Using radio waves to fracture rocks in a hydrocarbon reservoir
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure describes methods and systems for fracturing geological formations in a hydrocarbon reservoir. One method includes forming a borehole in a hydrocarbon reservoir from a surface of the hydrocarbon reservoir extending downward into the hydrocarbon reservoir; transmitting an electromagnetic (EM) wave through the 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 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.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising:
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forming a borehole pattern comprising a plurality of boreholes in a hydrocarbon reservoir from a surface of the hydrocarbon reservoir extending downward into the hydrocarbon reservoir; transmitting an EM wave through at least one of the plurality of boreholes; and for each of the at least one of the plurality of boreholes, fracturing rocks around the respective borehole using the EM wave, wherein an azimuthal coverage of a stimulation zone generated by the EM wave for each of the plurality of boreholes is a fraction of a circumference of the respective borehole. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification