Method for evaluating and monitoring formation fracture treatment closure rates and pressures using fluid pressure waves
AssigneeSeismos, Inc.
InventorsJakub Felkl, Youli Quan, Junwei Zhang, Kaitlyn Christin Mascher-Mace, Panagiotis Adamopoulos
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Abstract
A method for characterizing a hydraulic fracture in a subsurface formation, includes inducing a pressure change in a well drilled through the subsurface formation. Pressure and/or a time derivative thereof is measured at a location proximate to a wellhead for a selected length of time. A conductivity of at least one fracture is determined using the measured at least one of pressure and the time derivative of pressure. A change in the determined conductivity with respect to time is determined.
Claims22
A method for characterizing a hydraulic fracture or network of fractures in a subsurface formation, comprising:
- inducing a pressure change in a well drilled through the subsurface formation, the pressure change inducing tube waves in the well;
- measuring at a location proximate to a wellhead at least one of pressure and a time derivative of pressure in the well for a selected length of time;
- determining a conductivity of at least one fracture, using the measured at least one of pressure and the time derivative of pressure;
- determining a change in the determined conductivity with respect to time;
- and
- determining a fracture closure rate using the determined change in fracture conductivity with respect to time, wherein fracture closure pressures are determined by aligning pressure measurement with conductivity decrease.
A method for characterizing a hydraulic fracture or network of fractures in a subsurface formation, comprising:
- inducing a pressure change in a well drilled through the subsurface formation, the pressure change inducing tube waves in the well;
- measuring at a location proximate to a wellhead at least one of pressure and a time derivative of pressure in the well for a selected length of time;
- determining a conductivity of at least one fracture, using the measured at least one of pressure and the time derivative of pressure;
- determining a change in the determined conductivity with respect to time;
- determining a fracture closure rate using the determined change in fracture conductivity with respect to time;
- and
- determining fluid leak off rates by correlating with conductivity decrease over time.
A method for characterizing a hydraulic fracture or network of fractures in a subsurface formation, comprising:
- inducing a pressure change in a well drilled through the subsurface formation, the pressure change inducing tube waves in the well;
- measuring at a location proximate to a wellhead at least one of pressure and a time derivative of pressure in the well for a selected length of time;
- determining a conductivity of at least one fracture, using the measured at least one of pressure and the time derivative of pressure;
- and
- determining a change in the determined conductivity with respect to time;
- and
- determining a gel breakdown time from a determined time of substantial increase in fracture conductivity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.