ELECTRICAL AND STATIC FRACTURING OF A RESERVOIR

• US 20140008073A1
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique
• Original Assignee: Total SA (Cook Composites and Polymers)
• Inventors: Rey-Bethbeder, Franck, Gibert, Alain, Jacques, Antoine, Martin, Justin, Sylvestre de Ferron, Antoine, Reess, Thierry, Maurel, Olivier, LaBorderie, Christian, Pijaudier-Cabot, Gilles
• Granted Patent: US 9,567,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/308.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/04 using electrical heaters
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/003 Vibrating earth formations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures

Abstract

A method is provided for fracturing a geological hydrocarbon reservoir, including the static fracturing of the reservoir by hydraulic pressure, and the electrical fracturing of the reservoir by generating an electric arc in a well drilled into the reservoir. This enables the improved fracturing of the reservoir.

Claims

1. A method for fracturing a geological hydrocarbon reservoir, the method comprising:

static fracturing of the reservoir by hydraulic pressure; and

electrical fracturing of the reservoir by generating an electric arc in a well drilled in the reservoir.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the static fracturing precedes the electrical fracturing.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the well is horizontal.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising repeating the electrical fracturing in various treatment zones along the well.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising generating several arcs in succession, in each treatment zone, to induce a pressure wave the rise time of which is decreasing.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising generating the arcs in each treatment zone, at a frequency equal to the resonance frequency of a material to be fractured in the reservoir.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising generating the arcs at a frequency below 100 Hz and above 0.001 Hz.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir has a permeability below 10 microdarcy.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is a shale gas reservoir.

11. The method of fracturing according to claim 1, further comprising generating the electrical fracturing by a fracturing device which comprises:

two packers defining between them a confined space in a well drilled in the reservoir;

a pump for increasing the pressure of a fluid in the confined space;

a heater operably heating the fluid;

at least one pair of two electrodes arranged in the confined space; and

an electric circuit for generating an electric arc between the two electrodes, the circuit comprising at least one voltage source connected to the electrodes and an inductance between the voltage source and one of the two electrodes.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the inductance is an adjustable inductance coil.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the distance between the electrodes is adjustable.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the voltage source comprises a capacitor with an adjustable capacitance.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the voltage source comprises a Marx generator.

10. A method of fracturing a geological hydrocarbon reservoir previously fractured statically by hydraulic pressure, the method comprising electrical fracturing of the reservoir by generating an electric arc in a well drilled in the reservoir.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising repeating the electrical fracturing in various treatment zones along the well.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising generating several arcs in succession in each treatment zone to induce a pressure wave the rise time of which is decreasing.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising generating the arcs in each treatment zone at a frequency equal to the resonance frequency of a material to be fractured in the reservoir.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising generating the arcs at a frequency below 100 Hz and above 0.001 Hz.

16. A method of production of hydrocarbons, the method comprising fracturing of a geological hydrocarbon reservoir by using:

static fracturing of the reservoir by hydraulic pressure; and

electrical fracturing of the reservoir by generating an electric arc in a well drilled in the reservoir.