US4478282A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Height control technique in hydraulic fracturing treatments
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1982-04-07
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Granted: 1984-10-23
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Expires: 2002-04-07
Abstract
Abstract To control adverse vertical height growth of the fracture created during hydraulic fracturing treatments of subterranean formations, a nonproppant fluid stage is injected during the treatment. The nonproppant stage comprises a transport fluid and a flow block material. The flow block material can be any particulate used as a fracture proppant, and has a particle size distribution which is sufficient to form a substantially impermeable barrier to fluid flow into the vertical extremities of the fracture. The particle size distribution preferably comprises at least two different particles sizes.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth G. Nolte
- 👤 Michael B. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:11
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/261; E21B43/267
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of hydraulically fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising: (a) injecting a fracturing fluid pad into the formation under conditions of sufficient rate and pressure to create a fracture in the formation; (b) injecting into the formation a nonproppant fluid stage comprising a transport fluid and a flow block material, the flow block material comprises sand and silica flour with a particle size distribution comprising sand of 10-20, 20-40, and 100 mesh and silica flour of 200 mesh; and (c) injecting a proppant laden fluid slurry into the formation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of hydraulically fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising: (a) injecting a fracturing fluid pad into the formation under conditions of sufficient rate and pressure to create a fracture in the formation; (b) injecting into the formation a nonproppant fluid stage comprising a transport fluid and a flow block material, the flow block material comprises sand and silica flour with a particle size distribution comprising sand of 10-20, 20-40, and 100 mesh and silica flour of 200 mesh; and (c) injecting a proppant laden fluid slurry into the formation.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of hydraulically fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising: (a) injecting a fracturing fluid pad into the formation under conditions of sufficient rate and pressure to create a fracture in the formation; (b) injecting into the formation a nonproppant fluid stage having a volume of about 5 to about 20% of the total volume of a proppant laden fluid slurry injected in Step (c); the nonproppant fluid stage comprises a transport fluid and a flow block material of a particle size distribution sufficient to form a substantially impermeable block to fluid flow in a vertical direction; and (c) injecting a proppant laden fluid slurry into the formation.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of hydraulically fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising: (a) injecting a fracturing fluid pad into the formation under conditions of sufficient rate and pressure to create a fracture in the formation; (b) injecting into the formation a nonproppant fluid stage having a volume of about 5 to about 20% of the total volume of a proppant laden fluid slurry injected in Step (c); the nonproppant fluid stage comprises a transport fluid and a flow block material of a particle size distribution sufficient to form a substantially impermeable block to fluid flow in a vertical direction; and (c) injecting a proppant laden fluid slurry into the formation.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of hydraulically fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a wellbore wherein adverse vertical height growth of the fracture is controlled, comprising: (a) injecting a fracturing fluid pad into the formation under conditions of sufficient rate and pressure to create a fracture in the formation; (b) injecting into the formation a nonproppant fluid stage to control vertical height growth of the fracture, said stage having a higher viscosity than the fluid pad and comprising a transport fluid and a flow block material of a particle size distribution sufficient to form a substantially impermeable block to fluid flow in a vertical direction; and (c) injecting into the formation a proppant laden fluid slurry of a lower viscosity than the nonproppant fluid stage of step (b).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of hydraulically fracturing an underground formation penetrated by a wellbore wherein adverse vertical height growth of the fracture is controlled, comprising: (a) injecting a fracturing fluid pad into the formation under conditions of sufficient rate and pressure to create a fracture in the formation; (b) injecting into the formation a nonproppant fluid stage to control vertical height growth of the fracture, said stage having a higher viscosity than the fluid pad and comprising a transport fluid and a flow block material of a particle size distribution sufficient to form a substantially impermeable block to fluid flow in a vertical direction; and (c) injecting into the formation a proppant laden fluid slurry of a lower viscosity than the nonproppant fluid stage of step (b).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-23 | 1988-04-23 | 1988-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-23 | 1992-04-23 | 1992-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-23 | 1996-04-23 | 1996-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |