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Using radio waves to fracture rocks in a hydrocarbon reservoir

  • US 10,180,054 B2
  • Filed: 02/07/2018
  • Issued: 01/15/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:

  • forming a borehole pattern in a hydrocarbon reservoir from a surface of the hydrocarbon reservoir extending downward into the hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the borehole pattern comprises a plurality of boreholes and the plurality of boreholes are formed in a horizontal well pattern; and

    for each of the plurality of boreholes;

    transmitting an electromagnetic (EM) wave through the respective borehole;

    directing at least a portion of the EM wave to rocks at a location below the surface in the hydrocarbon reservoir; and

    fracturing the rocks at the location below the surface in the hydrocarbon reservoir by irradiating the rocks around the respective borehole using at least the portion of the EM wave, wherein irradiating the rocks elevates pore-water pressure in the rocks causing fracturing of the rocks, and an azimuthal coverage of a stimulation zone generated by the EM wave for the respective boreholes is a fraction of a circumference of the respective borehole.

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