Non-fracturing restimulation of unconventional hydrocarbon containing formations to enhance production
AssigneeBorehole Seismic, LLC.
InventorRobinson Butler Howell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided system and methods for restimulating a hydrocarbon producing well using water and pressures below the closure pressure, which results in production rates approaching the initial production rate of the well. There is provided multiple restimulation techniques using water based fluids at or below the closure pressure of the well, which results in production rates approach that of the prior rate upon stimulation.
Claims22
A method of reducing the decline curve in production rate for an existing well in a formation, the method comprising:
- a. pumping a restimulation fluid into the well at a predetermined flow rate and predetermined pressure, wherein a stasis is achieved that is at or below the closure pressure of the well;
- b. wherein the restimulation fluid consists essentially of water;
- c. wherein prior to step a) the well had a production rate, wherein the production rate was below an initial production rate for the well;
- d. maintaining the stasis for about 15 minutes to about 3 hours;
- e. whereby, the production rate of the well is increased.
A method of increasing a production rate of the production of hydrocarbons from an existing well in a formation, the method comprising:
- a. pumping a restimulation fluid into the well at a predetermined flow rate and predetermined pressure, wherein a stasis is achieved that is at or below the closure pressure of the well;
- b. the well having a production rate prior to preforming step a);
- c. the restimulation fluid comprising water;
- and, d. maintaining the well at the stasis for about 15 minutes to about 3 hours;
- e. whereby, existing fractures are opened;
- whereby, the production rate of the well is increased.
A method of increasing the total product of hydrocarbons from a well that had been restimulated, by performing an additional restimulation on the well and thereby reducing the decline curve in production rate for the well, the method comprising:
- a. in a restimulated well that had a production rate increased by a having had a first restimulation fluid pumped into a well at a predetermined flow rate and predetermined pressure, for a predetermined time to provide a stasis time, the stasis time comprising about 15 minutes to about 3 hours, wherein during the stasis time the closure pressure of the well was not exceeded;
- thereby providing a first restimulated production rate;
- b. performing a restimulation on the restimulated well after the first restimulated production rate has decreased by at least 20%, thereby defining a decreased restimulated production rate, the restimulation comprising:
- i. pumping a second restimulation fluid into the restimulated well at a second predetermined flow rate and a second predetermined pressure, for a second predetermined time, to provide a second stasis time, wherein the second status time is about 15 minutes to about 3 hours, wherein during the second stasis time a closure pressure of the restimulated well is not exceeded;
- and,
- ii. whereby, the decreased restimulated production rate of the restimulated well is increased by not less than 10% to provide a second restimulated product rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.