US5360066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for controlling sand production of formations and for optimizing hydraulic fracturing through perforation orientation
Assignee: Halliburton Co
•
Filing: 1992-12-16
•
Granted: 1994-11-01
•
Expires: 2012-12-16
Abstract
Abstract An improved method for fracturing oil wells is disclosed and claimed herein. In particular, the present invention involves the determination of the direction of fracture propagation, i.e., perpendicular to the minimum stress existing within a given formation and the alignment of perforations produced by a variety of perforating devices with the previously determined direction of fracture propagation. The methods disclosed and claimed herein will eliminate many problems encountered in the prior art, including reducing the pressure required to initiate fractures and reducing the undesirable effects of near wellbore tortuosity.
Inventors
- 👤 James J. Venditto
- 👤 Hazim H. Abass
- 👤 David E. McMechan
- 👤 Matthew E. Blauch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:16
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/11; E21B43/119; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B47/00; E21B47/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by obtaining an oriented core from said formation after a fracture has been initiated in said formation, and observing the direction of fracture propagation within said oriented core; orienting a perforating device capable of perforating said formation within said wellbore such that perforations produced by said perforating device are substantially aligned with said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforation device so as to perforate said formation in the direction of said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by obtaining an oriented core from said formation after a fracture has been initiated in said formation, and observing the direction of fracture propagation within said oriented core; orienting a perforating device capable of perforating said formation within said wellbore such that perforations produced by said perforating device are substantially aligned with said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforation device so as to perforate said formation in the direction of said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by obtaining an oriented core from said formation after a fracture has been initiated in said formation, and performing strain relaxation measurements on said oriented core to determine the direction of minimum principle stress existing within said core; orienting a perforating device capable of perforating said formation within said wellbore such that perforations produced by said perforating device are substantially aligned with said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforation device so as to perforate said formation in the direction of said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by obtaining an oriented core from said formation after a fracture has been initiated in said formation, and performing strain relaxation measurements on said oriented core to determine the direction of minimum principle stress existing within said core; orienting a perforating device capable of perforating said formation within said wellbore such that perforations produced by said perforating device are substantially aligned with said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforation device so as to perforate said formation in the direction of said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by, measuring the cross-sectional shape of the wellbore formed in said formation before fractures are initiated in said formation; measuring the cross-sectional shape of said wellbore after fractures have been initiated in said formation; calculating the direction of maximum horizontal stress within said formation based upon the change in the cross-sectional shape of said wellbore as determined by said measurements; orienting a perforating device capable of perforating said formation within said wellbore such that perforations produced by said perforating device are substantially aligned with said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforation device so as to perforate said formation in the direction of said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by, measuring the cross-sectional shape of the wellbore formed in said formation before fractures are initiated in said formation; measuring the cross-sectional shape of said wellbore after fractures have been initiated in said formation; calculating the direction of maximum horizontal stress within said formation based upon the change in the cross-sectional shape of said wellbore as determined by said measurements; orienting a perforating device capable of perforating said formation within said wellbore such that perforations produced by said perforating device are substantially aligned with said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforation device so as to perforate said formation in the direction of said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by, positioning an oriented circumferential acoustic scanning tool into said wellbore; inducing fractures in said formation by performing an open hole microfrac test in said wellbore; observing the orientation of said fractures in said formation by use of said circumferential acoustic scanning tool, said observed fractures aligned with said direction of maximum horizontal stress; orienting a perforating device capable of perforating said formation within said wellbore such that perforations produced by said perforating device are substantially aligned with said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforation device so as to perforate said formation in the direction of said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by, positioning an oriented circumferential acoustic scanning tool into said wellbore; inducing fractures in said formation by performing an open hole microfrac test in said wellbore; observing the orientation of said fractures in said formation by use of said circumferential acoustic scanning tool, said observed fractures aligned with said direction of maximum horizontal stress; orienting a perforating device capable of perforating said formation within said wellbore such that perforations produced by said perforating device are substantially aligned with said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforation device so as to perforate said formation in the direction of said azimuthal direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for completing a well in a potentially sand producing formation, comprising the steps of; determining the direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within the formation by obtaining an oriented core from said formation after a fracture has been initiated in said formation, and observing the direction of fracture propagation within said oriented core; orienting a perforating gun within said formation, said perforating gun configured to perforate said formation substantially along a single vertical plane, said perforating gun oriented with said single vertical plane extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforating gun to perforate said formation and establish perforations in said formation extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for completing a well in a potentially sand producing formation, comprising the steps of; determining the direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within the formation by obtaining an oriented core from said formation after a fracture has been initiated in said formation, and observing the direction of fracture propagation within said oriented core; orienting a perforating gun within said formation, said perforating gun configured to perforate said formation substantially along a single vertical plane, said perforating gun oriented with said single vertical plane extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforating gun to perforate said formation and establish perforations in said formation extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by obtaining an oriented core from said formation after a fracture has been initiated in said formation, and performing strain relaxation measurements on said oriented core to determine the direction of maximum horizontal stress existing within said core and within said formation; orienting a perforating gun within said formation, said perforating gun configured to perforate said formation substantially along a single vertical plane, said perforating gun oriented with said single vertical plane extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforating gun to perforate said formation and establish perforations in said formation extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by obtaining an oriented core from said formation after a fracture has been initiated in said formation, and performing strain relaxation measurements on said oriented core to determine the direction of maximum horizontal stress existing within said core and within said formation; orienting a perforating gun within said formation, said perforating gun configured to perforate said formation substantially along a single vertical plane, said perforating gun oriented with said single vertical plane extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforating gun to perforate said formation and establish perforations in said formation extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by, measuring the cross-sectional shape of the wellbore formed in said formation before fractures are initiated in said formation; measuring the cross-sectional shape of said wellbore after fractures have been initiated in said formation; calculating the direction of maximum horizontal stress within said formation based upon the change in the cross-sectional shape of said wellbore as determined by said measurements; orienting a perforating gun within said formation, said perforating gun configured to perforate said formation substantially along a single vertical plane, said perforating gun oriented with said single vertical plane extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforating gun to perforate said formation and establish perforations in said formation extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for controlling the flow of sand and other solids from a wellbore, comprising the steps of: determining the azimuthal direction of the maximum horizontal stress field within a formation having a wellbore formed therein by, measuring the cross-sectional shape of the wellbore formed in said formation before fractures are initiated in said formation; measuring the cross-sectional shape of said wellbore after fractures have been initiated in said formation; calculating the direction of maximum horizontal stress within said formation based upon the change in the cross-sectional shape of said wellbore as determined by said measurements; orienting a perforating gun within said formation, said perforating gun configured to perforate said formation substantially along a single vertical plane, said perforating gun oriented with said single vertical plane extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field; and actuating said perforating gun to perforate said formation and establish perforations in said formation extending generally in the direction of said maximum horizontal stress field.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5,6, or 7 further comprising the steps of pumping a fracturing fluid into said perforations to propagate fractures into said formation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2414997A
Cited
US4220205A
Cited
US4637478A
Cited
US4523649A
Cited
US4542648A
Cited
US4529036A
Cited
US4673890A
Cited
US4714115A
Cited
US4848468A
Cited
US5025859A
Cited
US4889186A
Cited
US4830120A
Cited
US4869322A
Cited
US4977961A
Cited
US4974675A
Cited
US5111881A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |