Statoil Gulf Services LLC

Reveal Energy Services, Inc.

Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Imperial Oil Resources

Matthew A Dawson

Günther Kampfer

Lukas Mosser

Robert D Kaminsky

Thomas J Boone

Hao Huang

Stuart Ronald Keller

Owen J Hehmeyer

Mori Y Kwan

Robert Chick Wattenbarger

Jean-Pierre Lebel

John T Linderman

Adam Coutee

Thomas James Boone

Stuart R Keller

Robert Kaminsky

Gunther Kampfer

Ivan J Kosik

Systems and methods for using pressure signals to assess effectiveness of a diverter in a stimulation wellbore are disclosed. A pressure signal in an observation wellbore in the subsurface formation may be assessed using a pressure sensor in direct fluid communication with a fluid in the observation wellbore. The fluid in the observation wellbore may be indirect fluid communication with a fracture emanating from the observation wellbore. The pressure signal may include a pressure change that is induced by a fracture being formed from a stimulation wellbore in the subsurface formation. The pressure signal may be a pressure-induced poromechanic signal. The slope in the pressure signal before and after the diverter are provided into the stimulation wellbore may be assessed to determine the effectiveness of the diverter.

Determining diverter effectiveness in a fracture wellbore

A method for optimizing well spacing for a multi-well pad which includes a first group of wells and a second group of wells is provided. The method includes the steps of: creating a fracture in a stage in a first well in the first group of wells; isolating a next stage in said first well in the first group of wells from said stage; creating a fracture in said next stage in the first well in the first group after the step of isolating; measuring a pressure by using a pressure gauge in direct fluid communication with said next stage in the first well in the first group of wells; creating a fracture in one or more stages in a well in the second group of wells in a manner such that the fracture in the well in the second group of wells induces the pressure measured in the first well to change; and recording the pressure change in the next stage of the first well.

Well system of acquiring information of hydraulic fracture geometry for evaluating and optimizing well spacing for multi-well pad

Systems and methods for assessing geometric fractures parameters in a subsurface formation are disclosed. A first pressure signal and a second pressure signal in a first (observation) wellbore in the subsurface formation may be assessed using a pressure sensor in direct fluid communication with a fluid in the first wellbore. The fluid in the first wellbore may be in direct fluid communication with at least a first fracture in the subsurface formation. The first pressure signal may include a pressure change that is induced by a second fracture being formed from a second (stimulation) wellbore in the subsurface formation. The second pressure signal may include a pressure change that is induced by a third fracture being formed from the second wellbore. One or more geometric parameters of the second and third fractures may be assessed using the first pressure signal and the second pressure signal.

Mapping of fracture geometries in a multi-well stimulation process

A method for drilling a wellbore in the formation, wherein the wellbore is approximately horizontal; forming two or more fractures in the formation from the wellbore; receiving fracture performance data about the two or more fractures; analyzing the fracture performance data; selecting one or more fractures for injection and selecting one or more fractures for production based on the analysis of the fracture performance data; and completing the wellbore such that injection into the one or more fractures selected for injection and production from the one or more fractures selected for production may occur simultaneously.

Producing hydrocarbons from a formation

A method of evaluating a geometric parameter of a first fracture emanating from a first wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is provided. The method includes the steps of forming the first fracture in fluid communication with the first wellbore; forming a second fracture in fluid communication with a second wellbore; measuring a first pressure change in the second wellbore in proximity to the first wellbore; and determining the geometric parameter of the first fracture using at least the measured first pressure change in an analysis which couples a solid mechanics equation and a pressure diffusion equation.

Method of geometric evaluation of hydraulic fractures

Systems and methods for using pressure signals to assess effectiveness of a diverter in a stimulation wellbore are disclosed. A pressure signal in an observation wellbore in the subsurface formation may be assessed using a pressure sensor in direct fluid communication with a fluid in the observation wellbore. The fluid in the observation wellbore may be in direct fluid communication with a fracture emanating from the observation wellbore. The pressure signal may include a pressure change that is induced by a fracture being formed from a stimulation wellbore in the subsurface formation. The pressure signal may be a pressure-induced poromechanic signal. The slope in the pressure signal before and after the diverter are provided into the stimulation wellbore may be assessed to determine the effectiveness of the diverter.

Method of acquiring information of hydraulic fracture geometry for evaluating and optimizing well spacing for multi-well pad

Methods and systems for penetrating a subsurface formation are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes a kicker configured to direct a drilling apparatus towards a well casing and a flexible hose configured to convey a fluid from a surface pump to the drilling apparatus. The drilling apparatus includes a drill bit configured to penetrate a well casing and a subsurface formation, and wherein the drilling apparatus is configured to pull the flexible hose into the subsurface formation as the drilling apparatus penetrates the subsurface formation.

Penetrating a subterranean formation

Method of geometric evaluation of hydraulic fractures by using pressure changes

A method and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. A first well is provided in the formation, the first well being separated by an isolating material into at least a first and second zone, the first zone being substantially isolated from the second zone. A second well is provided in the formation. The second well is separated by an isolating material into at least a first and second zone, the first zone being substantially isolated from the second zone. A first fracture is provided in the formation, the first fracture extending substantially between the first zones. A second fracture is provided in the formation, the second fracture extending substantially between the second zones of the first and second wells. A fluid is injected into the formation from the first zone in the first well. Hydrocarbons are produced at the second zone of the second well.

Producing hydrocarbons

Systems and methods for removing fluid from a slurry fluid and a plurality of solid particles including flowing a slurry stream that includes the slurry through a slurry conduit, injecting a displacing fluid through a first perforated region that is in fluid communication with the slurry conduit, displacing at least a portion of the slurry fluid from the slurry, and producing a displaced fluid stream, which may include the displaced portion of the slurry fluid and/or a portion of the injected displacing fluid, from a second perforated region that is in fluid communication with the slurry conduit. The systems and methods also may include producing a product slurry stream from the slurry conduit, separating the components of the displaced fluid stream, separating the components of the product slurry stream, and/or recycling a portion of one or more of the streams.

Systems and methods for separating components of a slurry

A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation includes placing a wellbore in the formation, wherein the wellbore is approximately horizontal in the formation; forming one or more fractures in the formation in fluid communication with the wellbore; recovering hydrocarbons from the formation through the wellbore; injecting a volume of fluid comprising greater than 98 mass % water and greater than 0.005 mass % active surfactant into the formation through the wellbore, wherein at least 10 mass % of said volume is injected at a bottom hole pressure at the heel of the wellbore that is less than the minimum horizontal stress in at least a portion of the overburden and at least 5 mass % of said volume is injected at a bottom hole pressure at the heel of the wellbore that is greater than the median minimum horizontal stress in the subterranean formation; and subsequently recovering in situ hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.

Methods of producing hydrocarbons from a wellbore utilizing optimized high-pressure water injection

Described are methods of distributing a viscosity reducing solvent to a set of wells terminating in an underground oil reservoir where the variation in the net solvent injection rate is minimized. The net solvent injection rate is the difference between the total solvent injection rate and the total solvent production rate from the set of wells, for example on an instantaneous or daily rate basis. Minimizing this variation can reduce costs associated with surface solvent storage, subsurface solvent storage, and solvent supply, since solvent supply often is least expensive when supplied at near a fixed rate. One option is to operate well pairs and to inject solvent into one well of the pair while producing oil and solvent from the other well of the pair. These methods are particularly useful in solvent-dominated, cyclic or non-cyclic, viscous oil recovery processes.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Matthew A Dawson