# US 10,119,356 B2 · Forming inclusions in selected azimuthal orientations from a casing section > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,356 B2 - Document ID: US10119356B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/579,484 - Filed: 2014-12-22 - Published: 2015-04-16 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-21 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Travis W. Cavender; Robert L. Pipkin; Timothy Hunter; Roger L. Schultz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119356B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/103: {of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like} - E21B 33/127: with inflatable sleeve (E21B33/122, E21B33/124 take precedence) - E21B 43/08: Screens or liners {(expandable screens or liners E21B43/108)} - E21B 43/105: {Expanding tools specially adapted therefor} - E21B 43/26: by forming crevices or fractures - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A method of forming multiple inclusions into a subterranean formation can include initiating the inclusions into the formation, the inclusions extending outwardly in respective multiple azimuthal orientations from a casing section, and flowing fluid into each of the inclusions individually, thereby extending the inclusions into the formation one at a time. A system for initiating inclusions outwardly into a subterranean formation from a wellbore can include a casing section having multiple flow channels therein, each of the flow channels being in communication with a respective one of multiple openings formed between adjacent pairs of circumferentially extendable longitudinally extending portions of the casing section. Another system can include a casing section, and an injection tool which engages the casing section and selectively directs fluid into each of the inclusions individually, whereby the inclusions are extended into the formation one at a time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of forming multiple inclusions into a subterranean formation, the method comprising: initiating the inclusions into the formation, the inclusions extending outwardly in respective multiple azimuthal orientations from a casing section, wherein the initiating further comprises circumferentially enlarging the casing section; and flowing fluid into each of the inclusions individually, thereby extending the inclusions into the formation one at a time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating further comprises simultaneously initiating two or more of the inclusions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the casing section is circumferentially enlarged in response to inflating an inflatable bladder within the casing section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein inflating the bladder further comprises applying pressure to a pressure intensifier in communication with the bladder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein circumferentially enlarging the casing section further comprises widening openings formed through the casing section, the openings being in communication with the inclusions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein flowing fluid further comprises flowing fluid through channels formed longitudinally through the casing section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein each channel corresponds to a respective one of the inclusions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein each channel corresponds to a respective one of multiple longitudinally extending openings formed through a side wall of the casing section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the inclusions are initiated in response to widening the openings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the channels are disposed radially between inner and outer shells of the casing section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the inclusions further comprises widening multiple openings formed through a side wall of the casing section, and wherein flowing fluid further comprises isolating the openings from each other while fluid is flowed into each inclusion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein isolating the openings further comprises inflating a bladder in the casing section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein isolating the openings further comprises inflating multiple longitudinally extending bladders, each bladder being positioned between an adjacent pair of the openings. ### Claim 14 A system for forming multiple inclusions into a subterranean formation from a wellbore, the system comprising: at least one casing section; an expansion tool which expands the casing section and thereby simultaneously initiates two or more of the inclusions; and at least one injection tool which engages the casing section and selectively directs fluid into each of the inclusions individually, whereby the inclusions are extended into the formation one at a time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the casing section, when circumferentially extended, initiates the inclusions into the formation, whereby the inclusions extend outwardly in respective multiple azimuthal orientations from the casing section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the expansion tool comprises inflatable bladder. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the expansion tool further comprises a pressure intensifier in communication with the bladder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein openings in communication with the inclusions are widened in response to expansion of the casing section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the casing section includes channels formed longitudinally through the casing section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein each channel corresponds to a respective one of the inclusions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein each channel corresponds to a respective one of multiple longitudinally extending openings formed through a side wall of the casing section. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the inclusions are initiated in response to the openings being widened. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the channels are disposed radially between inner and outer shells of the casing section. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the inclusions are initiated in response to multiple openings formed through a side wall of the casing section being widened, and wherein the openings are isolated from each other while fluid is flowed into each inclusion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the openings are isolated from each other by a bladder inflated in the casing section. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the openings are isolated from each other by multiple longitudinally extending bladders, each bladder being positioned between an adjacent pair of the openings. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one casing section comprises multiple casing sections, wherein the at least one injection tool comprises multiple injection tools, and wherein a first injection tool selectively directs fluid into a first inclusion and a second injection tool selectively produces fluid from a second inclusion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27, wherein the first and second inclusions are in a same azimuthal orientation. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The system of claim 27, wherein the first injection tool directs fluid into the first inclusion concurrently as the second injection tool produces fluid from the second inclusion. ### Claim 30 A system for forming multiple inclusions into a subterranean formation from a wellbore, the system comprising: at least one casing section; and at least one injection tool which engages the casing section and selectively directs fluid into each of the inclusions individually, whereby the inclusions are extended into the formation one at a time, wherein openings in communication with the inclusions are widened in response to expansion of the casing section. ### Claim 31 A system for forming multiple inclusions into a subterranean formation from a wellbore, the system comprising: at least one casing section; and at least one injection tool which engages the casing section and selectively directs fluid into each of the inclusions individually, whereby the inclusions are extended into the formation one at a time, wherein the inclusions are initiated in response to multiple openings formed through a side wall of the casing section being widened, and wherein the openings are isolated from each other while fluid is flowed into each inclusion. ### Claim 32 A method of forming multiple inclusions into a subterranean formation, the method comprising: initiating the inclusions into the formation, the inclusions extending outwardly in respective multiple azimuthal orientations from a casing section; and flowing fluid into each of the inclusions individually, thereby extending the inclusions into the formation one at a time, wherein flowing fluid further comprises flowing fluid through channels formed longitudinally through the casing section. ### Claim 33 A method of forming multiple inclusions into a subterranean formation, the method comprising: initiating the inclusions into the formation, the inclusions extending outwardly in respective multiple azimuthal orientations from a casing section, wherein initiating the inclusions further comprises widening multiple openings formed through a side wall of the casing section; and flowing fluid into each of the inclusions individually, thereby extending the inclusions into the formation one at a time, wherein flowing fluid further comprises isolating the openings from each other while fluid is flowed into each inclusion.