# US 11,028,679 B1 · Systems and methods for controlling fracturing operations using monitor well pressure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,679 B1 - Document ID: US11028679B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/362,214 - Filed: 2019-03-22 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-24 - Assignees: Devon Energy Corporation - Applicants: Devon Energy Corporation - Inventors: Kyle L. Haustveit; Wolfgang Deeg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028679B1 ## CPC - E21B 43/267: reinforcing fractures by propping - E21B 21/08: Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure (valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10) - E21B 43/305: {comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well} - E21B 44/00: Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions - E21B 44/005: {Below-ground automatic control systems} - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of fracturing subterranean formations comprising: subsequent to initiating pumping of fracturing fluid into a target well extending through a subterranean formation, detecting a pressure response of an internal volume of a sealed monitoring portion of a monitor well extending through the subterranean formation, wherein: the pumping of fracturing fluid is according to a fracturing operation parameter, the pressure response results from interactions between the monitor well and a fracture extending from the target well, the fracture causing a deformation of a casing defining the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion, the deformation altering the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion and causing the detectable pressure response of the internal volume, the sealed monitoring portion is sealed relative to the subterranean formation to prevent fluid ingress into the sealed monitoring portion and includes the casing of the monitor well, the casing defining the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion, and the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion is substantially filled with a liquid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising one or more of forming and completing a monitor wellbore of the monitor well. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising locating at least one of the target well and the monitor well such that the monitor well extends through a plane defined by a predominant fracture growth path extending from the target well. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to pumping of fracturing fluid into the target well, adding at least a portion of the liquid into the sealed monitoring portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising removing fluid from the monitor well. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the pressure response of the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion comprises detecting a pressure change within the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the sealed monitoring portion is one of a plurality of sealed monitoring portions of the monitor well and detecting the pressure response of the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion comprises measuring pressure within each of the plurality of sealed monitoring portions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the fracturing operation parameter in response to detecting the pressure response of the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein detecting the pressure response of the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion comprises detecting a first pressure change within the internal volume, the method further comprising detecting a second pressure change in the subterranean formation external the monitor well, wherein modifying the fracturing operation parameter is further in response to detecting the second pressure change in the subterranean formation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the target well is a first target well and modifying the fracturing operation parameter comprises stopping pumping of fracturing fluid into the first target well and initiating pumping of fracturing fluid into a second target well different from the first target well. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising: subsequent to pumping the fracturing fluid into the second target well, detecting a second pressure response, the second pressure response detected in one of the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion or a second internal volume of the monitor well different than the internal volume; and in response to detecting the second pressure response, stopping pumping of fracturing fluid into the second target well. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising, in response to stopping pumping of fracturing fluid into the second target well, pumping fracturing fluid into a third target well, wherein the third target well is one of the first target well and a target well other than the first target well. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion is further defined by a wellhead and detecting the response of the monitor well comprises detecting a pressure change within the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion at the wellhead. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a strain on the casing of the monitor well. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the strain is detected by at least one of a strain gauge and a fiber optic sensor disposed on the casing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion includes an entirety of a downhole volume of the casing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion is less than the entirety of a downhole volume of the casing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure response of the internal volume of the monitor well is detected by a computing system communicatively coupled to a sensor, the sensor configured to measure a parameter indicative of the pressure response and to generate and transmit corresponding sensor signals, the method further comprising receiving, at the computing system, a sensor signal generated by the signal and corresponding to the pressure response of the internal volume of the monitor well. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the computing system is communicatively coupled to a pumping system, the method further comprising: in response to receiving the sensor signal at the computing system, automatically generating a control signal at the computing system; and transmitting the control signal from the computing system to the pumping system, the control signal configured to modify an operational parameter of the pumping system. ### Claim 20 A method of fracturing subterranean formations comprising: subsequent to initiating pumping of fracturing fluid into a target well extending through a subterranean formation, detecting a pressure response of an internal volume of a sealed monitoring portion of a monitor well extending through the subterranean formation, wherein: the pressure response results from interactions between the monitor well and a fracture extending from the target well, the fracture causing a deformation of a casing defining the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion, the deformation altering the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion and causing the detectable pressure response of the internal volume, the sealed monitoring portion is sealed relative to the subterranean formation to prevent fluid ingress into the sealed monitoring portion and includes the casing of the monitor well, the casing defining the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion, and the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion is substantially filled with a liquid; and in response to detecting the pressure response, each of stopping pumping of fracturing fluid into the first target well and initiating pumping of fracturing fluid into a second target well extending through the subterranean formation, the second target well being different than the first target well. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 further comprising: in response to pumping fracturing fluid into the second target well, detecting a second pressure response, the second pressure response detected in one of the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion or a second internal volume of the monitor well different than the internal volume; and in response to detecting the second pressure response, each of stopping pumping of fracturing fluid into the second target and initiating pumping fracturing fluid into a third target well, wherein the third target well is one of the first target well, the second target well, or a target well other than the first target well and the second target well. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving pressure measurements from a pressure transducer adapted to measure pressure within the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion, wherein detecting the pressure response of the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion includes detecting a change in the pressure measurements. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving strain measurements from a strain gauge disposed on the casing of the monitor well, wherein stopping pumping of the fracturing fluid is further in response to detecting a change in the strain measurements. ### Claim 24 A system for providing a fracturing fluid to a subterranean formation comprising: a pump coupleable to a wellhead of a target well extending through a subterranean formation, the pump configured to provide fracturing fluid to the target well according to one or more fracturing operation parameters; a pressure transducer adapted to measure pressure within an internal volume of a sealed monitoring portion of a monitor well, the sealed monitoring portion being sealed relative to the subterranean formation to prevent fluid ingress into the sealed monitoring portion and including a casing, the casing defining the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion; and a computing device configured to: receive pressure measurements from the pressure transducer; identify a change in the pressure measurements received from the pressure transducer indicating a pressure response of the internal volume, the pressure change resulting from interactions between the monitor well and a fracture extending from the target well, the fracture causing a deformation of a casing defining the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion, the deformation altering the internal volume of the sealed monitoring portion and causing the detectable pressure response of the internal volume; and generate an alert in response to detecting the change in the pressure measurements. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the computing device is further configured to automatically modify at least one of the fracturing operation parameters in response to detecting the change in the pressure measurements. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the pressure transducer is one of a plurality of pressure transducers, each of the pressure transducers communicatively coupleable to the computing device and adapted to be disposed at different locations along the monitor well, each location corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of sealed monitoring portions of the monitor well. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24 further comprising a strain gauge communicatively coupleable to the computing device, the strain gauge adapted to be coupled to the casing of the monitor well and to measure strain on the casing, wherein the computing device is further configured to: receive strain measurements from the strain gauge, and generate a second alert in response to a change in the strain measurements. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the target well is a first target well and the computing device is further configured to: in response to detecting the change in the pressure measurements, stop the pump from pumping fracturing fluid into the target well; and initiate pumping of fracturing fluid into a second target well different than the first target well. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24 further comprising a second pressure transducer adapted to measure pressure within the subterranean formation external the monitor well, wherein the computing device is further configured to receive second pressure measurements from the second pressure transducer and to generate a second alert in response to a change in the second pressure measurements.