Apparatus, method and system for mapping fracture features in hydraulically fractured strata using functional proppant properties
First Claim
1. A system for mapping structural features, including fracture features, in the fluid space of a geologic formation proximate to a cased borehole, comprising:
- proppant disposed in the fluid space of the geologic formation, wherein at least part of the proppant is treated to increase electromagnetic reflectivity at an operating frequency of electromagnetic signals generated by at least one antenna array;
at least one movable antenna array that comprises a rotary dish antenna associated with a wellbore casing and extending beyond the wellbore casing, the at least one movable antenna array having an unobstructed electromagnetic view of the geologic formation based on the location of the proppant disposed within the geologic formation the at least one movable antenna array comprising two or more antennas, wherein at least two of the two or more antennas are interconnected so they can operate in sequence;
a downhole tool comprising an array control module in communication with the at least one antenna array;
a surface control unit coupled to the downhole tool and in communication with the at least one movable antenna array, the surface control configured to actuate the at least one movable antenna array to generate sequenced electromagnetic signals at the operating frequency and through a plurality of interrogation angles; and
the at least one movable antenna array configured to receive reflected electromagnetic signals from the proppant in the fluid space of the geologic formation from the at least one antenna array for each of the plurality of interrogation angles;
the surface control unit configured to analyze the received electromagnetic signals and generate an image displaying at least one attribute of the fluid space of the geologic formation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and method for deploying multiple antennas in an array configuration with unobstructed electromagnetic access to a formation outside of a casing, sequencing the transmitted signal to control the direction of transmission into the formation, receiving the reflected signals, and locating the position of the reflection based on the scanned transmission signal orientation and the direction of the received signal. Such a deployment of an antenna array with unobstructed electromagnetic access to the formation outside of the casing, sequencing of the interrogation signal, and analysis of the received signal relative to the transmitted signal direction form the basis for reflection image rendering as the transmitted signal is scanned by a sequenced stimulus signal.
10 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for mapping structural features, including fracture features, in the fluid space of a geologic formation proximate to a cased borehole, comprising:
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proppant disposed in the fluid space of the geologic formation, wherein at least part of the proppant is treated to increase electromagnetic reflectivity at an operating frequency of electromagnetic signals generated by at least one antenna array; at least one movable antenna array that comprises a rotary dish antenna associated with a wellbore casing and extending beyond the wellbore casing, the at least one movable antenna array having an unobstructed electromagnetic view of the geologic formation based on the location of the proppant disposed within the geologic formation the at least one movable antenna array comprising two or more antennas, wherein at least two of the two or more antennas are interconnected so they can operate in sequence; a downhole tool comprising an array control module in communication with the at least one antenna array; a surface control unit coupled to the downhole tool and in communication with the at least one movable antenna array, the surface control configured to actuate the at least one movable antenna array to generate sequenced electromagnetic signals at the operating frequency and through a plurality of interrogation angles; and the at least one movable antenna array configured to receive reflected electromagnetic signals from the proppant in the fluid space of the geologic formation from the at least one antenna array for each of the plurality of interrogation angles;
the surface control unit configured to analyze the received electromagnetic signals and generate an image displaying at least one attribute of the fluid space of the geologic formation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for mapping structural features, including fracture features, in the fluid space of a geologic formation proximate to a cased borehole, the method comprising the following steps:
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deploying proppant into the fluid space of the geologic formation, wherein at least part of the proppant is treated to increase electromagnetic reflectivity at an operating frequency of electromagnetic signals; deploying at least one movable antenna array that comprises a rotary dish antenna proximate to wellbore casing and that extends beyond the wellbore casing, the at least one movable antenna array having an unobstructed electromagnetic view of the geologic formation the at least one movable antenna array comprising two or more antennas, wherein at least two of the two or more antennas are interconnected so they can operate in sequence; generating electromagnetic signals at the operating frequency from the at least one movable antenna array through a plurality of interrogation angles and across at least a portion of the fluid space of the geologic formation; receiving reflected electromagnetic signals reflected from at least a portion of the proppant in the fluid space of the geologic formation; and processing the reflected electromagnetic signals to generate an image of at least one feature of the fluid space of the geologic formation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification