Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Abdel Wadood M El-Rabaa

Randy C Tolman

Renzo Moises Angeles Boza

Robert D Kaminsky

Pavlin B Entchev

William A Symington

Kevin H Searles

Kris J Nygaard

William P Meurer

Michele M Thomas

Christian S Mayer

Quinn R Passey

Dennis H Petrie

William A Sorem

Jeff H Moss

Matthew T Shanley

Nazish Hoda

Jim H Lee

Mita Das

Jonathan L Hollett

Systems and methods for modeling subterranean formations that include both gaseous hydrocarbons and adsorbed hydrocarbons. The systems and methods include determining a formation volume factor for gaseous hydrocarbons that may be present within the subterranean formation and correcting the formation volume factor to generate a compensated formation volume factor. The systems and methods further may include simulating a fluid flow within the subterranean formation, with the simulating being based, at least in part, on the compensated formation volume factor. Correcting the formation volume factor may include adjusting the formation volume factor based, at least in part, on a fraction of the adsorbed hydrocarbons within the subterranean formation that desorbs from the subterranean formation and/or transitions to gaseous hydrocarbons during production of the gaseous hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.

Systems and methods for modeling subterranean formations that include gaseous hydrocarbons and adsorbed hydrocarbons

Autonomous units and methods for downhole, multi-zone perforation and fracture stimulation for hydrocarbon production. The autonomous unit may be a perforating gun assembly, a bridge plug assembly, or fracturing plug assembly. The autonomous units are dimensioned and arranged to be deployed within a wellbore without an electric wireline. The autonomous units may be fabricated from a friable material so as to self-destruct upon receiving a signal. The autonomous units include a position locator for sensing the presence of objects along the wellbore and generating depth signals in response. The autonomous units also include an on-board controller for processing the depth signals and for activating an actuatable tool at a zone of interest.

Assembly and method for multi-zone fracture stimulation of a reservoir using autonomous tubular units

The well includes a wellbore with a casing string that extends within the wellbore, defining a casing conduit including existing perforations. A re-completion liner extends within the casing conduit and defines a liner conduit therein, and an annular space extends between the re-completion liner and the casing string. Systems and methods include perforating the re-completion liner to create liner perforations and perforating the casing string to create re-completion perforations that are generally aligned with respective liner perforations, stimulating the subterranean formation by flowing a completing fluid through the plurality of liner perforations and re-completion perforations, controlling flow of a fluid within the annular space, and/or producing a reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation and through both the existing perforations and the re-completion perforations.

Sytems and methods for re-completing multi-zone wells

A method for hydraulically fracturing subterranean formations in a manner resulting in improved propping of fractures, particularly in ductile rock formations such as gas-containing shales having a high clay content. The method allows for improved hydrocarbon production. The method involves injecting a first fluid having a first proppant concentration into the subsurface formation to form a fracture, reducing the pressure in the fracture and allowing the fracture to substantially close, and injecting a second fluid having a second proppant concentration into the fracture to re-open the fracture. The second proppant concentration is greater than the first proppant concentration. A portion of the proppant is effectively retained in the reopened fracture.

Double hydraulic fracturing methods

Drag-enhancing structures for downhole operations are included in a downhole assembly that further includes a tool string, extends past a maximum transverse perimeter of the tool string, and increases resistance to fluid flow past the downhole assembly when the downhole assembly is pumped in a downhole direction within a wellbore conduit. The systems and methods include conveying the downhole assembly in the downhole direction within the wellbore conduit. The systems and methods further may include decreasing the resistance to fluid flow past the downhole assembly after the downhole assembly is located within a target region of the wellbore conduit and/or flowing a sealing material past the downhole assembly while the downhole assembly is located within the wellbore conduit.

Drag enhancing structures for downhole operations, and systems and methods including the same

A method for heating a subsurface formation using electrical resistance heating is provided. The method includes placing a first electrically conductive proppant into a fracture within an interval of organic-rich rock. The first electrically conductive proppant has a first bulk resistivity. The method further includes placing a second electrically conductive proppant into the fracture. The second electrically conductive proppant has a second bulk resistivity that is lower than the first bulk resistivity, and is in electrical communication with the first proppant at three or more terminal locations. The method then includes passing an electric current through the second electrically conductive proppant at a selected terminal and through the first electrically conductive proppant, such that heat is generated within the fracture by electrical resistivity. The operator may monitor resistance and switch terminals for the most efficient heating. A system for electrically heating an organic-rich rock formation below an earth surface is also provided.

Multiple electrical connections to optimize heating for in situ pyrolysis

Methods are provided that include the steps of providing wells in a formation, establishing one or more fractures in the formation, such that each fracture intersects at least one of the wells, placing electrically conductive material in the fracture, and applying an electric voltage across the fracture and through the material such that sufficient heat is generated by electrical resistivity within the material to heat and/or pyrolyze organic matter in the formation to form producible hydrocarbons.

Methods of treating a subterranean formation to convert organic matter into producible hydrocarbons

Methods are provided that include the steps of providing wells in a formation, establishing one or more fractures () in the formation, such that each fracture intersects at least one of the wells (), placing electrically conductive material in the fractures, and generating electric current through the fractures and through the material such that sufficient heat () is generated by electrical resistivity within the material to pyrolyze organic matter in the formation into producible hydrocarbons.

This invention provides a method for treating multiple intervals in a wellbore by perforating at least one interval then treating and isolating the perforated interval(s) without removing the perforating device from the wellbore during the treatment or isolation. The invention can be applied to hydraulic fracturing with or without proppant materials as well as to chemical stimulation treatments.

Growing community of inventors

Plano, TX, United States of America

Abdel Wadood M El-Rabaa