Propped fracture with high effective surface area
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsKeng S. Chan, J. Ernest Brown, Arthur William Milne, Brett Rimmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Propped fractures in formations from which fluids are produced are described that have wormholes extending out into the formations from the faces of the fractures at locations distant from boreholes. Methods are given for creating such propped fractures having wormholes in which either a closed propped fracture is formed and then the wormholes are formed, or the entire fracture and channel system is formed before the closure occurs.
Claims24
In a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, a flowpath comprising one or more propped fractures having a plurality of primary wormholes extending from said fracture or fractures into said formation.
A method of forming a flowpath comprising one or more propped fractures having a plurality of primary wormholes extending from said fracture or fractures into a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore and a plurality of secondary wormholes extending from said primary wormholes into said formation comprising the sequential steps of:
- a) injecting a viscous carrier fluid containing proppant at a rate and pressure sufficient to fracture said formation;
- b) allowing said fracture to close;
- and
- c) injecting a formation-dissolving fluid at a pressure insufficient to fracture said formation and at a flux at which branched wormholes form, thereby forming said plurality of primary wormholes and said plurality of secondary wormholes.
A method of forming a fracture having increased effective surface area for the inflow of fluids into said fracture from a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprising the sequential steps of:
- a. injecting a viscous carrier fluid containing proppant at a rate and pressure sufficient to fracture said formation;
- b. allowing said fracture to close;
- and
- c. injecting a formation-dissolving fluid at a pressure insufficient to fracture said formation and at a flux at which branched wormholes form, thereby forming branched wormholes extending from the fracture.
A method of increasing the effective surface area for the inflow of fluids into an existing propped fracture in a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprising injecting a formation-dissolving fluid at a pressure insufficient to fracture said formation and at a flux at which branched wormholes form, thereby forming branched wormholes extending from the propped fracture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.