Fracture characterization

摘要

This application relates to methods and apparatus for monitoring hydraulic fracturing in well formation and fracture characterization using distributed acoustic sensing (DAS). The method involves interrogating a optic fiber (102) arranged down the path of a bore hole (106) to provide a distributed acoustic sensor and also monitoring flow properties of fracturing fluid pumped (114) into the well. The acoustic data from the distributed acoustic sensor is processed together with the flow properties data to provide an indication of at least one fracture characteristic.

主权项

1. A method of fracture characterisation of a downwell hydraulic fracturing process comprising:
interrogating an optic fibre arranged down the path of a well bore to provide a distributed acoustic sensor; monitoring flow properties of fracturing fluid; processing acoustic data from the distributed acoustic sensor together with the flow properties data to provide an indication of at least one fracture characteristic; and monitoring the acoustic disturbances in the optical fibre generated during perforation of the well prior to a fracturing process and determining the portions of the optical fibre that correspond to fracture sites.