Methods for creating multiple hydraulic fractures in oil and gas wells
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsGallyam Aidagulov, Dominic Joseph Brady, Eric Edelman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Transverse fractures are formed from a borehole using hydraulic fracturing fluid while maintaining the downhole pressure close to a target pressure. The target pressure is selected to be greater than the expected transverse fracture initiation pressure at predetermined weak points, such as notches, and less than the expected longitudinal fracture initiation pressure. The process can be repeated to form multiple transverse fractures by pumping diversion composition(s).
Claims17
A method of creating transverse hydraulic fractures in an earth formation surrounding a wellbore, the method comprising:
- selecting a target downhole pressure level that is greater than an initiation pressure for a transverse fracture in the earth formation and less than an initiation pressure for a longitudinal fracture in the earth formation;
- injecting a fracturing fluid into the borehole;
- monitoring at least one parameter that can be related to downhole pressure;
- and
- controlling the fluid injection based on the monitored parameter in order to maintain a downhole pressure that is within a predetermined range of the selected target downhole pressure, thereby facilitating initiation of one or more transverse fractures without initiation of longitudinal fractures.
The method according to 10, wherein said surface measurement is a surface pressure measurement that is related to downhole pressure at least in part by estimating frictional losses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.