Method for Assessing the Effectiveness of Modifying Transmissive Networks of Natural Reservoirs
First Claim
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1. A method of monitoring or assessing the effectiveness of a fracking operation in a well, comprising:
- deploying and activating an array of seismic sensors near or around a well that is to be fracked;
determining at least an initial seismic or acoustic velocity model for a first volume near or around the well that is to be fracked;
determining a fracking stage transmissive volume by illuminating a permeability field near or in the first volume by pumping gas or fluid into the well at pressures less than Shmin;
employing near-well imaging TFI methods to process continuously or near-continuously seismic data that have been or are being acquired or recorded near the first volume;
generating images corresponding to initial transmissive fractures and faults located in the first volume to determine a geometry of a pre-existing first fracture or fault network in, or in the vicinity of, the first volume that is characteristic of an initial permeability field;
carrying out a first fracking stage in the well and near or in the first volume, where a suitable fluid or gas is pumped into at least the first volume at a pressure exceeding Shmin;
employing near-well imaging TFI methods to process continuously or near-continuously seismic data that have been or are being acquired or recorded near the at least first volume that is being fractured in the first fracking stage;
employing near-well imaging TFI methods to generate images representing fractures or faults created by the first fracking stage, anddetermining a second volume and geometry of a second fracture and fault network that has been created by the first fracking stage, and that is characteristic of a resulting new stage permeability field.
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Abstract
Described herein are various embodiments of methods and corresponding hardware and software that are configured to illuminate or image the permeability field around or near a well that is to be fracked, both prior to fracking and after various fracking stages. The methods and corresponding hardware and software disclosed herein permit the progress of the fracking operation to be monitored at different stages.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring or assessing the effectiveness of a fracking operation in a well, comprising:
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deploying and activating an array of seismic sensors near or around a well that is to be fracked; determining at least an initial seismic or acoustic velocity model for a first volume near or around the well that is to be fracked; determining a fracking stage transmissive volume by illuminating a permeability field near or in the first volume by pumping gas or fluid into the well at pressures less than Shmin; employing near-well imaging TFI methods to process continuously or near-continuously seismic data that have been or are being acquired or recorded near the first volume; generating images corresponding to initial transmissive fractures and faults located in the first volume to determine a geometry of a pre-existing first fracture or fault network in, or in the vicinity of, the first volume that is characteristic of an initial permeability field; carrying out a first fracking stage in the well and near or in the first volume, where a suitable fluid or gas is pumped into at least the first volume at a pressure exceeding Shmin; employing near-well imaging TFI methods to process continuously or near-continuously seismic data that have been or are being acquired or recorded near the at least first volume that is being fractured in the first fracking stage; employing near-well imaging TFI methods to generate images representing fractures or faults created by the first fracking stage, and determining a second volume and geometry of a second fracture and fault network that has been created by the first fracking stage, and that is characteristic of a resulting new stage permeability field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of monitoring or assessing the effectiveness of a fracking operation in a well, comprising:
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deploying and activating an array of seismic sensors near or around a well that is to be fracked; determining at least an initial seismic or acoustic velocity model for a first volume near or around the well that is to be fracked; determining a fracking stage transmissive volume by illuminating a permeability field near or in the first volume by pumping gas or fluid into the well at pressures less than Shmin; employing near-well imaging TFI methods to process continuously or near-continuously seismic data that have been or are being acquired or recorded near the first volume; generating images corresponding to initial transmissive fractures and faults located in the first volume to determine a geometry of a pre-existing first fracture or fault network in, or in the vicinity of, the first volume that is characteristic of an initial permeability field; carrying out a first fracking stage in the well and near or in the first volume, where a suitable fluid or gas is pumped into at least the first volume at a pressure less than Shmin; employing near-well imaging TFI methods to process continuously or near-continuously seismic data that have been or are being acquired or recorded near the at least first volume that is being fractured in the first fracking stage; employing near-well imaging TFI methods to generate images representing fractures or faults created by the first fracking stage, and determining a second volume and geometry of a second fracture and fault network that has been created by the first fracking stage, and that is characteristic of a resulting new stage permeability field. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification