Mapping fracture dimensions
First Claim
1. A method of treating a subterranean formation with a treatment fluid comprising a proppant including the steps of a) adding to the treatment fluid a noisy particulate material selected from the group consisting of explosive, implosive, rapidly combustible, and energetic particulate material, b) pumping said treatment fluid into the subterranean formation through a well, and c) allowing the discharge of said particulate material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Hydraulic fracture dimensions and, optionally, fracture closure pressure and time are determined by adding particulate matter that discharges to create an acoustic signal to the proppant, allowing the particulate matter to discharge, and detecting the acoustic signal with geophones or accelerometers. The particulate matter may be spheres or fibers. The discharge may be explosion, implosion, detonation, or rapid combustion or ignition. The discharge may be triggered by fracture closure or by chemical reaction.
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Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A method of treating a subterranean formation with a treatment fluid comprising a proppant including the steps of a) adding to the treatment fluid a noisy particulate material selected from the group consisting of explosive, implosive, rapidly combustible, and energetic particulate material, b) pumping said treatment fluid into the subterranean formation through a well, and c) allowing the discharge of said particulate material.
Specification