Method for enhancing fracture propagation in subterranean formations
The present invention provides a method of hydraulically fracturing a well penetrating an subterranean formation by optimizing the spacing of fractures along a wellbore to form a complex network of hydraulically connected fractures by identifying a deviated wellbore in a subterranean formation; introducing a series of fractures in the deviated wellbore, wherein the series of fractures comprising at least a first fracture, a second fracture, a third fracture and a fourth fracture each separated by a non-uniformed and an increased spacing distance such that the spacing distance from each adjacent fracture in the series of fractures is at an increased distance; and forming one or more complex fractures extending from the series of fractures to form a complex fracture network.
1. A method of hydraulically fracturing a well penetrating a subterranean formation by optimizing the spacing of fractures along two or more wellbores to form a complex network of hydraulically connected fractures comprising the steps of:
identifying two or more deviated wellbores in a subterranean formation;
introducing a series of fractures in the two or more deviated wellbores, wherein the series of fractures comprising at least a first fracture, a second fracture, a third fracture and a fourth fracture each separated by a non-uniformed and an increased spacing distance such that the spacing distance from each adjacent fracture in the series of fractures is at an increased distance; and
forming one or more complex fractures extending from the series of fractures to form a complex fracture network, wherein all of the fractures are asymmetric along the wellbore.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more complex fractures connects to one or more pre-existing network of natural fractures to form the complex fracture network.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a minimum stress exists so that a net pressure can overcome a stress anisotropy to create a longer fracture.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the series of as fractures are generated as a function of a fluid flow and a stress interference.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the series of fractures reduces a principal stress, a shear stress or both.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the series of fractures reduce a stress anisotropy between a first and second horizontal stresses.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the series of fractures changes the magnitude of horizontal stresses.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subterranean formation comprises a shale or a tight sand reservoir.
9. A method of forming a series of non-uniformly spaced fractures penetrating a subterranean formation to form a complex network of hydraulically connected fractures comprising the steps of:
identifying two or more deviated wellbores in a subterranean formation;
introducing a series of fractures in the two or more deviated wellbores, wherein the series of fractures comprising at least a first fracture, a second fracture, a third fracture and a fourth fracture each separated by a non-uniformed and an increased spacing distance such that the spacing distance from each adjacent fracture in the series of fractures is at an increased distance; and
forming one or more complex fractures extending from the series of fractures from each of the two or more wellbores to form a complex fracture network, wherein all of the fractures are asymmetric along the wellbore.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more complex fractures connects to one or more pre-existing network of natural fractures to form the complex fracture network.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein a minimum stress exists so that a net pressure can overcome a stress anisotropy to create a longer fracture.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the series of as fractures are generated as a function of a fluid flow and a stress interference.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the series of fractures reduces a principal stress, a shear stress or both.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the series of fractures reduce a stress anisotropy between a first and second horizontal stresses.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the series of fractures changes the magnitude of horizontal stresses.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the subterranean formation comprises a shale or a tight sand reservoir.
17. A method of altering the stress anisotropy in a subterranean formation by hydraulically fracturing in a series of non-uniformly spaced fractures comprising the steps of:
identifying two or more deviated wellbore in a subterranean formation;
introducing a series of fractures in the two or more adjacent deviated wellbores as a function of a fluid flow and a stress interference, wherein the series of fractures comprise at least a first fracture, a second fracture, a third fracture and a fourth fracture each separated by a non-uniformed and increasing spacing distance, wherein the series of fractures are at a greater distance from the previous fracture wherein all of the fractures are asymmetric along the wellbore; and
pumping a quantity of liquid into the two or more deviated wellbores to form the fractures.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more complex fractures connects to one or more pre-existing network of natural fractures to form the complex fracture network.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the subterranean formation comprises a shale or a tight sand reservoir.