IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0363540
(2006-02-27)
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등록번호 |
US-7748458
(2010-07-26)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Smith, Gambrell & Russell
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
71 |
초록
▼
A method and apparatus for initiating and propagating a vertical hydraulic fracture in unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments from a single bore hole to control the fracture initiation plane and propagation of the hydraulic fracture, enabling greater yield and recovery of petroleum fluids from
A method and apparatus for initiating and propagating a vertical hydraulic fracture in unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments from a single bore hole to control the fracture initiation plane and propagation of the hydraulic fracture, enabling greater yield and recovery of petroleum fluids from the formation. An injection casing with multiple fracture initiation sections is inserted and grouted into a bore hole. A fracture fluid carrying a proppant is injected into the injection casing and opens the fracture initiation sections to dilate the formation in a direction orthogonal to the required fracture azimuth plane. Propagation of the fracture is controlled by supplying fracture fluid independent to the two opposing wings of the hydraulic fracture. The injection casing initiation section remains open after fracturing providing direct hydraulic connection between the production well bore, the permeable proppant filled fracture and the formation.
대표청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. A method for creating a vertical hydraulic fracture in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments, comprising: a. drilling a bore hole in the formation to a predetermined depth; b. installing an injection casing having at least two passages individually conne
What is claimed is: 1. A method for creating a vertical hydraulic fracture in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments, comprising: a. drilling a bore hole in the formation to a predetermined depth; b. installing an injection casing having at least two passages individually connected to a fracture fluid pumping system in the bore hole at the predetermined depth; c. establishing at least two pipes through which a fracture fluid can be separately injected into a corresponding number of passages within the injection casing; d. injecting a fracture fluid separately and independently into one or both of said pipes and into the passages within the injection casing and into individual opposing wings of a fracture or into only one of two wings with sufficient fracturing pressure to dilate the formation in a preferential direction and thereby initiating a vertical fracture at an azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation; and e. individually controlling a rate of fracture fluid injection into said pipes and through the passages into each individual opposing wing or into only one of the two wings of the initiated and propagating hydraulic fracture thereby controlling a geometry of the hydraulic fracture in either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical fashion. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: a. installing the injection casing at a predetermined depth in the bore hole, wherein an annular space exists between an outer surface of the casing and the bore hole, b. filling the annular space with a grout that bonds to the outer surface of the casing, wherein the casing has multiple initiation sections separated by a weakening line so that the initiation sections separate along the weakening line when the fracture fluid is injected into the injection casing. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the fracture fluid dilates the grout and the formation to initiate the fracture in the formation at a weakening line. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the casing comprises two initiation sections with two directions of dilation. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the casing comprises two initiation sections with two directions of dilation and the first and second weakening lines are orthogonal. 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the casing comprises three initiation sections with three directions of dilation. 7. The method of claim 3, wherein the casing comprises four initiation sections with four directions of dilation, with the first and second weakening lines being orthogonal to each other and the third and fourth weakening lines being orthogonal to each other. 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the initiation sections remain separated after dilation of the casing by the fracture fluid to provide hydraulic connection of the fracture with the well bore following completion of hydraulic fracturing. 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the fracture fluid comprises a proppant and the initiation sections each contain well screen sections separating the proppant in the hydraulic fracture from the production well bore and thus preventing proppant from flowing back from the fracture into the production well bore during fluid extraction. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the fracture fluid does not leak off into the formation from the fracture. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fracture fluid comprises a proppant, and the fracture fluid is able to carry the proppant of the fracture fluid at low flow velocities. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the fracture fluid is clean breaking with minimal residue. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the fracture fluid has a low friction coefficient. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the fracture fluid comprises a water based guar gum gel slurry. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises re-fracturing of each previously injected fracture. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the dilation of the formation is achieved by first cutting a vertical slot in the formation at the required azimuth for the initiated fracture, injecting a fracture fluid into the slot with a sufficient fracturing pressure to dilate the formation in this preferential direction and thereby initiate a vertical fracture at an azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation; controlling the flow rate of the fracture fluid entering each individual opposing wing of the vertical hydraulic fracture and thereby controlling the geometry of the hydraulic fracture. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the rate of fracture fluid injection is further controlled by fasteners at each initiation section having a distinct opening pressure whereby the fastener will open at a certain applied load during fracture initiation and will progressively open further during fracture propagation and not close following the completion of the fracture. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein said first pipe has a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is connected to said injection casing at a first point, and said second end is fluidly connected to a first passage, and wherein said second pipe has a first and a second end, wherein said first end is connected to said injection casing at a second point, and said second end is fluidly connected to a second passage. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said pipes are substantially parallel to and outside of said injection casing. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein said first and second passages are within at least one winged initiation section in the injection casing. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein said passages are within at least one winged initiation section in the injection casing. 22. The method of claim 1, wherein said injection casing comprises a plurality of winged initiation sections. 23. A well in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments, comprising: a bore hole in the formation to a predetermined depth; an injection casing having at least two pipes individually connected to a fracture fluid pumping system in the bore hole at the predetermined depth; and a source for delivering a fracture fluid separately and independently into individual opposing wings of a hydraulic fracture or into only one of the two wings through one or both of said pipes and into passages within the injection casing with sufficient fracturing pressure to dilate the injection casing and the formation and initiate a vertical fracture at an azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation having opposing wings, wherein the injection casing further comprises multiple initiation sections separated by a weakening line and wherein said passages to each opposing wing within the initiation sections communicate across the weakening line for the introduction of the fracture fluid to dilate the casing and separate the initiation sections along the weakening line, and wherein the pipes are individually connected to the source of fracture fluid at one end and the passages at the other end to dilate the injection casing and the formation in a preferential direction and thereby initiate the vertical fracture at the azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation and to control the propagation rate of each individual opposing wing of the hydraulic fracture when fracture fluid is individually pumped into each of said pipes and a corresponding passage such that the geometry of the fracture can be controlled in either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical fashion. 24. The well of claim 23, wherein the fracture fluid does not leak off into the formation from the fracture. 25. The well of claim 23, wherein the fracture fluid comprises a proppant, and the fracture fluid is able to carry the proppant of the fracture fluid at low flow velocities. 26. The well of claim 23, wherein the fracture fluid is clean breaking with minimal residue. 27. The well of claim 23, wherein the fracture fluid has a low friction coefficient. 28. The well of claim 23, wherein the fracture fluid comprises a water based guar gum gel slurry. 29. The well of claim 23, wherein the initiation sections remain separated after dilation of the casing by the fracture fluid to provide hydraulic connection of the hydraulic fracture with the well bore following completion of hydraulic fracturing. 30. The well of claim 23, wherein the fracture fluid comprises a proppant and the initiation sections each contain well screen sections separating the proppant in the hydraulic fracture from the production well bore and thus preventing proppant from flowing back from the fracture into the production well bore during petroleum fluid extraction. 31. The well of claim 23, further comprising a fastener at each initiation section having a distinct opening pressure whereby the fastener will open at a certain applied load during fracture initiation and will progressively open further during fracture propagation and not close following the completion of the fracture. 32. A well in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments, comprising a bore hole in the formation to a predetermined depth; an injection casing having at least two passages individually connected to a fracture fluid pumping system in the bore hole at the predetermined depth, the injection casing further comprising multiple initiation sections separated by a weakening line, wherein each weakening line corresponds to one of a plurality of fracture planes; and wherein the fracture fluid pumping system comprises at least two pipes connected at one end to the casing and fluidly connected at the other end to the passages such that said pipes are capable of separately and independently delivering into individual opposing wings of a hydraulic fracture or into only one of the two wings the fracture fluid within each passage with sufficient pressure to dilate the formation, and initiate a fracture in the formation along the desired fracture plane such that the geometry of the fracture can be controlled in either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical fashion. 33. A well in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments, comprising a bore hole in the formation to a predetermined depth; an injection casing having at least two passages individually connected to a fracture fluid pumping system in the bore hole at the predetermined depth, the injection casing further comprising multiple initiation sections separated by a weakening line, passages within the initiation sections individually communicate a fracture fluid to each opposing wing of a selected opposed pair of weakening lines, wherein each opposed pair of weakening lines corresponds to one of a plurality of desired fracture planes; and wherein the fracture fluid pumping system comprises at least two pipes connected at one end to the casing and fluidly connected at the other end to the passages such that said pipes are capable of separately and independently delivering the fracture fluid within each passage into each individual opposing wing or into only one of the two wings with sufficient pressure to dilate the formation, and initiate a fracture in the formation along the desired fracture plane such that the geometry of the fracture can be controlled in either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical fashion. 34. A method for creating a vertical hydraulic fracture in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments, comprising: a. drilling a bore hole in the formation to a predetermined depth; b. installing an injection casing in the bore hole at the predetermined depth; c. injecting a fracture fluid separately and independently into at least two pipes connected to the injection casing in individual opposing wings of a hydraulic fracture or into only one of the two wings with sufficient fracturing pressure to dilate the formation in a preferential direction and thereby initiate a vertical fracture at an azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation; and d. individually controlling a rate of fracture fluid injection into said pipes and into each individual opposing wing of the initiated and propagating hydraulic fracture thereby controlling a geometry of the hydraulic fracture in either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical fashion. 35. A well in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments, comprising: a bore hole in the formation to a predetermined depth; an injection casing having at least two passages in the bore hole at the predetermined depth; and a source for delivering a fracture fluid separately and independently into the passages within the injection casing and into individual opposing wings of a fracture or into only one of two wings with sufficient fracturing pressure to dilate the injection casing and the formation and initiate the vertical fracture at an azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation such that the geometry of the fracture can be controlled in either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical fashion, wherein the injection casing further comprises multiple initiation sections separated by a weakening line and wherein said passages to each opposing wing within the initiation sections communicate across the weakening line for the introduction of the fracture fluid to dilate the casing and separate the initiation sections along the weakening line, and wherein the passages are connected to the source of fracture fluid to dilate the injection casing and the formation in a preferential direction and thereby initiate the vertical fracture at the azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation and to control the propagation rate of each individual opposing wing of the hydraulic fracture, and wherein the fracture fluid comprises a proppant and the initiation sections each contain well screen sections separating the proppant in the hydraulic fracture from the production well bore and thus preventing proppant from flowing back from the fracture into the production well bore during petroleum fluid extraction. 36. A method for creating a vertical hydraulic fracture in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments, comprising: a. drilling a bore hole in the formation to a predetermined depth; b. installing an injection casing having at least two passages individually connected to a fracture fluid pumping system in the bore hole at the predetermined depth, wherein the casing comprises three initiation sections with three directions of dilation; c. establishing openings through which a fracture fluid can be separately injected into a corresponding number of passages within the injection casing; d. injecting a fracture fluid into the passages within the injection casing separately and independently with sufficient fracturing pressure to dilate the formation in a preferential direction and thereby initiating a vertical fracture at an azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation in individual opposing wings or into only one of two wings; e. individually controlling a rate of fracture fluid injection through the passages into each individual opposing wing of the initiated and propagating hydraulic fracture thereby controlling a geometry of the hydraulic fracture in either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical fashion; f. installing the injection casing at a predetermined depth in the bore hole, wherein an annular space exists between the outer surface of the casing and the bore hole; and g. filling the annular space with a grout that bonds to the outer surface of the casing, wherein the casing has multiple initiation sections separated by a weakening line so that the initiation sections separate along the weakening line when the fracture fluid