Method and system for fracturing subsurface formations during the drilling thereof

• US 7,963,325 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Brown, J. Ernest, Jeffryes, Benjamin P., Johnson, Ashley
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOIKITH, CATHERINE A
• Application Number:
  US11/950,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20090145660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 166/177.5, 166/250.1, 166/308.1
• US Class Current: 166/250.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/003 with electrically conducting or insulating means E21B17/028 and E21B17/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/08 Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure valve arrangements therefor E21B21/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions

Abstract

A method for fracturing a wellbore while drilling a wellbore includes inserting a drill string into a wellbore. A fluid is pumped into at least one of an interior passage in the drill string and an annular space between a wall of the wellbore and the drill string. At least one of a pressure and a temperature of the fluid proximate a lower end of the drill string is measured and the measurements are transmitted to the surface substantially contemporaneously with the measuring. At least one of a flow rate and a pressure of the fluid is controlled in response to the measurements to selectively create fractures in formations adjacent to the wellbore.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

fracturing a wellbore using a drill string, including the steps of;

inserting the drill string into a wellbore;

pumping a fluid into at least one of an interior passage in the drill string and an annular space between a wall of the wellbore and the drill string;

measuring at least one of a pressure and a temperature of the fluid proximate a lower end of the drill string;

transmitting the measurements to the surface substantially contemporaneously with the measuring; and

transmitting control signals from a controller in a drill string to perform at least one of the following;

inflating a packer, deflating a packer, diverting fluid flow, and initiating shaped charges.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising selectively sealing the annular space.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumped fluid is discharged through a drill bit.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising diverting flow of fluid into the annular space.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pumping fluid, measuring, transmitting and controlling are performed contemporaneously with drilling a subsurface formation in the wellbore.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting comprises communicating over a communication channel in a wired drill pipe string.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises proppant.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the proppant comprises a material selected to reduce permeability of a fracture for a selected time after creation thereof to enable further drilling of the wellbore.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising changing the fluid from a first fluid used for drilling the wellbore to a second fluid used to open and maintain fractures.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling at least one of pressure and flow rate automatically in response to the measurements.