IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,938,363
Granted Patent B2
US 8,938,363 · App. 13/112,834 · Granted Jan 20, 2015

Active seismic monitoring of fracturing operations and determining characteristics of a subterranean body using pressure data and seismic data

Inventors: Craig J. Beasley (Houston, TX); Iain Bush (East Horsley, GB)
Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
E21B47/06E21B43/26E21B47/101E21B49/008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,938,363
App. No.
13/112,834
Granted
Jan 20, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for managing a fracturing operation. In one implementation, the method may include positioning one or more sources and one or more receivers near a hydrocarbon reservoir; pumping a fracturing fluid into a well bore of the hydrocarbon reservoir; performing a survey with the sources and the receivers during the fracturing operation; comparing the baseline survey to the survey performed during the fracturing operation; analyzing one or more differences between the baseline survey and the survey performed during the fracturing operation; and modifying the fracturing operation based on the differences.

Claims (45)

1. A method for managing a fracturing operation, comprising:

positioning one or more sources and one or more receivers near a hydrocarbon reservoir;

performing a baseline survey;

pumping a fracturing fluid into a well bore of the hydrocarbon reservoir;

performing a survey with the sources and the receivers during the fracturing operation;

comparing the baseline survey to the survey performed during the fracturing operation;

analyzing one or more differences between the baseline survey and the survey performed during the fracturing operation; and

modifying the fracturing operation based on the differences.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying locations of the fracturing fluid within subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located based on the survey.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising modifying the fracturing operation based on the identified locations of the fracturing fluid.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying the positioning of the sources, the receivers or combinations thereof based on the differences.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a survey design based on the differences.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sources comprise a weight dropping system, an accelerated weight dropping system, portable sources or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sources comprise one or more vibrations from a drilling operation or a fracturing operation.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receivers are permanently installed receivers.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sources are located on a surface, in a borehole, in a fracture or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receivers are located on a surface, in a borehole, in a fracture or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sources are electromagnetic sources and the receivers are electromagnetic receivers.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sources are seismic sources and the receivers are seismic receivers.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the baseline survey or the survey performed during the fracturing operation comprises activating a plurality of the seismic sources simultaneously or near-simultaneously.

14. A method for managing a fracturing operation, comprising:

positioning one or more sources and one or more receivers near a hydrocarbon reservoir;

pumping a fracturing fluid into a well bore of the hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises an additive that enhances impedance contrast between the fracturing fluid and one or more subsurface formations;

performing a survey with the sources and the receivers during the fracturing operation; and

identifying locations of the fracturing fluid within the subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the sources comprise a weight dropping system, an accelerated weight dropping system, portable sources or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the receivers are permanently installed receivers.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the sources are electromagnetic sources and the receivers are electromagnetic receivers.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

performing a baseline electromagnetic resistivity survey before the fracturing operation;

comparing the baseline electromagnetic resistivity survey to the survey performed during the fracturing operation;

analyzing one or more differences between data acquired during the baseline electromagnetic resistivity survey and data acquired during the electromagnetic survey performed during the fracturing operation; and

modifying the fracturing operation based on the differences.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising modifying the positioning of the sources, the receivers or combinations thereof based on the identified locations of the fracturing fluid.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising optimizing the positioning of the sources and the receivers to illuminate one or more fracture target areas based on the identified locations of the fracturing fluid.

21. The method of claim 14 , wherein the sources are activated simultaneously or near-simultaneously.

22. A method for managing a fracturing operation, comprising:

positioning one or more receivers near a hydrocarbon reservoir;

acquiring one or more baseline measurements using the receivers;

pumping a fracturing fluid into a well bore of the hydrocarbon reservoir;

acquiring one or more measurements using the receivers during the fracturing operation;

comparing the baseline measurements to the measurements acquired during the fracturing operation;

analyzing one or more differences between the baseline measurements to the measurements acquired during the fracturing operation; and

modifying the fracturing operation based on the differences.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the measurements comprise gravity measurements, gravity gradiometer measurements, magnetic measurements, geomechanical measurements, thermodynamic measurements or combinations thereof.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2012
From: BEASLEY, CRAIG J.; BUSH, IAIN
To: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 028330/0001 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 12256285 · Oct 22, 2008
Continuation In Part 12193278 · Aug 18, 2008
Related Publication 20110272147A1 · Nov 10, 2011