is injected into the injection casing, and wherein the fracture fluid dilates the grout and the formation to initiate the fracture in the formation at the weakening line. 37. A method for creating a vertical hydraulic fracture in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments, comprising: a. drilling a bore hole in the formation to a predetermined depth; b. installing an injection casing having at least two passages individually connected to a fracture fluid pumping system in the bore hole at the predetermined depth, wherein the casing comprises four initiation sections with four directions of dilation, with the first and second weakening lines being orthogonal to each other and the third and fourth weakening lines being orthogonal to each other; c. establishing openings through which a fracture fluid can be separately injected into a corresponding number of passages within the injection casing; d. injecting a fracture fluid into the passages within the injection casing separately and independently with sufficient fracturing pressure to dilate the formation in a preferential direction and thereby initiating a vertical fracture at an azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation in individual opposing wings or into only one of two wings; e. individually controlling a rate of fracture fluid injection through the passages into each individual opposing wing of the initiated and propagating hydraulic fracture thereby controlling a geometry of the hydraulic fracture in either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical fashion; f. installing the injection casing at a predetermined depth in the bore hole, wherein an annular space exists between the outer surface of the casing and the bore hole; and g. filling the annular space with a grout that bonds to the outer surface of the casing, wherein the casing has multiple initiation sections separated by a weakening line so that the initiation sections separate along the weakening line when the fracture fluid is injected into the injection casing, and wherein the fracture fluid dilates the grout and the formation to initiate the fracture in the formation at the weakening line. 38. A method for creating a vertical hydraulic fracture in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments, comprising: a. drilling a bore hole in the formation to a predetermined depth; b. installing an injection casing having at least two passages individually connected to a fracture fluid pumping system in the bore hole at the predetermined depth; c. establishing openings through which a fracture fluid can be separately injected into a corresponding number of passages within the injection casing; d. injecting a fracture fluid into the passages within the injection casing separately and independently with sufficient fracturing pressure to dilate the formation in a preferential direction and thereby initiating a vertical fracture at an azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation in individual opposing wings or into only one of two wings; e. individually controlling a rate of fracture fluid injection through the passages into each individual opposing wing of the initiated and propagating hydraulic fracture thereby controlling a geometry of the hydraulic fracture in either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical fashion; f. installing the injection casing at a predetermined depth in the bore hole, wherein an annular space exists between the outer surface of the casing and the bore hole; and g. filling the annular space with a grout that bonds to the outer surface of the casing, wherein the casing has multiple initiation sections separated by a weakening line so that the initiation sections separate along the weakening line when the fracture fluid is injected into the injection casing, wherein the fracture fluid comprises a proppant and the initiation sections each contain well screen sections separating the proppant in the hydraulic fracture from the production well bore and thus preventing proppant from flowing back from the fracture into the production well bore during fluid extraction. 39. A well in a formation of unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments, comprising: a bore hole in the formation to a predetermined depth; an injection casing having at least two passages individually connected to a fracture fluid pumping system in the bore hole at the predetermined depth; and a source for delivering a fracture fluid separately and independently into the passages within the injection casing with sufficient fracturing pressure to dilate the injection casing and the formation and initiate a vertical fracture at an azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation in individual opposing wings or into only one of two wings, wherein the injection casing further comprises multiple initiation sections separated by a weakening line and wherein said passages to each opposing wing within the initiation sections communicate across the weakening line for the introduction of the fracture fluid to dilate the casing and separate the initiation sections along the weakening line, and wherein the passages are individually connected to the source of fracture fluid to dilate the injection casing and the formation in a preferential direction and thereby initiate the vertical fracture at the azimuth orthogonal to the direction of dilation and to control the propagation rate of each individual opposing wing of the hydraulic fracture such that the geometry of the fracture can be controlled in either a symmetrical or an asymmetrical fashion, wherein the fracture fluid comprises a proppant and the initiation sections each contain well screen sections separating the proppant in the hydraulic fracture from the production well bore and thus preventing proppant from flowing back from the fracture into the production well bore during petroleum fluid extraction.
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