Fracturing and in-situ proppant injection using a formation testing tool
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsCyrus Irani, Charles Seckar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A formation testing tool which performs the dual function of fracturing and in-situ proppant placement. The testing tool houses proppant slurry having proppant and fracture fluid therein, and a probe which seals against the wellbore wall. During operation, the probe seals against the wellbore wall whereby fluid communication may take place. Using a pump aboard the testing tool, the fracture fluid is forced through the probe and into the formation to produce the fractures. The testing tool, which has a pressurized compartment, then injects the proppant into the fractures.
Claims14
A method for fracturing a wellbore, the method comprising:
- deploying a downhole tool into a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising:
- a downhole tool housing;
- a compartment positioned within the housing, the compartment comprising:
- a proppant slurry housing containing a proppant slurry, the proppant slurry comprising proppant and fracture fluid;
- a pressurized tank in fluid communication with the proppant slurry housing;
- and
- a piston separating the proppant slurry housing and pressurized tank;
- a pump positioned within the housing, the pump being in fluid communication with the proppant slurry housing and pressurized tank;
- and
- a probe to isolate a zone of a wall of the wellbore, the probe being in fluid communication with the compartment;
- forming one or more fractures along the wellbore using the pressurized tank or pump;
- and
- injecting the proppant slurry into the fractures using the pressurized tank.
A downhole tool for fracturing a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising:
- a downhole tool housing;
- a compartment positioned within the housing, the compartment comprising:
- a proppant slurry housing containing a proppant slurry, the proppant slurry comprising proppant and fracture fluid;
- a pressurized tank in fluid communication with the proppant slurry housing;
- and
- a piston separating the proppant slurry housing and pressurized tank;
- a pump positioned within the housing, the pump being in fluid communication with the proppant slurry housing and pressurized tank;
- and
- a probe to isolate a zone of a wall of the wellbore, the probe being in fluid communication with the compartment,
- wherein the downhole tool is configured to produce one or more fractures along the isolated portion of the wellbore wall using the fracture fluid, and further configured to inject the proppant into the one or more fractures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.