Method of improving hydraulic fracturing by decreasing formation temperature
First Claim
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1. A method for producing fractures in a formation to release hydrocarbons from the formation, comprising:
- reducing the in-situ temperature at a location in a formation by contacting the location with a first fluid, the location having an initial in-situ temperature; and
contacting the location with a fracturing fluid to produce fractures in the formation to thereby release hydrocarbons from the formation,wherein the fractures are produced in the formation by contacting the location with the fracturing fluid while the location is at a second temperature below the initial in-situ temperature, andwherein the fracturing fluid is different than the first fluid.
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Abstract
A method for producing fractures in a formation to release hydrocarbons (such as a hydrocarbon gas or liquid) from the formation is disclosed. The method comprises reducing the in-situ temperature at a location in a formation having a first temperature by contacting the location with a first fluid and contacting the location with a fracturing fluid to produce fractures in the formation while the location is at a second temperature below the first temperature to release hydrocarbons from the formation. The method can include using an endothermic process to reduce the temperature at the location in the formation.
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16 Claims
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1. A method for producing fractures in a formation to release hydrocarbons from the formation, comprising:
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reducing the in-situ temperature at a location in a formation by contacting the location with a first fluid, the location having an initial in-situ temperature; and contacting the location with a fracturing fluid to produce fractures in the formation to thereby release hydrocarbons from the formation, wherein the fractures are produced in the formation by contacting the location with the fracturing fluid while the location is at a second temperature below the initial in-situ temperature, and wherein the fracturing fluid is different than the first fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification