbore such that injection into the one or more fractures selected for injection and production from the one or more fractures selected for production may occur simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Stuart R Keller, Thomas J. Boone, John T. Linderman, Matthew A. Dawson
  • Patent number: 10458228
    Abstract: The invention relates to DAS observation has been proven to be useful for monitoring hydraulic fracturing operations. While published literature has shown focus on the high-frequency components (>1 Hz) of the data, this invention discloses that much of the usable information may reside in the very low frequency band (0-50 milliHz). Due to the large volume of a DAS dataset, an efficient workflow has been developed to process the data by utilizing the parallel computing and the data storage. The processing approach enhances the signal while decreases the data size by 10000 times, thereby enabling easier consumption by other multi-disciplinary groups for further analysis and interpretation. The polarity changes as seen from the high signal to noise ratio (SNR) low frequency DAS images are currently being utilized for interpretation of completions efficiency monitoring in hydraulically stimulated wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Ge Jin, Charles C. Mosher, Frank P. Filice, Kyle R. Krueger, Baishali Roy, Ali Tura, Dana M. Jurick
  • Patent number: 10443365
    Abstract: Methods and systems for characterizing a wellbore extending into a geologic structure comprising a reservoir of subterranean hydrocarbons comprising: providing a first fluid composition comprising a base metal into the first wellbore; wherein corrosion of the base metal in the first wellbore results in electrochemical oxidation of the base metal and electrochemical reduction of a reducible species that generates a gaseous product; providing at least one sensor in proximity to the first wellbore; and receiving a signal detected by the sensor at a monitoring unit, wherein the sensor senses a signal resulting from corrosion of the base metal; wherein the signal is used to determine information relating to the characteristics of the first wellbore and extraction of hydrocarbons therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Cody Friesen, Elise Switzer, Heath Lorzel
  • Patent number: 10443359
    Abstract: Provided are methodologies and systems employing an array of independently operated flow control valves at an uphole location in each of a plurality of legs of a multilateral well to facilitate resolution and effective execution of efficient production plan and to improve performance. Along each leg of the multilateral well, a flow-control valve may be located downhole of a confluence between the respective leg and another leg and uphole of the well completion portion (production and/or injection component) of the respective leg. Each valve is operable independently of each other and of any valving in the completion component. Data regarding the nature and rate of production from each leg may be acquired from downhole sensors located at or about each flow control valve. The acquired data may be processed through a reservoir-well computerized model to resolve optimal valve settings across the valve array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Caleb J. DeValve, Scott R. Buechler, Steven D. Dornic
  • Patent number: 10442984
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations, and more specifically, to smart fracturing fluids. In one or more embodiments, the methods comprise providing a fracturing fluid that comprises a base fluid and an additive having a high dielectric constant; and introducing the fracturing fluid into least a portion of a subterranean formation. In one or more embodiments, the compositions comprise a base fluid and an additive having a high dielectric constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Raed Rahal, Michael Bittar
  • Patent number: 10444389
    Abstract: A method can include deriving a cloud of microseismic events corresponding to a fracturing operation in an environment by spatially locating the microseismic events in the environment via a seismic velocity model; extracting a set of fracture planes from the microseismic cloud; assigning characteristics to the fracture planes; determining a second-rank fracture compliance tensor and a fourth-rank fracture compliance tensor based on the characteristics of the fracture planes; determining a change in elastic stiffness of the environment using the second-rank fracture compliance tensor and the fourth-rank compliance tensor; and updating the seismic velocity model based at least in part on the change in the elastic stiffness of the environment or determining permeability in the environment based at least in part on fracture plane locations, orientations and apertures. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Colin M. Sayers, Lennert D. Den Boer
  • Patent number: 10436002
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of hydraulically fracturing a well penetrating an subterranean formation by optimizing the spacing of fractures along a wellbore to form a complex network of hydraulically connected fractures by identifying a deviated wellbore in a subterranean formation; introducing a series of fractures in the deviated wellbore, wherein the series of fractures comprising at least a first fracture, a second fracture, a third fracture and a fourth fracture each separated by a non-uniformed and an increased spacing distance such that the spacing distance from each adjacent fracture in the series of fractures is at an increased distance; and forming one or more complex fractures extending from the series of fractures to form a complex fracture network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Mohamed Soliman, Mehdi Rafiee, Elias Pirayesh
  • Patent number: 10436929
    Abstract: A fracture sensing system and method is disclosed herein. The method may include positioning a transmitter and a receiver in a borehole and magnetizing a casing disposed within the borehole to magnetically saturate the casing. The transmitter and receiver may be located inside or outside of the casing. The method may also include inducing with the transmitter an electromagnetic field in a formation surrounding the borehole. The method may also comprise receiving the induced electromagnetic field at the receiver. The induced electromagnetic field may identify a fracture within the formation based, at least in part, on a contrast agent within the fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Burkay Donderici, Paul F. Rodney, Haluk Vefa Ersoz
  • Patent number: 10408029
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for optimizing hydraulic fracturing in a subterranean formation having at least one perforation coupled to a wellbore. For each of a number of points along the at least one perforation, the pressure of a fracturing fluid is calculated based on a first pressure and a time-dependent rheological model that includes at least one of elasticity, viscoplasticity, and structural development of the fracturing fluid. A ratio of the pressure of the fracturing fluid to a fracture stress of the at least one perforation is calculated. When the ratio is greater than one, inject the fracturing fluid, at the first pressure, into the wellbore and through the at least one perforation, creating pressure-induced fractures in the perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Elias Da Conceição Rodrigues, Flávio Henrique Marchesini, Rafael Menezes Oliveira
  • Patent number: 10408957
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of modeling a downhole drilling tool is disclosed. The method may include obtaining microseismic data corresponding to a treatment of a subterranean region, the microseismic data including a microseismic event time for each of a plurality of microseismic events, and a microseismic event location for each of the plurality of microseismic events. The method may additionally include calculating a plurality of fracture planes based upon the microseismic event times, and calculating a closed boundary enclosing a first subset of the plurality of fracture planes. The method may further include identifying a microseismic supported stimulated reservoir volume (?SRN) for the treatment based on the closed boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin, Baidurja Ray
  • Patent number: 10378345
    Abstract: A method of mapping micro-fractures of a fracture network comprising: introducing a capsule or coated capsule or containment into the fracture network, where in the capsules or containment comprise an explosive substance and a plurality of micro-proppant; allowing initiation of the explosive substance of some or all of the plurality of the capsules to occur, wherein initiation of the explosive substance causes detonation of the explosive substance, and wherein the detonation produces one or more micro-seismic events; and causing or allowing at least a portion of the micro-proppant to enter one or more of the micro-fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee J. Hall, Phillip D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10378344
    Abstract: A method can include receiving formation parameter values associated with a bore of a formation via a pressure transient analysis of a test performed by tubing that is operatively coupled to a tool that includes at least one pressure sensor. The method can include receiving a pressure stabilization value for fluid flow at a location in the bore of the formation. And, the method can include, based at least in part on the formation parameter values and the pressure stabilization value, calculating a skin factor value for the location in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Abdulrahman Adel Al-Dosary, Ramy Ahmed
  • Patent number: 10365200
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods for determining imbibition of hydraulic fracturing fluids into hydrocarbon-bearing formations. More specifically, the disclosure relates to laboratory methods for determining certain unconventional flow parameters to measure the imbibition over time of hydraulic fracturing fluids into a low-permeability hydrocarbon-bearing rock formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Hui-Hai Liu, Bitao Lai, JinHong Chen
  • Patent number: 10345481
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for developing an equation of state model for petroleum fluids. In one embodiment, formation fluid from a plurality of depths within a wellbore may be analyzed to determine a change in a gas oil ratio with respect to depth. The change in the gas oil ratio may be employed to determine a ratio of solubility and entropy terms to a gravity term. The resulting ratio can be used to develop the equation of state model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Denise E. Freed, Oliver C. Mullins, Youxiang Zuo
  • Patent number: 10329866
    Abstract: A tool for use in a wellbore that includes a mandrel having an interior and an exterior with a plurality of keyed ring members along the exterior of the mandrel having an external line that runs the length of the tool. The tool may include a packing element positioned between at least a first keyed ring member and a keyed second ring member. A line is run between the exterior of the mandrel and an interior of the packing element, through an inner bore of the first ring, and through an inner bore of the second ring. Key members may be removed from the ring members to permit the insertion of the line through the packer system. The key members may be removed to removal of a ring component from the packer system. The key members and ring component enable a tool to be constructed onsite at a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford Thomas Frazee, Frank J. Maenza
  • Patent number: 10310114
    Abstract: In some aspects, a closed boundary is computed based on locations and location-uncertainty domains of microseismic events associated with a stimulation treatment of a subterranean region. The closed boundary encloses the locations and respective location-uncertainty domains of multiple microseismic event data points. An error bound of a stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) for the stimulation treatment is identified based on the closed boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Baidurja Ray, Avi Lin, Jianfu Ma
  • Patent number: 10302791
    Abstract: In some aspects, reservoir characterizations of subterranean regions can be enhanced by using realtime fracture matching techniques for capturing the time dependent evolution of fracture parameters based on the occurrence of the time microseismic events generated by stimulation treatments. These microseismic events may further be used to determine hydraulic fracture planes, identify areas of concentration of high density microseismic events, identify and analyze complex fracture networks, and use these and other techniques to enhance the reservoir characterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin
  • Patent number: 10302814
    Abstract: A method for stimulating an earth formation according to a stimulation scenario for extracting hydrocarbons from the earth formation includes: selecting an earth formation stimulation scenario; applying a modified Mohr-Coulomb model that is configured to estimate behavior of a rock formation during the stimulation scenario, the modified Mohr-Coulomb model having a term representing dilatation in an out-of-plane orientation; predicting a fracture and damage network using the modified Mohr-Coulomb model; converting the fracture and damage network into permeability; simulating fluid flow in the earth formation using the permeability to predict hydrocarbon production; computing a value of a metric for hydrocarbon production for the selected stimulation scenario; iterating the selecting, applying, predicting, converting, simulating, and computing until the metric value meets or exceeds a threshold value; and stimulating the earth formation using a stimulation treatment system according to the stimulation scenario
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Hoeink, Aleksander Zubelewicz
  • Patent number: 10302544
    Abstract: A fluidic device that can emulate a fracture is provided and includes a body with a first region that can emulate a propped fracture and a second region that can emulate an earth formation material. A test fluid flows into the device at a test pressure and temperature, and substantially fills the first and second regions. A portion of the test fluid flows back out of the device when the pressure is reduced. A method of emulating fluid flow through a fracture is provided, the method including a fluidic device that includes a body, a first region that emulates the fracture, and a second region that emulates an earth formation material. Flowing a test fluid at a test pressure and temperature into the first region, and reducing a pressure of the test fluid, thereby allowing some of the test fluid to flow from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick L. Drake, Jody M. Burks