Active Seismic Monitoring of Fracturing Operations
AssigneeWesternGeco L.L.C.
InventorCraig J. Beasley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for managing a fracturing operation. In one implementation, the method may include positioning a seismic source and at least one seismic receiver near a hydrocarbon reservoir; pumping a fracturing fluid into a well bore of the hydrocarbon reservoir such that the fracturing fluid may include an additive that enhances acoustic impedance between the fracturing fluid and subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located; performing a seismic survey with the seismic source and the at least one seismic receiver during the fracturing operation; and identifying locations of the fracturing fluid within subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located.
Claims20
A method for managing a fracturing operation, comprising:
- positioning a seismic source and at least one seismic receiver near a hydrocarbon reservoir;
- pumping a fracturing fluid into a well bore of the hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises an additive that enhances acoustic impedance between the fracturing fluid and subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located;
- performing a seismic survey with the seismic source and the at least one seismic receiver during the fracturing operation;
- and
- identifying locations of the fracturing fluid within the subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located.
A method for managing a fracturing operation, comprising:
- positioning one or more seismic sources and an array of seismic receivers above a hydrocarbon reservoir;
- performing the fracturing operation by pumping a fracturing fluid into a well bore of the hydrocarbon reservoir;
- performing a seismic survey with the one or more seismic sources and the array of seismic receivers during the fracturing operation;
- generating an image of the hydrocarbon reservoir;
- identifying one or more fractures on the image, wherein the fractures are disposed inside a formation of the hydrocarbon reservoir;
- and
- modifying the positioning of the one or more seismic sources, the array of seismic receivers or combinations thereof based on the identified fractures.
A system for managing a fracturing operation, comprising:
- a seismic source for generating acoustic signals into a hydrocarbon reservoir;
- an array of seismic receivers for receiving seismic data reflected from the hydrocarbon reservoir;
- a pumping mechanism for pumping fracturing fluid into a wellbore of a hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises an additive that enhances acoustic impedance contrast between the fracturing fluid and a formation of the hydrocarbon reservoir;
- and
- a computer for processing the seismic data and generating an image of the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes the fracturing fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.