Method of cold water fracturing in drainholes

• US 4,476,932 A
• Filed: 10/12/1982
• Issued: 10/16/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Emery, Leonard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suchfield, George A.
• Application Number:
  US06/433,921
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 166/50, 166/271, 166/259, 166/302, 166/303, 166/308
• US Class Current: 166/303
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/00 Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/001 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/305 comprising at least one inclined or horizontal well

Abstract

A method for selectively positioning a fracture in a horizontal borehole comprising injection of a cooling fluid into a preselected portion of the drainhole and thereafter injection of fracturing fluid into the borehole at a pressure sufficient to initiate a fracture in the cooled portion but not in the unselected portions of the drainhole.

Claims

1. In a lateral borehole extending from a vertical borehole, a method for selectively forming a fracture substantially displaced from said vertical borehole comprising:

injecting a cooling fluid into the formation surrounding a selected portion of said lateral borehole substantially displaced from said vertical borehole;

injecting a warming fluid into the formation surrounding the unselected portions of said lateral borehole; and

injecting a fracturing fluid into said lateral borehole at a pressure sufficient to initiate a fracture in said selected portion but not in the remaining portions of said borehole.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said cooling and warming fluids are injected simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said cooling fluid is injected by means of an insulated tubing positioned in said vertical borehole and said lateral borehole extending from the earth'"'"'s surface to said selected portion and a packer positioned around the lower end of said tubing to prevent return flow of said cooling fluid.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said warming fluid is injected down the annulus between said tubing and walls of said vertical and lateral boreholes.