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US 5,295,539 AGranted
Two well hydrocarbon producing method using multiple fractures
AssigneeMobil Oil Corporation
InventorsAlfred R. Jennings, Jr., Malcolm K. Strubhar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This specification discloses a method of hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation wherein two horizontally spaced-apart wells are provided and completed to communicate with the formation. Hydraulic fluid pressure is sequentially applied to create and propagate vertical fractures into the formation and to create a vertical fracture that communicates both wells.
Claims10
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:
- (a) providing a first well that extends from the surface of the earth and is completed to communicate with said formation;
- (b) providing a second well that is spaced horizontally apart from said first well, said second well being completed to communicate with said formation;
- (c) applying fluid pressure in said first well sufficient to initiate and propagate a first vertical fracture from said first well into said formation from said first well;
- (d) subsequent to step (c) maintaining said fluid pressure in said first well at a pressure that will mitigate the propagation of said vertical fracture from said first well;
- (e) applying fluid pressure in said second well sufficient to initiate and propagate a second vertical fracture into said formation from said second well in a direction away from and transverse to said first fracture;
- (f) shutting-in said first well and allowing the fluid pressure therein to lessen;
- (g) continuing to apply fluid pressure in said second well sufficient to initiate and propagate a third fracture from said second well to communicate with said first well;
- (h) shutting in said second well for a time period sufficiently long to allow the in-situ pressures in the formation to equilibrate;
- (i) flowing back fluids from said formation through said fractures and into said wells to clean said fractures;
- (j) shutting in said first well;
- and
- (k) applying fluid pressure in said second well sufficient to initiate and propagate a fourth fracture from said second well which fracture is propagated into said formation in a direction essentially parallel to said first fracture formed from said first well.
9 more elements
A method of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbonbearing formation comprising:
- (a) providing a first well that extends from the surface of the earth and is completed to communicate with said formation;
- (b) providing a second well that is spaced horizontally apart from said first well, said second well being completed to communicate with said formation;
- (c) applying fluid pressures in said first well sufficient to initiate and propagate a first vertical fracture from said first well into said formation from said first well;
- (d) subsequent to step (c) maintaining said fluid pressure in said first well at a pressure that will mitigate the propagation of said vertical fracture from said first well;
- (e) applying fluid pressure in said second well sufficient to initiate and propagate a second vertical fracture into said formation from said second well in a direction away from and transverse to said first fracture;
- (f) shutting-in said first well and allowing the fluid pressure therein to lessen;
- and
- (g) continuing to apply fluid pressure in said second well sufficient to initiate and propagate a third fracture from said second well to communicate with said first fracture;
- (h) shutting-in said second well for a time period sufficiently long to allow the in-situ pressures in the formation to equilibrate;
- (i) flowing back fluids from said formation through said fractures and into said wells to clean said fractures;
- (j) shutting-in said first well;
- (k) applying fluid pressure in said second well sufficient to initiate and propagate a fourth fracture from said second well which fracture is propagated into said formation in a direction essential parallel to said first fracture formed from said first well,
- (l) opening for production said second well and producing hydrocarbons from said hydrocarbon bearing formation via said first, second, third and fourth fractures.
10 more elements
A method of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing formation comprising:
- (a) providing a first well that extends from the surface of the earth and is completed to communicate with said formation;
- (b) providing a second well that is paced horizontally apart from said first well said second well being completed to communicate with said formation;
- (c) applying fluid pressures in said first well sufficient to initiate and propagate a first vertical fracture from said first well into said formation from said first well;
- (d) subsequent to step (c) maintaining said fluid pressure in said first well at a pressure that mitigate the propagation of said vertical fracture from said first well;
- (e) applying fluid pressure in said second well sufficient to initiate and propagate a second vertical fracture into said formation from said second well in a direction away from and transverse to said first fracture;
- (f) shutting-in said first well and allowing the fluid pressure therein to lessen;
- and
- (g) continuing to apply fluid pressure in said second well sufficient to initiate and propagate a third fracture from said second well to communicate with said first fracture;
- (h) shutting-in said second well for a time period sufficiently long to allow the in-situ pressures in the formation to equilibrate;
- (i) flowing back fluids from said formation through said fractures and into said wells to clean said fractures;
- (j) shutting-in said first well;
- (k) applying fluid pressure in said second well sufficient to initiate and propagate a fourth fracture from said second well which fracture is propagated into said formation in a direction essential parallel to said first fracture formed from said first well,
- (l) shutting-in said second well;
- and
- (m) opening for production said first well and producing hydrocarbons from said hydrocarbon bearing formation via said first, second, third and fourth fractures.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.