Real-time automated heterogeneous proppant placement
First Claim
1. A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean formation, comprising the steps of:
- (a) designing an initial model for a heterogeneous proppant placement in a fracture in the formation;
(b) developing an initial proppant placement schedule for delivering proppant and treatment fluid to the fracture predicted to obtain the initial model;
(c) beginning delivery of the proppant to the fracture according to the initial proppant placement schedule;
(d) taking real-time fracture geometry measurements during the proppant delivery;
(e) updating the model according to the geometry measurements;
(f) updating the proppant placement schedule according to the updated model and delivering the proppant according to the updated proppant placement schedule; and
(g) repeating steps (d) through (f) in real-time until the proppant delivery is complete.
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Abstract
A system and a method for heterogeneous proppant placement in a fracture (12) in a subterranean formation (18) are disclosed. The system includes a delivery system (10) for delivering proppant and treatment fluid to the fracture (12), a sensor (20) for measuring geometry of the fracture and a computer (24) in communication with the sensor (20). The computer (24) includes a software tool for real-time design of a model (38) for heterogeneous proppant placement in the fracture (12) based on data from the sensor (20) measurements and a software tool for developing and updating a proppant placement schedule (42) for delivering the proppant and treatment fluid to the fracture (12) corresponding to the model. A control link between the computer (24) and the delivery system (10) permits the delivery system (10) to adjust the delivery of the proppant and treatment fluid according the updated proppant placement schedule.
134 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean formation, comprising the steps of:
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(a) designing an initial model for a heterogeneous proppant placement in a fracture in the formation; (b) developing an initial proppant placement schedule for delivering proppant and treatment fluid to the fracture predicted to obtain the initial model; (c) beginning delivery of the proppant to the fracture according to the initial proppant placement schedule; (d) taking real-time fracture geometry measurements during the proppant delivery; (e) updating the model according to the geometry measurements; (f) updating the proppant placement schedule according to the updated model and delivering the proppant according to the updated proppant placement schedule; and (g) repeating steps (d) through (f) in real-time until the proppant delivery is complete. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for heterogeneous proppant placement in a fracture in a subterranean formation, comprising:
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a delivery system for delivering proppant and treatment fluid to the fracture; a sensor for measuring geometry of the fracture; a computer in communication with the sensor, comprising; a software tool for real-time design of a model for heterogeneous proppant placement in the fracture based on data from the sensor measurements; and a software tool for developing and updating a proppant placement schedule for delivering the proppant and treatment fluid to the fracture corresponding to the model; and a control link between the computer and the delivery system for delivery of the proppant and treatment fluid according the updated proppant placement schedule. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method, comprising:
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(a) designing an initial model for a heterogeneous proppant placement in a fracture in a formation, wherein the heterogeneous proppant placement includes clusters of high proppant concentration and open channels between the clusters; (b) developing an initial proppant placement schedule for delivering proppant and treatment fluid to the fracture predicted to obtain the initial model; (c) beginning delivery of the proppant to the fracture according to the initial proppant placement schedule, wherein the proppant placement schedule comprises alternating proppant-rich slugs and proppant lean stages; (d) taking real-time fracture geometry measurements during the proppant delivery; (e) updating the model according to the geometry measurements; (f) updating the proppant placement schedule according to the updated model and delivering the proppant according to the updated proppant placement schedule; and (g) repeating steps (d) through (f) in real-time until the proppant delivery is complete. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification