APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAPPING FRACTURE FEATURES IN HYDRAULICALLY FRACTURED STRATA USING FUNCTIONAL PROPPANT PROPERTIES

• US 20130154846A1
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micah Thomas Mangione
• Original Assignee: Carbo Ceramics Incorporated
• Inventors: Duenckel, Robert J., Mangione, Micah Thomas, Townsend, Paul Henson
• Granted Patent: US 9,261,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/854.6
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/30 operating with electromagnetic waves

Abstract

System and method for deploying multiple antennas in an array configuration with unobstructed electromagnetic access to a formation outside of a casing, sequencing the transmitted signal to control the direction of transmission into the formation, receiving the reflected signals, and locating the position of the reflection based on the scanned transmission signal orientation and the direction of the received signal. Such a deployment of an antenna array with unobstructed electromagnetic access to the formation outside of the casing, sequencing of the interrogation signal, and analysis of the received signal relative to the transmitted signal direction form the basis for reflection image rendering as the transmitted signal is scanned by a sequenced stimulus signal.

Claims

1. A system for characterizing features in a geologic formation proximate to a cased borehole, comprising:

at least one antenna array associated with a wellbore casing, the at least one antenna array having an unobstructed electromagnetic view of the geologic formation;

a downhole tool comprising an array control module in communication with said at least one antenna array; and

a surface control unit coupled to said downhole tool as a control arrangement to be in communication with said at least one antenna array, said control arrangement configured to actuate said at least one antenna array with sequenced electromagnetic signals;

said control arrangement configured to receive reflected electromagnetic signals from the geologic formation from said at least one antenna array;

said surface control unit configured to analyze said received electromagnetic signals and generate an image displaying at least one attribute of the geologic formation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuation signal creates a scanned electromagnetic beam.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the attribute of the geologic formation is a representation of proppant disposed within a fracture.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the proppant is at least partially treated to increase electromagnetic reflectivity at an operating frequency of the antenna array.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuation signal creates a plurality of scanned electromagnetic beams.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the feature of the geologic formation is a pattern of proppant disposed within a fracture.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the proppant is at least partially treated to increase electromagnetic reflectivity at an operating frequency of the antenna array.

8. A method for characterizing features in a geologic formation proximate to a cased borehole, comprising:

deploying at least one antenna array proximate to a cased wellbore, the at least one antenna array having an unobstructed electromagnetic view of the geologic formation;

scanning electromagnetic signals from the at least one antenna array across at least a portion of the geologic formation;

receiving electromagnetic signals reflected from at least a portion of the geologic formation; and

processing the reflected signals to generate an image of at least one feature of the geologic formation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the geologic formation includes proppant disposed within at least one fracture and the image comprising at least a representation of the location of the proppant.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising injecting proppant into at least one fracture within the geologic formation, prior to said scanning.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one antenna array transmits at least one frequency and said injecting includes providing proppant treated to increase reflectivity at the at least one frequency.

12. The method of claim 8, further including the steps of performing a first survey, comprising at least one scan through at least one region, performing a fracturing operation to inject proppant into at least one fracture within at least a portion of the at least one region, and then performing a second survey, comprising at least one scan through the at least one region and comparing the results to determine at least one outcome of the fracturing operation.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of the at least one fracture in the geologic formation is made to have an increased reflectivity at the operating frequencies of the antenna array by introducing at least a portion of proppant that is at least partially treated to increase reflectivity at the operating frequencies.